Kota the Friend is an American rapper and singer who was born in New York City in 1994. He is known for his melodic rap style and his lyrics, which often deal with personal themes such as friendship, love and loss. His musical career began in 2015 when he released his first songs on SoundCloud. His music quickly resonated with a young audience and he began touring and collaborating with other artists. In 2019, Kota released his first studio album, Everything's Good in the Hood. The album reached number 130 on the Billboard 200 and received critical acclaim of . Kota also received a nomination for the Independent Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Artist. His second studio album, Little Friend, was released in 2022. The album reached number 60 on the Billboard 200 and also received critical acclaim of Kota also received a nomination for the BET Hip Hop Award for Best Newcomer. Kota is known for his energetic live performances and his interaction with the audience. He has toured all over the world and is one of Generation Z's favorite new rappers.