Kid Acne is an artist, illustrator and hip-hop musician. He was born in Lilongwe

Lilongwe

Lilongwe, estimated population 902,388 as of 2009, is the capital and largest city of Malawi. It lies in the country's central region, on the Lilongwe River, near the border of Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, and on the main north-south highway of Malawi, the M1.-History:The city started life as a...

, Malawi

Malawi

The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...

 in 1978. He grew up in Lutterworth

Lutterworth

Lutterworth is a market town and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. The town is located in southern Leicestershire, north of Rugby, in Warwickshire and south of Leicester. It had a population of 8,293 in the 2001 UK census....

, Leicestershire

Leicestershire

Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...

 and is currently based in Sheffield

Sheffield

Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...

, South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire

South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.

Early work

In 1995 along with his brother, (Chips for the Poor) and a group of local friends, Kid Acne formed the Invisible Spies collective as an umbrella heading for their creative output. This consisted of DIY fanzines, super 8 films and poorly organized pub gigs. In 1996 their 1st band, 'Brian & the Teenagers' released two singles on their own C U Next Tuesday record label, to early critical acclaim, most notably from John Peel

John Peel

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...

. Kid Acne designed the record sleeves and posters, though didn't actually play in the band. From the ashes of Brian & the Teenagers, the same group of friends formed Toah Dynamic, of which Acne was a founding member. They released an 8 track 7" EP titled 'Hip Hop Gymkhana' in 1997 before releasing their first full length LP, 'Movement' to inaugurate Invisible Spies Records in 2000.

Toah Dynamic & the Invisible Spies Collective

The collective is made of Kid Acne, Chips for the Poor, Supreme Vagabond Craftsman, Be My Twin, Earl Shilton, Mo' Mummy and 64 Cousins.

Toah Dynamic have released two albums, 'Movement' (2000) and 'Cops Hate Our Love' (2002). Invisible Spies continues as a fully functioning record label, releasing works from various collective members including Oi! Civil servants, Methodist Centre.

Musical Output

Kid Acne has released a number of records sporadically throughout the past decade.
In 1997, alongside beat maker Benjamin, Acne released his first single, 'Slingshots' under the name 'Mongrels'.
In 2000 Acne issued his first solo 7" single, 'Squirrel Hunters' as the prelude to his debut album, 'Rap Traffic' in 2001. Rap Traffic marked the culmination of two years of Sheffield to Brighton commuting, dragon battle mic destruction and nocturnal beat farming.
The LP was swiftly followed by another solo 7" in the form of the self produced 'Regarde Kid Acne' alongside the second and sadly last Mongrels 7", 'Fresh Arrangements'.

Kid Acne's 2nd album, 'Council Pop' was released in late 2003 preceded by a 12" of the track 'Radio Music' accompanied by triumphant UK tours featuring Req One and human beatbox Chase.

Warp Records' Beat Constructor, Req One produced both 'Council Pop' and its predecessor 'Rap Traffic'. Kid Acne returned the favour on Req's album 'Car Paint Scheme' when he provided vocals for the track 'Style Mentorz'. 2003 also saw the release of the party single 'Zub Zub Rockerz' released on Jazz Fudge.

In 2004 Acne invited London rap maverick, Infinite Livez to join him on the track, 'Move It or Lose It' for his 'Reality Raps EP'. This proved to be a minor success with the promo video doing the rounds on MTV Raps and Channel U.

In 2007, Acne released his 3rd rap Lp, 'Romance Ain't Dead' on Lex / EMI. Beats programmed by Req One, produced by Ross Orton

Ross Orton

Ross Orton is a musician/songwriter/producer based in Sheffield, England.He is known for his work as drummer in Add N to and as part of electro trio Fat Truckers, and since that band's split in 2004 has formed the Cavemen songwriting/production duo with Pulp's Steve Mackey...

 and mastered by Rob Gordon. The album has been praised with significant criticle acclaim and was released internationally in 2008.

The lead single, 'Eddy Fresh' was released in Autumn 2007, complete with Gescom Remix and promo video directed by fellow artist, Dscreet.

Acne's live show line up currently consists of (DJ) Benjamin, (Hype Man) Clev Cleverley and (human beatbox) Chase Rockwell. Together they have toured the UK and Europe supporting the likes of El-P, Black Lips, Flying Lotus, Beans (Anti Pop Consortium), Prince Po, Lethal Bizzle, Atmosphere, James Pants, Long Blondes, DJ FOOD, Herbalizer and Jehst.

Discography

Rap Traffic (LP) / Invisible Spies 2001

Rap Traffic (CD, Album) / Invisible Spies 2001

Squirrel Hunters (7") / Invisible Spies 2001

Regarde Kid Acne (7") / Invisible Spies 2002

Acne Instrumentals (12", Promo) / Invisible Spies 2003

Council Pop (LP) / Invisible Spies 2003

Council Pop (CD) / Invisible Spies 2003

Radio Music (12", Single) / Invisible Spies 2003

Zub-Zub Rockers (7", Single) / Electro Caramel 2003

Reality Raps EP (12", EP) / Invisible Spies 2004

South Yorks (CDr, Single, Promo) / Invisible Spies 2005

Eddy Fresh (7", Promo, Ltd) / Lex Records 2007

Eddy Fresh (12", EP, Promo) / Lex Records 2007

Eddy Fresh (CD, Single, Promo) / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007

Eddy Fresh (7", Single) / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007

