Kari Rose Johnson[1] (born June 11, 1992)[2][3] better known by her stage name Kari Faux, is an American rapper from Little Rock, Arkansas.[4] She is best known for her flamboyant dress, and conversational style of rap. Her songs are most commonly characterized as "internet rap" with repetitive hooks, minimal production, and an emphasis on clever wordplay.[2]

Kari Faux
Faux performing in 2016
Faux performing in 2016
Background information
Birth nameKari Rose Johnson
Born (1992-06-11) June 11, 1992 (age 32)
OriginLittle Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer

Early life and education

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Faux was born June 11, 1992, to a single teenage mother. She was adopted by a couple that had a 10-year-old son, and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her father worked for the Skippy Peanut Butter factory in Little Rock, and her mother was a minister.[5][2]

She attended Little Rock Central High School.[4] After graduating she moved to Atlanta, Georgia and enrolled in the Art Institute of Atlanta,[6] to study audio engineering, but dropped out after a while, declaring: "It sucked. The school is a scam, and I only had one real friend. That was just a bad time. I was so sad. I was smoking a lot of weed, trying to find myself, it was not working, so I took my ass back home.”[2]

Career

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In 2014, Faux released her debut mixtape, Laugh Now, Die Later, which had been received somewhat well from critics, landing a spot on Pitchfork's "Most Overlooked Mixtapes of 2014.[7] The EP would most notably gain the attention of rapper Donald Glover, also known as Childish Gambino. Glover remixed Faux's "No Small Talk," and featured it on his own mixtape, STN MTN.[8][9] Kari was also featured on Glover's 2016 album, "Awaken, My Love!"[8][9] She released the EP Cry 4 Help in 2019 and the mixtape Lowkey Superstar in 2020.[10] Lowkey Superstar was recorded in London, United Kingdom, with producer Danio.[10]

Personal life

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In the fall of 2014 Faux moved to Los Angeles, California with friend and collaborator bLAck PARty, in order to further develop her career and produce more music,[4] but went back to Little Rock in 2016.[11] As of 2020, Faux resides again in Los Angeles.[10]

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Lost En Los Angeles (2016)
  • Lowkey Superstar (Deluxe) (2021, Don Giovanni/Lowkey Superstar)
  • Real Bitches Don't Die! (2023)

Mixtapes

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  • City Limits (2012)
  • Sophisticated Rachetness (2012)
  • No Sleep Til Atlanta (2013)
  • Laugh Now, Die Later (2014)
  • Lowkey Superstar (2020)

Guest appearances

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List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Artist(s) Album
"No Small Talk" 2014 Childish Gambino STN MTN
"Bday" 2016 Isaiah Rashad, Deacon Blues The Sun's Tirade
"Zombies" Childish Gambino "Awaken, My Love!"
"Alotta Women / Useless" 2017 Matt Martians The Drum Chord Theory
"Fake" 2018 Chloe x Halle The Kids Are Alright
"On My Mind / Charge It to the Game" Patrick Paige II, Syd Letters of Irrelevance
"Mortal Kombat" 2019 Pivot Gang You Can't Sit With Us
"Bucciarati" 2020 Open Mike Eagle Anime, Trauma and Divorce
"Don't Call Again" Tkay Maidza Last Year Was Weird (Vol. 2)
"Off the Plane" 2022 Pink Siifu, EZ Real Bad Flights

References

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  1. ^ "Kari Faux Lyrics, Songs, and Albums | Genius". Genius. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Haithcoat, Rebecca (February 17, 2015). "How Kari Faux Went From Working at Chick-fil-A to Chilling With Childish Gambino". Complex. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  3. ^ S., M. (June 6, 2017). "HEY, YOU'RE COOL! KARI FAUX". Mass Appeal. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Hallan Farah, Safy (February 27, 2015). "Gah Damn, Kari Faux Doesn't Want You Coming to Her for Answers". Vice. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "Spotify Web Player – Kari Faux". Spotify. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  6. ^ "Kari Faux". Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  7. ^ "Overlooked Mixtapes 2014". Pitchfork. December 22, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Petrarca, Emilia (December 14, 2016). "Meet Kari Faux, the 24-Year-Old Rapper Tapped by Donald Glover and Issa Rae". W Magazine. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Lyle, Ashley. "Kari Faux Talks Working on Childish Gambino's 'Awaken, My Love!' & Writing Music for Issa Rae's HBO Hit 'Insecure". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  10. ^ a b c "Kari Faux Is At The Top Of Her Game On 'Lowkey Superstar'". NYLON. April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Starling, Lakin (July 20, 2016). "Kari Faux Is on a Mission To Be Great And Grounded". The Fader. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
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