Kent Jones (rapper)

Kent Jones
Birth nameDaryl Kent Jones
Born (1993-04-14) April 14, 1993 (age 31)[1]
Tallahassee, Florida, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2013–present
Labels

Daryl Kent Jones (born April 14, 1993) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.[2] He is best known for his commercial debut single "Don't Mind", which reached number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. His first mixtape, Tours, was released in the summer of 2015 by Epidemic Records, We the Best Music Group, and Epic Records.[3]

Early life

Daryl Kent Jones was born on April 14, 1993, in Tallahassee, Florida.[4] As a youngster, he came in contact with music in his local church, while he was also taught to play the drums by his aunt.[5] Later on, Jones started taking formal music lessons, learning to play the piano and the Hammond organ, and studying music theory.[6] He also started developing an interest in jazz music, appreciating the music of Quincy Jones.[7] Jones later moved to Miami to work more with Cool & Dre.

Career

Jones first started working with record producers and songwriters Cool & Dre, signing a record deal with their label Epidemic Records.[6] While at Epidemic, he collaborated with the likes of Fat Joe, The Game, Currensy, Queen Latifah, and Busta Rhymes.[6] Cool & Dre introduced him to DJ Khaled in 2015, who eventually signed him in a joint venture record deal to his own label We the Best Music Group and Epic Records.[6][8]

Jones released his first mixtape titled Tours in July 2015.[9] The mixtape's most successful song "Don't Mind", which contains lyrics in French, Spanish, Japanese, and Haitian Creole, was later released as a single.[10] "Don't Mind", a song which was about to be left out of the mixtape, was also remixed by Trina later on.[6] The song debuted at number 63 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 2016,[6] reached number 46 on pop radio in the first week of May 2016,[11] further rising to number 40 in the following weeks.[12]

Jones was also featured in the soundtrack of NBA 2K16, participating in DJ Khaled's track "365" along with Ace Hood and Vado.[13][14]

Discography

Mixtapes

List of mixtapes, with selected details
Title Album details
Tours[15]
Too Much Too Soon[16]
  • Released: September 16, 2016
  • Label: Epidemic, We the Best, Epic
  • Format: Digital download
The LUH Tape[17]
  • Released: February 14, 2017
  • Label: Epidemic, We the Best, Epic
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As a lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with selected chart positions and certifications, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[18] 		US R&B/
HH
[19] 		US Rap
[20] 		AUS
[21] 		CAN
[22] 		FRA
[23] 		NLD
[24] 		NZ
[25] 		SWE
[26] 		UK
[27]
"Don't Mind" 2016 8 3 1 19 14 35 25 20 38 9 Tours
"Alright" — — — — — — — — — — Non-album single
"Sit Down"[32][16]
(featuring Ty Dolla Sign, Lil Dicky and E-40) 		2017 — — — — — — — — — — Too Much Too Soon
"Merengue"[33] 2018 — — — — — — — — — — Non-album singles
"I Like It" 2019 — — — — — — — — — —
"No Plans for Love"
(with D-Nice and Ne-Yo) 		2021 — — — — — — — — — —
Title Year Peak
chart
positions 		Album
IRE
[34] 		UK
[27]
"One Thing"[35]
(ThatBoyEric featuring Kent Jones) 		2016 — — Non-album singles
"Not in Love"[36]
(M.O featuring Kent Jones) 		75 42
"Sooner or Later"
(Mia Martina featuring Kent Jones) 		2017 — —
"Feels Like Home"
(Sigala, Sean Paul and Fuse ODG featuring Kent Jones) 		2018 52 71 Brighter Days

Guest appearances

List of non-single guest appearances, with other performing artists, showing year released and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"365" 2015 DJ Khaled, Ace Hood, Vado NBA 2K16 soundtrack
"Be Right Back (BRB)" A Fly Guy Geniusland
"Don't Ever Play Yourself" 2016 DJ Khaled, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes Major Key
"Smith & Wessen" Rowdy Rebel Shmoney Keeps Calling
"Stretch Marks" Chocolate Droppa Kevin Hart: What Now? (The Mixtape Presents Chocolate Droppa)
"Bitch Real" Kevin Lavell Sorry 4 Nothing
"Blown" DNCE DNCE
"In the Middle" Cashis Ca-$ 1.5
"Swear to God" Fat Joe, Remy Ma Plata O Plomo
"Spaghetti"
"How Can I Forget"
"Gangsta Song" E-40 The D-Boy Diary: Book 1
"Who You Talking To" 2018 E-40 The Gift of Gab

