Kenny Haiti is a Haitian hip-hop artist and producer known for blending traditional Haitian kompa and rara rhythms with contemporary trap and rap. Hailing from Port-au-Prince, his major achievement came with his 2021 album Rapadou, which debuted at number one on the Haitian music charts and spawned several viral hits across the diaspora.
Born Kenel Joseph in 1994 in the capital's Delmas district, Kenny Haiti began his musical journey by producing beats on basic software in his late teens. His early recognition came through a series of self-released mixtapes, starting with 2015's Ti Pwofèt La, which caught the attention of the independent Haitian label Lakay Production.
Kenny Haiti's national breakthrough arrived in 2019 with the explosive single Vini Wè. The track, produced on his own and released through Lakay Production, became an anthem in Haiti and achieved platinum certification within the country, driven by massive digital streams and club play.
Vini Wè — This 2019 hit was his first platinum record and established his signature sound of rapid-fire Krèyol lyrics over hard-hitting beats.
Rapadou — The title track from his 2021 album masterfully fuses a classic kompa guitar line with modern 808s, showcasing his cultural fusion.
Lapolis — A gritty, socially conscious track featuring veteran artist BIC, it demonstrated his ability to address complex themes within popular music.
Boule — This 2022 collaboration with Nigerian afrobeats star Peruzzi marked his first major pan-African crossover attempt.
Following the success of Rapadou, Kenny Haiti expanded his collaborations, working with artists from the wider Francophone world. He co-produced tracks for fellow Haitian star J. Perry and featured on a remix for Montreal-based rapper Loud. His production work has become as sought-after as his vocal performances, leading to a 2023 executive producer credit on the compilation Nouvo Son Ayiti.
Fans of Kenny Haiti's rhythmic, culturally rooted hip-hop also enjoy the work of J. Perry, who similarly blends Haitian genres with R&B and pop. The energetic dancehall-infused style of Beethova shares a common musical heritage. For lyrical flow in Haitian Krèyol, check out Barikad, a pioneer in the local rap scene. The modern trap influence in his music is also evident in the work of Worl, known for his innovative production.
The music of Kenny Haiti maintains a strong rotation on the urban and Caribbean-focused stations featured on this website. His tracks are staples on online radio streams dedicated to the Haitian diaspora and on independent music radio stations championing new international hip-hop sounds.
Listeners can discover the dynamic hip-hop of Kenny Haiti by tuning into the radio stations available on onairium.com, where his genre-defining tracks are regularly featured in our curated programming.
