Kobe Vidal Crawford was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama,[4] and grew up in the Birdsville housing projects on the city's south side. Crawford begun to show interest in music at the age of nine, receiving inspiration from his mother's boyfriend at the time.[4] He would continue to locally perform live shows alongside his brother, however, as the relationship between his mother and her boyfriend ended, Crawford would take a break from music until his teenage years.[4]
Career
2017–2019: Career beginnings and The Hood Dictionary
NoCap began his career in earnest with the release of his first EP, Believe It, in May 2017.[5] In early 2018, he released the song "Legend". The music video for that song accumulated over 1 million views on YouTube and would appear on NoCap's debut mixtape, Neighborhood Hero,[3] in July 2018.[6] He followed that with a collaborative mixtape, Rogerville, with Rylo Rodriguez[5] in September 2018.[6] In November of that year, he was featured on the Lil Baby track, "Dreams 2 Reality", off the mixtape, Street Gossip.[7]
In 2019, NoCap signed a record deal with YoungBoy Never Broke Again's Never Broke Again and Atlantic Records. Months later, in March 2019, NoCap released the single, "Punching Bag" produced by CashMoneyAP.[8] Later that month, he released another single, "Ghetto Angels".[9] "Ghetto Angels" has totaled more than 80 million views on YouTube and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.[3] In May, NoCap and Polo G were featured on the CashMoneyAP song, "No Patience".[10] Later that month, he released his second solo mixtape The Backend Child which marked his first appearance on the Billboard 200, debuting at number 170. The project featured guest appearances from Rylo Rodriguez ("Dead Faces"), OMB Peezy ("Demons"), and Quando Rondo ("New Ones").[5] NoCap also released music videos for songs off the album including those for "Blind Nights",[11] "Set It Off",[12] and "No Jewelry".[13]
In July 2019, NoCap delivered a freestyle as a part of DJ Booth's Bless The Booth series on Tidal.[14] The following month, he released the single, "Exotic",[15] and performed another freestyle on the HotNewHipHop Freestyle Session.[16] He was also featured on the Mozzy song, "Sad Situations".[17] On October 11, 2019, NoCap appeared on "Outta Here Safe" alongside Quando Rondo on YoungBoy's chart-topping mixtape, AI YoungBoy 2.[18] On November 19, 2019, NoCap released his third mixtape, The Hood Dictionary. The mixtape was preceded by three singles, "First Day In", released on September 27, 2019,[19] "Ghetto Angels (Remix)" featuring Lil Durk and Jagged Edge on September 30, 2019,[20] and "What You Know", just a day prior to the release of the mixtape on November 15, 2019.[21] The album featured guest appearances from Quando Rondo, Lil Durk, and Jagged Edge[22] and peaked at number 80 on the Billboard 200.[23]
On July 16, 2020, NoCap released his fourth mixtape, Steel Human, which debuted at number 31 on the Billboard 200.[24] The mixtape was preceded by "Count a Million" featuring Lil Uzi Vert on June 16, 2020.[25][26] NoCap released three music videos from the project: "By Tonight" on June 22, 2020, "Radar" on July 22, 2020, and "Overtime" on September 15, 2020. In December 2020, NoCap said on Instagram that he would be turning himself into authorities, in connection to a shooting in which he reportedly fired shots at someone his sister had an altercation with. He was charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling and reckless endangerment.[27]
On July 21, 2021, NoCap was released from prison.[28] Weeks after his release, on August 8, 2021, NoCap dropped "Vaccine" and "Vaccine (Falling Star)".[29] "Vaccine" peaked at number 2 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA. On February 23, 2022, NoCap released the single "I'll Be Here",[30] followed by "Shackles to Diamonds" on March 16, 2022,[31] and "Save the Day" featuring Kodak Black on April 21, 2022.[32] The singles appeared on NoCap's debut full-length studio album, Mr. Crawford which debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, selling 29,000 copies in its first week and becoming his highest charting project.[33] The album included guest appearances from Internet Money, Kodak Black, and NBA YoungBoy.[34]
In November 2022, NoCap entered a heated exchange with Never Broke Again label head, YoungBoy Never Broke Again over social media due to claims of disloyalty on Cap's end.[35] YoungBoy claimed that Cap was scared and refused to defend Quando Rondo following the death of King Von while Cap claimed that YoungBoy was hating on him because his career was taking off.[36] NoCap's last project under Never Broke Again, The Main Bird, was released on December 16, 2022, featuring guest appearances from Rylo Rodriguez and Rob49.[37] Following NoCap's heated exchange with YoungBoy, through Apple Music, it was shown that NoCap's music was no longer licensed to Never Broke Again, indicating his departure from the YoungBoy Never Broke Again-founded label.
Despite not releasing a project and only four singles in 2023, on June 23, 2023, Cap appeared as a feature on long-time collaborator Rylo Rodriguez's "Thang for You" which served as the lead single to Rylo's sophomore album Been One. The single peaked at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Cap's first entry on the chart.[38]
While teasing his sophomore album for over a year, on March 24, 2024, NoCap finally announced the release of his sophomore album, Before I Disappear Again for April 16, 2024, however, the album would later be pushed back until July 12, 2024. [39] On June 8, NoCap released the album's lead single, "Baby Drake".[40][41] The album's second single, "Yacht Party" was released on July 12.[42][43] The album's third single "Maliboo" was released on August 2.[44]
Legal issues
2019: Shooting charge
In late 2019, Crawford turned himself in to Alabama police.[45] Crawford was later charged with firing a gun in an occupied building, possession of a controlled substance, and felony violation of probation.[45] He was charged alongside his sister Brianna Crawford who was charged with shooting into an occupied building and reckless endangerment.[45] Sgt. LaDerrick DuBose with the Mobile Police Department stated:[45]
"The victim and another subject were involved in an altercation that turned physical. That subject then summoned for Mr. Crawford to show up. Mr. Crawford showed up, arrived on the scene, and the victim fled into the house. Mr. Crawford then fired shots into the house and then he fled with his sister."
2020–2021: Probation violation
In December 2020, Crawford had taken to his official Instagram to announce that he had thirty days to turn himself in:[46]
"I got 30 days to turn myself in & ma dukes tested positive for Covid this morning y’all pray 4 her, I don't know how long ima be gone I just want to appreciate my family, fans & friends for rocking w/ me continue to do that while I'm away, I'm not gone promise y’all nothing because I kno the process of dropping an album is not over night but I'm most definitely pushing for the beginning of da year ‘Mr.Crawford The Album So Soon.'"
— @thebackendchild
On January 11, 2021, Crawford turned himself in to police in Alabama regarding his September 2019 case where he allegedly violated his parole.[47] Almost seven months after NoCap's incarceration, on July 21, 2021, he was released from jail.[28]