Kevin Abstract

He released his debut album, MTV1987, in 2014 to critical acclaim, and received attention from a number of major music blogs and magazine publications.

After the release of MTV1987, Abstract began working on the music video for the song "Hell/Heroina", using more than $3,000 accrued from fans through a Kickstarter campaign.

Clifford Ian Simpson (born July 16, 1996), known by his stage name Kevin Abstract, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter known for his role as a founding member of Brockhampton.

At the beginning of 2014, Abstract began working on his debut album with his in-house record producer, Romil.

On April 1, 2014, he released the record's first single, entitled "Save".

The second single from the album, "Drugs", was released on May 6, 2014, with the music video following around a month later.

The album was released on July 15, 2014, and was met with positive reviews from a number of music blogs, such as Billboard, Complex, Spin Pigeons & Planes, and 2DopeBoyz.

The crowdfunded project was directed by Tyler Mitchell and finally released on November 4, 2014.

Abstract also did a 24-hour live stream on November 1, leading up to the video release, where viewers watched both himself and his computer screen as the audience listened to him talk, observed him interact with Twitter users, and watched movies together.

Near the end of 2014, AliveSinceForever disbanded.

Out of that project, the musical group Brockhampton was formed by Abstract and others he met on the Kanye West fan forum KanyeToThe.

On January 15, 2015, Abstract informed fans via his Twitter page that his second record was to be titled Death of a Supermodel and that it would be released later in the year.

However, this album was later discarded.

Abstract has announced that he is now working on a different album, They Shoot Horses, a part of the Death of a Supermodel trilogy.

On May 30, Abstract and other BROCKHAMPTON members, Bearface., Romil Hemnani and Henock Sileshi released a side project EP titled "MEMORIAL DAY" under new personas and the "NOWIFIII" name due to the 2015 Texas floods making them lose their Wi-Fi.

On June 23, Abstract released a video for "Save", directed by Ian Gilner, Henock Sileshi and Franklin Mendez.

In November, the first single from They Shoot Horses, "Echo" was released, along with a music video directed by Tyler Mitchell.

In January 2015, Brockhampton's debut single "Bet I" was released.

The video for the song was released on March 25, 2015, and was directed by fellow Brockhampton members HK Covers and Franklin Mendez.

On June 16, Brockhampton released a second single "Hero".

At the end of June, it was announced that Brockhampton had won VFiles Loud, an online talent contest aiming to discover the best up-and-coming collectives.

Brockhampton was given the opportunity to premiere a professionally directed music video for their third single on MTV, as well as having it released through the independent recording label Fool's Gold Records.

The single, "Dirt", was premiered through Apple's Beats 1 Radio and was released on iTunes a few days after.

His second album, American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story, was released in November 2016, his third, Arizona Baby, was released in April 2019, and his fourth, Blanket, was released in November 2023.

Abstract was born in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Abstract was not close with his mother, not even knowing what her profession was.

As Abstract began to realize his sexuality, he isolated himself from his family, feeling ashamed.

Many speculate that this is one of the reasons that he ran away from home.

He has stated that his family members are "extremely religious" Mormons.

Abstract began producing music at 11 and ran away from home at 15, staying at a friend's house for a year before moving to Georgia to live with his sister.

In March 2016, Abstract joined alternative band The Neighbourhood on a week-long tour through England, opening up shows in Portsmouth, Birmingham, Manchester, and London.

The final show of the tour was live streamed via the Periscope app, in which he also teased his new album They Shoot Horses, expected to be released in 2016.

He also provided confirmation that his next single would be called Empty.

In April, Abstract announced that he would be going on tour with The Neighbourhood again, but this time in the US, during May and June.

Abstract exclusively performed new songs from his upcoming album.

At the end of June, Abstract announced that he had changed the title of his upcoming album to American Boyfriend: A Suburban Love Story and reassured fans that it would still be coming later that year.

Abstract, along with fellow members of Brockhampton, appeared in the Viceland television series American Boyband, which premiered on June 8, 2017.

The series followed Abstract on his first headlining tour across North America, while also capturing moments of other Brockhampton members still at home in South Central, Los Angeles.

Abstract is currently managed by longtime manager and business partner Anish Ochani as well as Christian and Kelly Clancy of 4 Strikes.

As of November 2018, it has been removed from most major download and streaming services.