Kevin Elijah Burgess (born July 21, 1988), better known by his stage name KB, is an American Christian rapper and music executive from St. Petersburg, Florida. He is the leader of the hip-hop group HGA (His Glory Alone). Burgess signed a solo artist contract with Reach Records in 2010. The label has released several projects, including the Who Is KB? mixtape in 2011, Weight & Glory, on July 17, 2012, 100 EP on March 4, 2014, Tomorrow We Live on April 21, 2015, and Today We Rebel on October 20, 2017. He was formerly a member of the label collective formerly 116 clique shortened to 116.
He left Reach Records in 2020 and signed with Essential Sound, releasing his fourth studio album, His Glory Alone in 2020 as well as its sequel His Glory Alone II in 2023.
Biography
Early life Kevin Elijah Burgess was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, on July 21, 1988, into a military family. Shortly after his birth, his parents moved to Southern Illinois. When he was eight years old, his parents divorced, and he moved back with his mother to the south side of St. Petersburg, which, according to Burgess, is "probably one of the worst areas in the state." Although he excelled at a good school and was offered a path to college through a program at St. Petersburg Collegiate High School. He struggled with severe depression. He experimented with various drugs in an attempt to find relief, which negatively affected his performance at school and led him into a downward spiral, even contemplating suicide.
Formation of HGA After high school, Burgess enrolled in Trinity College of Florida, where he befriended a group of Christian rappers. They formed a hip-hop group called HGA, short for His Glory Alone. HGA eventually caught the interest of Lecrae, Ben Washer, and DJ Official, and was featured alongside Tedashii on the track "Go" from DJ Official's album Intermission. Burgess was invited onto the Acquire the Fire tour by Lecrae and was asked to join the Reach Records team just a few months later.
The Reach Records Years Burgess signed with Reach Records in 2010 and appeared that year on Lecrae's album Rehab. His mixtape Who Is KB? followed a year later, along with appearances with PRo and Tedashii. Who Is KB? garnered 30,000 downloads by the following year. His first single, "Hello," featuring Suzy Rock, was released in October 2011. In January 2012, he released a second single, "Zone Out," featuring Chris Lee Cobbins. Burgess also appeared with Andy Mineo on Trip Lee's album The Good Life. In June 2012, he released a third single, "Go Off," featuring Tedashii and Andy Mineo. Burgess's debut album, Weight & Glory, was released a month later and featured the song "Church Clap" featuring Lecrae, his only RIAA certified song.
On May 30, 2013, Reach Records announced a four-part project entitled 1st and 16th. This project involved Burgess releasing a new song on the first and sixteenth of June and July. On June 1, Part 1, "HCB Freestyle," was released. The songs "Ride" and "Be All Right" were also part of the 1st and 16th project.
On February 10, 2014, KB announced his new project, an EP titled 100, which was released on March 4, 2014. Burgess also appeared in Family Force 5's music video for the song "BZRK," released on May 23, 2014, as a featured artist.
On February 3, 2015, KB announced on social media his second studio album, Tomorrow We Live, including the cover and release date, which was set for April 21, 2015. The first single from the album, "Sideways," featuring Lecrae, was released on February 23, 2015. The second single, "Crowns & Thorns (Oceans)," was released on March 10, 2015.
On October 20, 2017, KB released his third studio album, Today We Rebel. The first single from the album, "Tempo," was released a year prior to the album's release. The second single, "Monster," featuring Aha Gazelle, was released on September 15, 2017.
The Essential Sound Years In 2020, he announced that he would not be renewing his contract with Reach Records and instead signed with Essential Sound, a Sony Music imprint.
KB released three singles—"Armies," "10K," and "Lil Boy"—from his fourth studio album, His Glory Alone. The album was released on September 25, 2020.
On August 11, 2023, KB released his fifth studio album, His Glory Alone II. The album was preceded by five singles: "King Jesus" with nobigdyl., "Graves" with Brandon Lake, "EZ," "Glory 2 Glory," and "Danza." It was followed by a deluxe edition featuring five new tracks.
