User:Kingofpositivity

Kenny Margarito Alvarez (born April 1, 1985) also known by his acronymic stage name I.K.P. or (The Infamous King of Positivity) is an American independent Hip hop artist of Garifuna (Black Carib) and/or Afro-Caribbean descent. A graduate of Full Sail University, he produced and self-released his debut album Ignoring the Known Protocol in late 2011.

1985–2011: Early life and career beginnings
Kenny Alvarez was born in East New York, Brooklyn to parents of Garifuna origin from Honduras. In October, 1991 at age 6, he and his family moved from Brooklyn to Norfolk, Virginia and was raised there. He attended Granby High School, and graduated in 2003. Early in his senior year in 2002, Alvarez enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, but only with his parents approval because at the time he signed the contract, he was still a minor. At the end of the summer following his high-school graduation, he entered the Armed forces and served until December 2008, when he was honorably discharged. Alvarez cultivated his interest in rap music during his teen years through influence from siblings and older relatives. During his stint in the service, Alvarez recorded a mixtape, On The Verge Of Collapse, and handed them out at open mic where he would perform. In 2009, he attended Full Sail University, where he quickly assembled with a classmates that later form his production team. Together, they would produce tracks for a full length album. The first single, "The Poetry of Color" was passed to a cousin who co-hosted an internet radio show called It's A Go Radio in Brooklyn, New York, where Alvarez received a bit of exposure. But it was the follow-up single, "Let It B. Known", a hip-hop/rock hybrid recording that speaks on oppression faced by the gay community and name-checks Katy Perry in a slight reference to her 2008 single I Kissed a Girl, that was nominated for an OUTMusic Award in 2011, where he entered the scene of other LGBT artists and gained a bit of notoriety. On September 26, 2011, I.K.P., released his album Ignoring the Known Protocol digitally, exclusively through his Bandcamp page.

2011–2012: Super-Hoe 2012 & beginning I.K.P. 4 President
Soon after the release of his debut, I.K.P. began work producing a mixtape project entitled I.K.P. 4 President. He states that it will be a mixtape series with three parts that aims to broaden his musical palette and open up for collaborators mostly from the LGBT "Out" circle of artists. The debut single from this project was Boogie Down Productions remake of this album track "Super-Hoe" from their 1987 debut "Criminal Minded". The song features fellow artists Loco Ninja and female rapper Splash T, of the Swanny River Music Group collective. The song was released to strong reception in April 2012 and will be included on the first installation of the I.K.P. 4 President series.

Influences
I.K.P. lists his rap influences as The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem and T.I. and has stated that he has adopted many bits of their stylistic nuances and incorporated them into his writing process.

Discography
Studio albums
 * Ignoring the Known Protocol (2011)

Singles
 * Let It B. Known
 * Novocaine (Push & Pull)
 * Hunt Me Down
 * The Poetry of Color


 * Mixtapes
 * On The Verge Of Collapse (limited release) (2008)
 * I.K.P. 4 President Part 1: E Pluribus Unum (2013)

Category:Living people Category:1985 births Category:Garifuna American rappers Category:LGBT artists Category:independent artists Category:People from Norfolk, Virginia Category:Rappers from Norfolk, Virginia Category:East Coast hip hop Category:Southern hip hop

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