KhakiKid

Dublin rapper KhakiKid (born Abdu Huss) grew up as the middle child in a working-class household, developing an early awareness of his surroundings and identity as an Irish-Libyan outsider. In?uenced by UK grime via Channel U—particularly artists like Chip and Skepta—as well as US rap icons such as 50 Cent and Eminem, he began writing music at just 12 years old, already drawn to lyricism and technical skill.

Coming of age during the Tumblr and SoundCloud boom, he was inspired by boundary-pushing artists like XXXTENTACION, Tyler, the Creator, and Mac Miller, who blended genres and reshaped hip-hop’s possibilities. Throughout his teens, he re?ned his writing with friends, focusing on wordplay and ?ow, before brie?y stepping away from music to pursue basketball, earning a scholarship opportunity in Los Angeles. Realising the steep level of competition, he ultimately returned to rap with renewed focus.