Spencer Joseph (born January 1, 1999), known professionally as That Kid, is an American singer, songwriter, and social media personality from Denver, Colorado.[1] His debut single "Dial Tone" gained traction within the hyperpop subculture, a genre in which he has since become a prominent figure.[2][3] Since then, he has released four projects, Crush (2020), Comedown (2021), Superstar (2022), and TK Ultra (2024).[4] That Kid is a member of the band Freakalicious, alongside Chase Icon and Ayesha Erotica.

That Kid
Birth nameSpencer Joseph
Born (1999-01-01) January 1, 1999 (age 25)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active2017–present
Member ofFreakalicious

Early life

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Spencer Joseph was born on January 1, 1999, in Denver, Colorado. Joseph began playing the cello at the age of 11, revealing an early interest in music. He began creating original music at 14 with a laptop and his father's old gaming headset, initially as a new hobby to replace his interest in art, particularly oil pastels. However, after a few months, he shifted to experimenting with singing and creating experimental R&B. Joseph pursued his passion for music and began taking singing lessons while actively participating in his school's choir.[5]

Career

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2017–2019: Breakthrough with "Dial Tone" and singles collection

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In 2017 and 2018, That Kid gained a following on the social media platform Twitter, which led to his collaboration with Slayyyter and Ayesha Erotica on his debut single, "Dial Tone", released on September 9, 2018.[6][7] The single's success inspired him to pursue music full-time,[5] releasing the singles "80 Mph" and "Boyfriend" later that year.

In 2019, he released eight more singles: "Take It Off", "Arcade", "Booty Call", "Rocket", "Penthouse", "Blindfold", "Mind Your Business", and "Fuck It Up". He also appeared on the track "E-Boy" from Slayyyter's mixtape, Slayyyter (2019).[8]

2020–2021: Crush and Comedown

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On March 2, 2020, That Kid announced his debut mixtape Crush, which was released on March 31. In an interview with Paper Magazine, he revealed that he "wrote about 20 brand new songs for the mixtape".[9] The mixtape includes collaborations from artists Liz, Ravenna Golden, and Tama Gucci, as well as a cover of Soulja Boy's "Kiss Me thru the Phone".[10][11] The project was described as being "driven primarily by fantasy and just fun story telling",[12] and ranked at number 11 on The Line of Best Fit's list of best hyperpop albums.[13] On September 4, the remix album Crush: The Remixes was released.

On September 23, That Kid released the double single "Skater Boy" / "Look at Me" and held a Zoom release party with Subculture Party on September 26.

In 2021, he released the singles "Boost Mobile" featuring Terror Jr, "Mile High Club", and "Honey" with Umru.[14] He also appeared on the track "ICU" from English pop duo Gameboi's debut album, Gameboi (2021).[15]

On September 14, That Kid released "Cobra", the lead single to his first extended play, Comedown. He recorded his first official music video for it, which was released on September 16.[12][16] That month, That Kid appeared on the cover of Spotify's "hyperpop" playlist.[17][12] Comedown was released on October 20, which was described as "sparkly, angsty, and angelic", and a "sister" record to Crush (2020).[16]

2022–present: Superstar and TK Ultra

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On July 4, 2022, That Kid released "Full Throttle", the lead single from his second mixtape Superstar,[18] after performing the song at HEAV3N in Los Angeles, California the previous month. The second single from the mixtape, "DRY2WET", was released on August 4.[4][19]

On August 22, Superstar's cover art and tracklist were revealed, and the project was released the following month. After its release, outlets praised its maximalist production and strong collaboration choices.[6][20][21] In an interview, That Kid said of the mixtape: "I think Superstar is sonically a lot more realized than Crush or Comedown... I just wanted it to feel very large, the whole project as whole is a bit larger than life."[22] On December 6, he released the remix album Superstar: The Remixes.

That Kid headlined at Elsewhere in Brooklyn, New York on September 27 with Miss Madeline.[6][23] He also played at the Boiler Room x Subculture event in Los Angeles on December 2.[5] He returned to Elsewhere on January 25, 2023 to perform for Intima NYC.[24]

On January 30, That Kid released a SoundCloud and YouTube exclusive single, "Crank That", an adaptation of Soulja Boy's 2007 single "Crank That (Soulja Boy)".[25]

That Kid headlined at El Cid Sunset in Los Angeles on June 1 with RYL0 and FantasyLuv.[26] He also performed at Warehouse Live in Houston, Texas on August 12 with 6arelyhuman, Bayymack, and Strgurrl.[27]

He released "Q.O.S.D" on December 6,[28][29] the lead single from his third mixtape, TK Ultra, which was released in August 2024.[30][31] "Tila Tequila" and "Spencer Needs a Ladder" were released as the second and third singles from the mixtape in April and July 2024, respectively.[32]

Discography

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Mixtapes

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Title Details
Crush
Superstar
  • Released: September 22, 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
TK Ultra
  • Released: August 29, 2024
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Extended plays

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Title Details
Comedown
  • Released: October 20, 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Remix albums

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Title Details
Crush: The Remixes
  • Released: September 4, 2020
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
Superstar: The Remixes
  • Released: December 6, 2022
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