Eddy Fresh (12") / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007

Eddy Fresh (CDr, Promo) / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007

Romance Ain't Beats (12", EP) / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007

Romance Ain't Dead (CD, Album, Promo) / Lex Records 2007

Romance Ain't Dead (CD, Album) / Lex Records 2007

Romance Ain't Dead (LP) / Lex Records 2007

Sliding Doors (CD, EP, Promo) / Lex Records 2007

Sliding Doors (7") / Lex Records, EMI Records 2007

Worst Luck (12", Single) / Lex Records 2007

Worst Luck EP (CD, EP, Promo) / Lex Records 2007

Worst Luck EP (7") / Lex Records 2007

Tracks Appear On:

Invisible Spies (CD, Album, Comp) Woofstallions / (C). U. Next Tuesday Records 1998

Req - Car Paint Scheme (CD) *Skit 1 / Style Mentorz / Skint Records 2000

Lexoleum Two (12", EP) Rap Dracula / Lex Records 2001

Lexoleum Two (12", EP, W/Lbl) Rap Dracula / Lex Records 2001

Brechtian Tactics (Cass, Mixed) Rap Dracula / Vulgar 2002

Lexample (CD) Radio Music / Lex Records 2002

Abstract Funk Theory (CD, Comp) Ghosts With Teeth / Obsessive 2003

Abstract Funk Theory (2xLP, Comp) Ghosts With Teeth / Obsessive 2003

Lexoleum Trilogy (CD, Comp) Rap Dracula / Lex Records 2003

Lexoleum Trilogy (3xLP, Comp) Rap Dracula / Lex Records 2003

Suspect Files Vol 3 (CD, Comp) South Yorks / Suspect Packages 2004

Lexample Red (CD, Promo, Smplr) Eddy Fresh / Lex Records 2007

2011
Kill Your Darlings / Millennium Gallery, Sheffield, UK *
Rhythm Is A Dancer / Stolen Space, London, UK *

2010
When The Smoke Clears / Concrete Hermit, London, UK *
Dust In The Giant’s Eye / Electrik Sheep Gallery, Newcastle, UK*
Summer Group Show / Stolen Space, London, UK
Ois’ Easy / Helmet Gallery, Munich, Germany*

2009
Flying Eyeball ‘Pop Up’ Show / Gallery 27, London, UK
Christmas Group Show / Friend & Co, Bristol, UK
Seven Styles for Seven Brothers / APG Works, Sheffield, UK
Smoke & Mirrors / Stella Dore Gallery, London, UK*

2008
Nancy Victor Christmas Show / Nancy Victor Gallery, London, UK
Stella Dore Group Show / Stella Dore Gallery, London, UK
Brothers In Arms / Mini Gallery, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

2007
Alternativity / Truman Brewery, London, UK
Bestial / Iguapop Gallery, Barcelona, Spain
Refill Seven / MTV Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Flat Black / The Workstation, Sheffield, UK

2006
His Life Is Full of Miracles / Site Gallery, Sheffield, UK

2005
Picture This (War Child) / Bargehouse, London, UK
GIRLS / Myymälä 2 Gallery, Helsinki, Finland

2004
The Big Draw / Millennium Galleries, Sheffield, UK
Graphic / Fredericks & Freiser Gallery, New York, USA
Application / Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Australia

2003
Basefield / The Commons, Melbourne, Australia
Sexpo / Hixept Gallery, Grenoble, France

2001
Graffiti: Concrete or Wallpaper? / Swiss Embassy, London, UK

1998
Graffiti Bastards 2 / Custard Factory, Birmingham, UK

1996
Graffiti Bastards / Custard Factory, Birmingham, UK

• Denotes solo show

Zebra Face

2001 saw the completion of Zebra Face, the comic book jointly created by Kid Acne and Supreme Vagabond Craftsman. The book follows the adventures of a two dimensional zebra faced superhero and his diabetic sidekick as they battle in a 2D galaxy of diffuse baddies.

Graffiti and artwork

Acne's unique artwork has been exhibited throughout the world, both inside and outside galleries. His signature style has customized everything from skateboards and bar interiors to ladies knitwear and most notably, T-shirt collections for Prada. His work has also infiltrated the music industry, Acne designing the covers for the early albums and EP's for the French rap group TTC

TTC (band)

TTC is a four member hip hop and electronic band from Paris, France. It is composed of MCs Tido Berman, Teki Latex and Cuizinier plus DJ Orgasmic. They were signed to Big Dada for their first LP Ceci N'est Pas Un Disque, the title of which referred to René Magritte's painting La trahison des...

, for example.

His artwork also non-intentionally featured in the Charlie Kaufman

Charlie Kaufman

Charles Stuart "Charlie" Kaufman is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. His film work includes Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York...

 film Synecdoche, New York

Synecdoche, New York

Synecdoche, New York is a 2008 American drama film written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman. It was Kaufman's directorial debut.The film premiered in competition at the 61st Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 23, 2008...

 as seen in the theatrical trailer at 1:06.

Known Artwork Locations

Lutterworth

Lutterworth

Lutterworth is a market town and civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England. The town is located in southern Leicestershire, north of Rugby, in Warwickshire and south of Leicester. It had a population of 8,293 in the 2001 UK census....

(first known artwork) Sheffield, London, Manchester, Berlin, Hamburg, Dresden, Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Lyon, New York, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Baku - Azerbaijan, Perth - Western Australia...