Kid Acne

Kid Acne

Kid Acne is a hip hop artist, MC and graffiti writer from South Yorkshire. He first appears as an illustrator, designing flyers for local club nights and sleeve artwork for Warp Records act Plaid. He also works under the names Ackers, Ken Acid and Kidney Ache.

Early releases and collaborations

He records with fellow graffiti writer Req One, and the pair appear on the 2001 Lexoleum compilation with Rap Dracula. Their partnership continues over the next few years, with Req handling beat programming and Kid Acne on vocals. Releases from this period include Council Pop (2003) and Reality Raps (2004), issued on Acne’s own Invisible Spies imprint. He also releases material with the in-house collective Toah Dynamic, alongside Chips for the Poor, Supreme Vagabond Craftsman and Earl Shilton.

Artwork, publishing and design work

Outside music, Kid Acne is an artist with an international profile. He creates the comic book Zebra Face in 2001, designs record sleeves for labels including Big Dada and Chocolate Industries, customises spray cans for Montana Colors, designs a T-shirt range for Prada, and exhibits in galleries around the world.

Romance Ain't Dead

He releases the album Romance Ain't Dead, which features 11 tracks and combines hip hop with punk and old school rave influences. The record is produced with beats from Req and production from Ross Orton.