Personal life Burgess is married to his wife, Michelle, and they have three children.
Discography
Studio albums YearTitleChart positionsUSUSGospelUSChrist.USIndieUSRap 2012 Weight & Glory Released: July 17, 2012 Label: Reach341194 2015 Tomorrow We Live Released: April 21, 2015 Label: Reach18—124 2017 Today We Rebel Released: October 20, 2017 Label: Reach 91 — 1 8 — 2020 His Glory Alone Released: September 25, 2020 Label: Essential Sound — — 4 — —2023His Glory Alone II Released: August 11, 2023 Label: Provident Label Group — — 4 — —2026This Cannot Be Sold Released: July 10, 2026 Label: Provident — — 24 — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.Note: Beginning in 2015, Billboard rendered most hip hop/rap songs ineligible for the Gospel charts
Collaboration albums YearTitleChart positionsU.S. GospelU.S. Christ. 2011 Man Up(with 116 Clique)
Fourth studio album Released: September 28, 2011 Label: Reach—— "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
EPs YearTitleChart positionsUSUS GospelUS Christ.US Ind.US Rap 2014 100
1st EP Released: March 4, 2014 Label: Reach221134 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Mixtapes Year Title 2011 Who Is KB?
1st mixtape Released: March 22, 2011 Label: Reach
Multimedia series Year Title Publisher 2013 1st & 16th Reach
Singles
As lead artist YearTitleChart positionsAlbumUS Christ.US Gospel 2011 "Hello" (featuring Suzy Rock)—— Weight & Glory2012 "Zone Out" (featuring Chris Lee Cobbins)—— "Go Off" (featuring Tedashii & Andy Mineo)—— 2014 "100" (featuring Andy Mineo)3118 1002015 "Sideways" (featuring Lecrae)29— Tomorrow We Live "Crowns & Thorns (Oceans)"31— "Ima Just Do It" (featuring Bubba Watson)37—2016 "Tempo"48— Today We Rebel2017 "HomeTeam" (featuring Lecrae)—— non-album single "Monster" (featuring Aha Gazelle)39— Today We Rebel2018 "No Chains"30—non-album single "Long Live the Champion" (featuring Yariel and GabrielRodriguezEMC)—— "Die Rich" (featuring Ray Emmanuel)—— 2019 "DNOU2"—— "Hold Me Back"29— "Lincoln"43— 2020 "Armies"28— His Glory Alone "10K" 30 — "Lil Boy" 41 —2021"Worship In The Moshpit" — —non-album single2022"King Jesus" (featuring nobigdyl.) — —His Glory Alone II "Graves"33—2023"EZ"31—"Glory 2 Glory"——"Danza" (featuring Nico Eme, Cardec Drums.)——2025"God Did" — — rowspan="2" 2026"Got a Reason" — — "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.Note: Beginning in 2015, Billboard rendered most hip hop/rap songs ineligible for the Gospel charts
As featured artist YearTitleChart positionsAlbumUSChristUSPop 2011 "116"(PRo featuring KB) —— non-album single 2013 "Passing"(Json featuring Serge and KB) —— Braille 2013 "All In"(Flame featuring KB) —— Royal Flush2014"BZRK" (Family Force 5 featuring KB)34— Time Stand Still 2015 "Northern Sky"(Capital Kings feat. KB) —— II 2017 "O God Forgive Us"(For King & Country featuring KB) 14— Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong. 2020 "Smoke Free"(Bizzle)— — The Messenger 4 2021 "Can't Tell It All (Remix)"(Hulvey feat. KB & Lecrae ) —— non-album single 2025 "Yes"— 33 "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Other