Kodak Black, an influential American rapper, currently holds a net worth of $5 million. The artist first rose to fame in 2014 with his breakout single, “No Flockin.” Throughout his career, Kodak Black released hit albums such as Painting Pictures, Dying to Live, and Back for Everything, with chart-topping singles like “Tunnel Vision” and “Zeze.” Beyond music, his life has been marred by numerous legal issues, including charges related to rape, robbery, and making false statements, which led to multiple stints in jail.
In addition to his solo career, Kodak Black has worked with a variety of renowned artists, including French Montana, Yo Gotti, Rae Sremmurd, DJ Khaled, Jeezy, and more. One notable moment in his career occurred in March 2017 when he released a music video featuring Danielle Bregoli, aka the “Cash Me Ousside” girl, stirring rumors of a controversial relationship. These rumors were problematic given Danielle’s age at the time—only 13 years old—making such actions potentially criminal.
Early Life and Background
Kodak Black, born Dieuson Octave on June 11, 1997, in Pompano Beach, Florida, was raised by his mother in a public housing project. His father, Marcelene, is originally from Haiti. Black began rapping during his grade school years but was simultaneously drawn to a life of crime. As a child, he often got involved in physical fights and committed burglaries. In the fifth grade, he was expelled from school for fighting, and in middle school, he faced legal trouble after being arrested for car theft.
Beginning of His Career
At just 12 years old, Black joined his first rap group, Brutal Youngnz, and later became a member of another group, the Kolyons. His solo career began in 2013 when he released his debut mixtape, Project Baby, followed by another mixtape, Heart of the Projects, in 2014. That same year, he dropped his debut single, “No Flockin,” which garnered attention through YouTube. He further cemented his reputation with the release of Institution, his third mixtape, in 2015. Around this time, he gained increased exposure after rapper Drake shared a video of himself dancing to Black’s song “Skrt.”
Kodak Black’s popularity skyrocketed in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, he released Lil B.I.G. Pac, a mixtape that marked his first entry onto the Billboard charts. Early in 2017, he released the single “Tunnel Vision,” which became his first top-10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. This song was featured on his debut studio album, Painting Pictures, which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. That year also saw the release of his mixtape Project Baby 2, which further solidified his place in the music industry.
Continued Success and Collaboration
In 2018, Kodak Black’s career continued to soar with the release of his mixtape Heart Break Kodak on Valentine’s Day. Later that year, he released his second studio album, Dying to Live, which became his first number-one album on the Billboard 200. This album featured the massive hit “Zeze,” a collaboration with Travis Scott and Offset. Throughout 2019 and 2020, Black remained relevant, working with artists like NLE Choppa and DB Omerta on tracks like “Zombie” and “Vultures Cry 2.” In 2020, while incarcerated, Black released Bill Israel, his third studio album.
After receiving a pardon and being released from prison in early 2021, Black released songs like “Last Day In” and “Every Balmain,” which dealt with his experiences in incarceration. A few months later, he dropped Haitian Boy Kodak, a mixtape that gained attention. Later in 2021, Black scored a hit with “Super Gremlin,” which appeared on the compilation album Sniper Gang Presents Syko Bob & Snapkatt: Nightmare Babies and his fourth studio album, Back for Everything. This album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, and Kodak continued his success with Cutthroat Bill: Vol. 1 and its dual single “Walk/Spin.” In May 2023, Kodak Black released his fifth studio album, Pistolz & Pearlz.
Legal Troubles
Throughout his career, Kodak Black has faced numerous legal issues. His criminal history began in 2015 when he was arrested in Pompano Beach for robbery, battery, false imprisonment of a child, and possession of cannabis. The following year, he was charged with weapons offenses, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and fleeing from law enforcement. Later that year, Black was arrested again for armed robbery and false imprisonment. In August 2016, he pleaded no contest to these charges and agreed to house arrest, probation, community service, and anger management courses.
Before his release, police discovered two outstanding criminal warrants for Black. One was related to felony sexual assault charges in South Carolina, while the other concerned a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge in Florida. He spent 120 days in jail in Florida before being transferred to South Carolina, where he faced sexual assault charges. Black’s legal troubles continued when he violated probation, resulting in an indictment and a 364-day jail sentence for violating house arrest.
In early 2018, Kodak Black faced additional charges after he appeared in an Instagram live feed showing a gun and marijuana near a child. He was sentenced to another 364 days in prison. In 2019, Black was arrested after reentering the U.S. and was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of marijuana. This led to another 46-month sentence, along with additional time for prior firearm offenses. However, Black was granted a pardon by President Donald Trump in early 2021, which led to his release.
Despite his release, Kodak Black continued to face legal battles. In 2021, he failed a drug test, which violated the terms of his release, leading to an order for him to enter rehab. In January 2022, Black was granted a commutation for his previous sentence.
Recent Arrests and Legal Issues
Kodak Black’s legal woes persisted in 2022 and 2023. In July 2022, he was arrested for trespassing in Pompano Beach, Florida, after a traffic stop revealed marijuana and oxycodone tablets in his vehicle. He was charged with trafficking and possession of a controlled substance and placed under house arrest. Later in June 2023, Black had to attend court due to a missed check-in. After arguing to lift the restrictions on his travel, his bond was raised, but he was able to continue his career without restrictions.
In December 2023, Kodak was arrested again in Plantation, Florida, for possession of cocaine and evidence tampering. Police discovered him asleep in his car with marijuana and what appeared to be cocaine in his mouth. The substance later tested positive for oxycodone, which Black had a prescription for from 2022.
Personal Life
In 2018, Kodak Black legally changed his name to Bill Kahan Kapri and earned his GED while serving time in prison. Later, in 2022, he survived being shot during a confrontation outside an Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, where Justin Bieber hosted a Super Bowl party.
Real Estate Investments
Kodak Black’s real estate ventures include purchasing a commercial property in Pompano Beach, Florida, for $1.8 million in February 2023. The property spans 0.7 acres and houses two buildings from the 1950s. Additionally, his primary residence is in Hollywood, Florida, where he bought a house for $557,000 in 2018.