Production discography

2015

The Game – The Documentary 2

  • 06. "Dollar and a Dream" (featuring Ab-Soul) (produced with Cool & Dre, iLLA and Just BonaFide)

2016

The Game – The Documentary 2 Collector's Edition

  • 01. "Ride Solo" (produced with Cool & Dre)
  • 02. "Do It to You" (featuring Trey Songz) (produced with Cool & Dre)

Awards and nominations

Underground Interviews

Year Nominee / work Award Result
2016 Himself Rapper of the Year Nominated

iHeartRadio Music Awards

Year Nominee / work Award Result Ref
2017 Himself Best New Hip-Hop Artist Nominated [37]

References

  1. ^ "Kent Jones – Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ "Kent Jones- Biography". Billboard. Retrieved July 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "Kent Jones". Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  4. ^ Jeffries, David. "Kent Jones Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  5. ^ "Kent Jones – Biography". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Nostro, Lauren (May 10, 2016). "Meet Kent Jones, The DJ Khaled Protégé Whose Hit Single Will Soundtrack The Summer". Genius. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  7. ^ Centeno, Tony (December 11, 2015). "We The Best Artist Kent Jones Explains The Success Behind His 'Tours' Mixtape". Vibe. Retrieved May 16, 2016.
  8. ^ "Who is Kent Jones?". OOYUZ.com. September 26, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  9. ^ Lyons, Patrick (August 18, 2015). "Kent Jones makes his HNHH debut with "Don't Mind."". HotNewHipHop.com. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  10. ^ "Don't Mind by Kent Jones". SongFacts.com. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  11. ^ Cantor, Brian (May 8, 2015). "Kent Jones' "Don't mind," Disturbed's "The sound of silenc" reach top 50 at Pop Radio". Headline Planet. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  12. ^ Cantor, Brian (May 15, 2016). "Belly's "Might Not (featuring The Weeknd)" and Kent Jones' "Don't Mind" are now inside the Top 40 at pop radio". headlineplanet.com. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  13. ^ "Get your groove on with the official NBA 2K16 soundtrack". July 24, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  14. ^ Walker, Angus (September 26, 2015). "DJ Khaled – 365 Feat. Ace Hood, Kent Jones & Vado [New Song]". HotNewHipHop.com. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  15. ^ Meara, Paul (July 27, 2015). "Mixtape Release Dates: 2 Chainz, Turk, PeeWee Longway, Young Dolph". hiphopdx.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  16. ^ a b "Kent Jones – Too Much Too Soon – Download & Listen [New Mixtape]". HNHH. September 17, 2016.
  17. ^ "Kent Jones 'The LUH Tape'". HNHH. February 14, 2017.
  18. ^ "Kent Jones – Chart History: The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  19. ^ "Kent Jones – Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  20. ^ "Kent Jones – Chart History: Rap Songs". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  21. ^ "australian-charts.com – Discography Kent Jones". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  22. ^ "Kent Jones – Chart History: Canadian Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  23. ^ "lescharts.com – Kent Jones – Don't Mind". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  24. ^ "Kent Jones – Don't Mind". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  25. ^ "charts.nz – Kent Jones – Don't Mind". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
  26. ^ "swedishcharts.com – Kent Jones – Don't Mind". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  27. ^ a b UK chart peaks:
  28. ^ "Gold & Platinum – RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America.
  29. ^ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 5, 2016. Retrieved September 3, 2016.
  30. ^ "Award". BPI. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  31. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Kent Jones – Don't Mind". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 20, 2024.
  32. ^ "Sit Down (feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Lil Dicky & E-40 – Single by Kent Jones on iTunes". Apple Inc. August 16, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  33. ^ "Merengue – Single by Kent Jones on iTunes". Apple Inc. January 24, 2018. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
  34. ^ "Discography Kent Jones". irishcharts.com. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  35. ^ "One Thing (feat. Kent Jones) – Single by ThatBoyEric". iTunes Store. June 9, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  36. ^ "Not in Love (feat. Kent Jones) – Single by ThatBoyEric". iTunes Store. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  37. ^ "Here's The Complete List Of #iHeartAwards Winners | iHeartRadio Music Awards | iHeartRadio". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.