Sy Ari Da Kid

Sy Ari da Kid, born Sy Ari Brockington, is a prolific Atlanta-based singer/rapper and producer whose music seamlessly blends trap and smooth, Auto-Tune-laced R&B. His tense, dramatic songs frequently reflect on relationships, heartbreak, and other personal issues, as well as current events and the struggles of street life. Brockington debuted in 2011 with The Ultrasound and issued over a dozen efforts that decade, including 2016's B4 the Heartbreak and 2019's Emancipation Proclamation. His output in the 2020s has been just as bountiful with full-length projects such as A Toxic Heartbreak and Alone But Not Lonely. Born in the Bronx, Brockington moved to Atlanta at the age of nine, and prefers not to categorize his music as either New York or Southern rap. He started rapping at a young age, influenced by his brother and cousin. After graduating high school, he became a successful battle rapper on Atlanta hip-hop radio station Hot 107.9 FM. A self-taught producer, he began recording songs using Pro Tools, and he co-founded the Arrogant Music label in 2006. He began releasing mixtapes in 2011, and collaborated with numerous artists including Future, Gucci Mane, Waka Flocka Flame, Timbaland, and former classmate K Camp. Rumors began circulating that Brockington had ghostwritten songs for Drake in 2015, but he denied them after collaborating with Drake co-writer Quentin Miller. Brockington's 2016 mixtape B4 the Heartbreak included the single "Priorities," a collaboration with trap-soul singer Bryson Tiller, which expanded his audience among R&B fans. In 2017, it was announced that Brockington signed with Cash Money. Although he guested on label CEO Birdman's song "It's Calm," he continued to release his music independently with distribution from Cinq Music Group. 2 Soon, 2 Weeks No Diss, and Better Safe Than Sy Ari, among other projects, were out by the end of 2018. The next year, he released Emancipation Proclamation and After the Heartbreak, the latter featuring appearances from Eric Bellinger and Asiahn. Brockington's busy release schedule continued during 2020 and 2021, a period that saw him issue titles that included It Was Unwritten and A Toxic Heartbreak, as well as It's Not You It's Me and Sy Ari Not Sorry. ~ Paul Simpson, Rovi