Krizz Kaliko

Did You Know?

• Kaliko has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and named a track on his second album after the disorder.
• Several white patches from vitiligo are clearly visible on his face.

Career

Krizz Kaliko began his musical work in the late 1990s alongside local producer IcyRoc Kraven. Another rapper from the same area, Tech N9ne, was also working with IcyRoc at the time, which led to the two meeting. Tech N9ne was developing a song called "Who You Came To See" when Kaliko remarked that the hook could be improved. Tech challenged him to demonstrate, and after hearing Kaliko's version, he brought Kaliko into his inner circle. This eventually resulted in Kaliko signing to Strange Music, a label co-owned by Tech N9ne and Travis O'Guin. Since then, Kaliko has frequently contributed to Tech N9ne's albums, both as a featured rapper and as a background vocalist. He has also performed similar roles for former labelmates Kutt Calhoun, Rittz, and fellow labelmates Skatterman & Snug Brim, Ces Cru, and Prozak. Additional collaborations include tracks with the Kottonmouth Kings, Potluck, E-40, T-Pain, Twiztid, Andy Mineo, Chris B, and RM from the South Korean group BTS. His debut album, Vitiligo, was released on May 6, 2008, and reached number 19 on the Top Independent Albums chart and number 167 on the Billboard 200. His second studio album, Genius, came out on July 14, 2009. Several of his songs appear in the background of strip club scenes in the movie Big Fan. For his third studio album, Kaliko chose the title Shock Treatment, having considered Son of Sam and Walk on Water. His first EP, S.I.C., was released on May 17, 2011. In June 2011, he was featured on Winnipeg's Most's single "Forgive Me." On May 15, 2012, Kaliko released his fourth studio album, Kickin' and Screamin''', which became his highest charting album on the Billboard 200. It features Tech N9ne, Twista, Chamillionaire, T-Pain, Twiztid, and Rittz, with production mostly by Seven. In November of that year, he released his second EP, Neh'mind, with the lead single "Damage" featuring Snow Tha Product. A video for "Damage" was released on YouTube on December 14 and received over 100,000 views in two weeks.