Kani Nkshon Shorter Jr. (born August 2, 2005), known professionally as Kanii, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter from Washington, D.C.. He is best known for his songs "I Know" and "Go (Xtayalive 2)", which went viral on TikTok and charted in multiple territories.
Career
Kanii started his music career in 2018, when he released his first release, titled "So Long",[2] on his SoundCloud.
In 2020, Kanii released his debut single, "Aubade".[3] During 2022, his song "Attachment" gained popularity on the video-sharing app TikTok.[4]
In 2022, when Kanii signed to Masked and Warner Records, he took a seven month hiatus:
I hadn't released a song since August of 2022, and I was unsure if I could carry the momentum of the previous track to the following one, knowing I'd been on a 7-month hiatus. At the time, I had just signed to Warner, and we were trying to decide what my debut single under Warner should be."[5]
Kanii released his single "I Know", his first release under Masked and Warner, in 2023.[6] The song gained popularity on TikTok and charted on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his first entry on the chart.[7]
On June 15, 2023, Kanii released his second EP Exiit, along with a release show in Brooklyn, New York with Riovaz and Nimstarr.[8]
Kanii was an opener for PinkPantheress' The Capable of Love Tour for 6 shows in spring 2024.[9]