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As lead artist

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Year Title Album
2018 "Dial Tone"
(featuring Slayyyter and Ayesha Erotica)
Non-album singles
"80 Mph"
"Boyfriend"
2019 "Take It Off"
"Arcade"
(featuring Moistbreezy)
"Booty Call"
"Rocket"
(featuring Holliday Howe)
"Penthouse"
"Blindfold"
"Mind Your Business"
"Fuck It Up"
(featuring PRINCI, FAGedelics,
Belladonna, VisaS2k, and Wifi Baby)
2020 "Skater Boy" / "Look at Me"
2021 "Boost Mobile"
(featuring Terror Jr)
"Mile High Club"
"Honey"
(with Umru)
"Cobra" Comedown
2022 "Full Throttle" Superstar
"DRY2WET"
2023 "My House"[a] Non-album singles
"10 Bad Bitches"
(with River Moon, Petal Supply, Warpstr,
Umru, Iglooghost, and Chase Icon)
"Best of Me"[a]
"Q.O.S.D" TK Ultra
2024 "Tila Tequila"
"Spencer Needs a Ladder"
(with 6arelyhuman)
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Year Title Album
2018 "Sweat"
(WAVVY FROG featuring That Kid)
Non-album singles
"Regina George"
(Kyunchi featuring That Kid and Ayesha Erotica)
2019 "Cavity"
(Jake Germain featuring That Kid)
2023 "Currency"
(6arelyhuman featuring That Kid)
"Cherry"
(Princess Ketamine featuring Diana Starshine and That Kid)

SoundCloud releases

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Title Year Other artists
"Crank That"[25] 2023

Notes

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  1. ^ a b "My House" and "Best of Me" were removed from streaming services preceding the release of "Q.O.S.D"

References

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  1. ^ Graham, Maria (September 27, 2022). "That Kid won't stop until he is a Superstar". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  2. ^ McGee, Auhjanae (August 3, 2022). "That Kid - Music, the language of desire". Metal Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  3. ^ "December 10th Weekly Roundup Feature". The Festival Voice. December 10, 2023. [That Kid] gained traction with his Ayesha Erotica and Slayyyter-collaboration "Dial Tone"...
  4. ^ a b Young, Brigid (August 8, 2022). "That Kid's "DRY2WET" Sets Us Up For A McBling Summer". Poptized. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Herbert, Ben (April 6, 2023). "Spotlight: That Kid". LVL3. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Major, Michael (September 22, 2022). "That Kid Unveils 'Superstar' Mixtape Ahead of Elsewhere Debut". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  7. ^ Wetmore, Brendan (May 2, 2019). "Cell Pop: Paper's Top 5 Dial-In Hits". Paper. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  8. ^ Wetmore, Brendan (September 17, 2019). "Slayyyter's Mixtape Is a Sticky-Sweet Stan Symphony". Paper. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Wetmore, Brendan (March 31, 2020). "Why That Kid Really Is 'That Kid'". Paper. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  10. ^ Wang, Steffanee (May 14, 2020). "Premiere: This 'Kiss Me Thru The Phone' Remix Is Perfect For Quarantine". Nylon. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Malone, Nick (April 6, 2020). "That Kid's 'Crush' Is a Glittering Crossroads for E-Boy Music". PopMatters. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  12. ^ a b c Young, Brigid (October 12, 2021). "From 'Crush' to 'Comedown": A Conversation With That Kid". Poptized. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Simon, Noah (January 28, 2022). "The best hyperpop albums of all time". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  14. ^ Schiller, Natalie (June 17, 2021). "That Kid Is Emerging From the Pandemic a Bigger Artist Than He Entered". 303 Magazine.
  15. ^ Gameboi (July 19, 2021). "ICU (feat. That Kid) | Bandcamp". Bandcamp.
  16. ^ a b Ali, Jon (November 3, 2021). "That Kid Shows His Softer Side on 'Comedown'". Paper. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  17. ^ "hyperpop | Spotify Playlist". Spotify. Archived from the original on October 5, 2021. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  18. ^ Foster, Liz (July 5, 2022). "That Kid Hits "Full Throttle" With New Single". Sparky. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  19. ^ Trewn, Pranav (August 11, 2022). "That Kid's "DRY2WET" Makes Hyperpop Feel Brand New Again". Passion of the Weiss. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Dunn, Payton (September 23, 2022). "That Kid Embraces Maximalism on 'Superstar'". Paper. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  21. ^ Edsitty, Kyler (July 23, 2023). "That Kid Walks Us Through the Pop Star Experience With 'Superstar'". Ringtone Mag.
  22. ^ Foster, Liz (October 10, 2022). "That Kid is More Than a Superstar in the Making". Sparky. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  23. ^ "That Kid, Miss Madeline Tickets | September 27, 2022 @ Elsewhere - Zone One, New York". DICE. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  24. ^ "INTIMA LIVE with That Kid, Swan Meat, Joni, Pauli Cakes | Jan 25, 2023 @ Elsewhere - Zone One, New York". DICE. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  25. ^ a b Lane, Vincent (January 30, 2023). "That Kid releases Soulja Boy adaptation "Crank That"". The Garnette Report. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  26. ^ "That Kid with RYL0 and FantasyLuv live in Los Angeles | Jun 1, 2023 @ El Cid, Los Angeles". DICE. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  27. ^ "That Kid w/ 6arelyhuman, Bayymack & Strgurrl". Tixr. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  28. ^ "Hyperpop star That Kid taps Ayesha Erotica for new anthem "Q.O.S.D"". Mundane. December 5, 2023.
  29. ^ That KidがAyesha Eroticaプロデュースの新曲「Q.O.S.D」をリリース. Avyss (in Japanese). December 5, 2023.
  30. ^ October, Heaven (August 30, 2024). "Interview: That Kid Talks TK Ultra – A Cathartic Club Cacophony". Out Front.
  31. ^ Sharpe, Josh (August 29, 2024). "That Kid Taps Harmony Tividad, The Cataracs, and Ayesha Erotica for 'TK ULTRA' Mixtape". BroadwayWorld.
  32. ^ Sharpe, Josh (July 3, 2024). "6arelyhuman & underscores Join That Kid on New Single 'Spencer Needs A Ladder'". BroadwayWorld.