charted and certified songs YearTitleChart positionsCertificationsAlbumUSChrist.USGospel2012"Church Clap" (featuring Lecrae)—— RIAA: GoldWeight & Glory 2013 "The Saints" (Andy Mineo featuring KB & Trip Lee)4418 Heroes for Sale2014 "Paganini" (Andy Mineo featuring KB & Canon)4621 Never Land "Undefeated" (featuring Derek Minor)3921 100 "Earthquake" (Tedashii featuring Dimitri McDowell & KB)—22 Below Paradise (Deluxe Edition) 2015 "I Believe" (featuring Mattie)38— Tomorrow We Live2017 "DNOU"45— Today We Rebel "Not Today Satan" (featuring Andy Mineo)32— 2026 "Too Unfazed:50— This Cannot Be Sold "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
Guest appearances Title Year Other performer(s) Album "Used to Do It Too" 2010 Lecrae Rehab "Full Court Mess" 2011 Pro Dying to Live "Young" Andy Mineo Formerly Known "You Know What it Is" Tedashii, PK Blacklight "One Sixteen" 2012 Trip Lee, Andy Mineo The Good Life "Fuego" Lecrae, Suzy Rock Gravity (iTunes edition) "The Saints Remix" Black Knight, Andy Mineo, Trip Lee #ItsTheBlackKnight Beat Tape "King of the World" 2014 Flame, V.Rose, Mike Real, Nico Wells Jesus or Nothing "For Those Who Can't Speak" Tenth Avenue North, Derek Minor Cathedrals "I Wouldn't Know" 2016 Lecrae Church Clothes 3 "Prove It" Crowder American Prodigal "Back Soon" 2021 1K Phew, Parris Chariz What's Understood"Blessed"JStu, Hyper Fenton Summer's Back
Music videos
As lead artist Title Year Director Views "Zone Out" (featuring Chris Lee Cobbins) 2012 3.1M "HCB Freestyle" 2013 Will Thomas 576K "Heart Song" (featuring Jasmine Leshea) 610K "100" (featuring Andy Mineo) 2014 Squint 5.9M "Kamikaze" (featuring Prisca) 1.3M "Sideways" (featuring Lecrae) 2015 Kyle Dettman 8.7M "Drowning" 2016 Sam Brave 2M "Tempo" 2.6M "DNOU" 2017 Sam Brave 1.7M"Not Today Satan" (featuring Andy Mineo) 2018Nathan Corrona 3.2M "No Chains" 16M "Long Live The Champions" (featuring Yariel, GabrielRodriguezEMC) Juan Garcia 9.1M "Die Rich" (featuring Ray Emmanuel) 1.8M "Hold Me Back" 2019 5.2M "10k" 2020 Juan Garcia 10M "Lil Boy" 1.3M "Dark Skin" 2021 198K "Libre" (featuring Tommy Royale) 1.8M "Masterpiece" 1M "This Is Life" 1.1M "Worship In The Moshpit" 1.4M "So Tired" 554K "King Jesus" (featuring nobigdyl) 2022 3.7M "Graves" (featuring Brandon Lake) Joan Garcia 1.9M "Graves - Acoustic" (featuring Brandon Lake) 523K "EZ" 2023 1M "Glory 2 Glory" 1.9M "Danza" (featuring Nico Eme, Cardec Drums) 2.2M "Miracles" (featuring Lecrae) 3.4M "It Ain't Safe" 2024 328K "Friends" (featuring Ty Brasel) 82K
As featured artist Title Year Director "Young" (Andy Mineo featuring KB) 2012 Kyle Dettman "One Sixteen" (Trip Lee featuring KB and Andy Mineo) 2012 "BZRK" (Family Force 5 featuring KB) 2014 Ryan Hamblin
Awards and nominations Year Organization Nominee / workCategoryResult 2025 We Love Awards "God Did II" Rap / Hip Hop Song of the Year "Yes" Collaboration of the Year 2026 Dove Awards "God Did II" Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year "Yes" "Campaign" Short Form Music Video of the Year
References
External links
KB at Reach Records