Island Boys
Career
While in jail as teenagers, the brothers decided to pursue a rap career. In October 2021, a video of the duo performing a song went viral on Twitter. The pair's distinctive appearance, including tattoos, diamond teeth, and vertical dreadlocks helped turn their video into a meme that gained traction on TikTok. They subsequently turned down a record deal with Kodak Black. The original video garnered 9 million views before it was deleted.
That November, the duo released a fully produced version of their viral song, "I'm an Island Boy", backed by a music video. The twins promoted the release with a poorly received performance at Club LIV in Miami. In May 2022, it was announced that the Island Boys were invited to participate in the reality show Ultimate Social Boxing. That December, the documentary Trolled: The Untold Island Boys Story, detailing the professional and personal lives of the twins, was released.
Personal lives
The Island Boys are twin brothers. Their given names are Alex and Franky Venegas. They were born on July 16, 2001, and are of Cuban ancestry. In a podcast interview, the twins explained that their father died when they were young and they were raised by their single mother. Growing up, the twins were often in trouble with the law and committed crimes including robbery and burglary, automobile theft, and possessing narcotics. Their mother kicked them out at the age of 18 due to poor behavior. Alex has a daughter.
In July 2023, videos of the twins kissing were used to promote their OnlyFans account and subsequently went viral and questions arose about the sexuality of the brothers. It was reported by some outlets that Alex was gay, but, his response to the video, saying he was a 'top' was ultimately ambiguous and he said that his actions with his brother were simply for attention.
Controversies
Domestic abuse accusations
In January 2022, Franky Venegas was accused of domestic abuse by Montaisha Shanell on Instagram Live. The two had been romantically involved. Shanell stated that Venegas regularly beat her, with the abuse dating back to at least April of 2021.
In March 2022, Franky Venegas was accused of battery after allegedly hitting his brother's girlfriend when she refused to leave their house. No charges were filed.
In May 2023, Franky Venegas was arrested for domestic battery in a Pompano Beach AirBNB. He was accused of slapping his girlfriend before pushing her into a shallow pool, injuring her chin. The altercation started after an argument regarding Venegas' past abusive behavior. Venegas was released from Broward County Main Jail later that month.
Celebrity feuds
The Island Boys have been involved in multiple online feuds involving other social media personalities such as podcaster Adam22, rapper Blueface, YouTuber Fousey, brothers Logan Paul and Jake Paul, TikTok personality Bryce Hall, and mainstream celebrities such as comedian Kevin Hart and rapper Snoop Dogg. Hart and Snoop Dogg notably mocked the twins on their comedy special "2021 and Done". Hart and Snoop Dogg reviewed a collection of the most viral videos of the past year, which included the Island Boys' viral debut. While watching the TikTok clip, Snoop Dogg held his head in his hands, saying, "I'm speechless. Two goofballs in a pool." Hart then responded, "I'm not speechless. You know why?" and then began to mockingly sing the Island Boys' song from the video clip.
The pair first clashed with Logan Paul after being invited onto his podcast "Impaulsive" in December 2021 and disagreeing with Paul's co-host George Janko regarding financial advice. Janko suggested that the brothers invest money from their initial success in case their career as rappers did not prove lucrative in the future. The brothers responded by saying that they did not need financial advice, and Alex addressed Janko by saying "I probably make more money than you." The pair later attended a boxing match in support of Paul, but were allegedly "kicked out for throwing shoes" according to online commentator Keemstar. When the twins entered the boxing arena, they were booed by Paul's fans for walking off of "Impaulsive". Paul's brother, Jake Paul, discussed the controversy on the next episode of "Impaulsive", saying, "For you to have the audacity to stand up to George Janko, the nicest guy in the world, ... you're a fucking punk."
US Army marketing
In January 2022, the twins made a commissioned video through Cameo, a platform that allows celebrities to be paid to make custom videos for fans. The video was reposted on TikTok by a Texas-based army recruiter named Orlando Tamez, and shows the brothers saying, "Big shoutout to Staff Sergeant Tamez, you're changing lives, giving you $50K...Giving out bonuses? Paid vacation? And free college, no money." The video was reposted again onto the website Reddit in a subreddit called r/Army. The video sparked controversy and resulted in a representative for the US Army Recruiting Command making the following statement to NBC: "The Island Boys Cameo was not reviewed, authorized, nor paid for by US Army Recruiting Command as an official marketing tool. We are investigating the situation and requiring the individual recruiter to remove the TikTok account, as it is not authorized for official use at this time."
Association with Andrew James Thomas
On February 7, 2022, the Venegas brothers' home in Florida was raided by police. A man named Andrew James Thomas, a childhood friend of the Venegas brothers, was arrested on the property in connection to a drive-by shooting that killed an 8-year-old girl just three days before. Alex Venegas claimed that Thomas ran towards him with a gun, asking to hide the weapon in their house. After Venegas refused, Thomas placed the gun in a closet. It was subsequently found by pursuing SWAT personnel.
The Venegas brothers were not implicated in the case, and their manager Dovi Bezner told press that the twins' childhood friend had been staying in their home and said, "We had no clue about any of these allegations towards him. We just knew him as a good person, someone that grew up with the Island Boys. If we knew something like this was going on we never would have allowed him on the property." Thomas faced charges of first-degree murder with a firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and attempted first-degree murder with a firearm. He was later sentenced to 45 years in prison for one count of second-degree murder and eight counts of attempted second-degree murder. Following the arrest, Alex Venegas denounced gun violence.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Studio album details |
|---|---|
| 17 (credited to Flyysoulja) |
|
| Trendsetters (credited to Kodiyakredd) |
|
Extended plays
| Title | EP details |
|---|---|
| Stardom (credited to Flyysoulja) |
|
| Life Been Good (credited to Flyysoulja) |
|
References
- ^ "'This is actually kinda sad': TikTok's 'Island Boys' get booed at first show". The Daily Dot. November 27, 2021.
- ^ Baker, KC (9 February 2022). "Police Raid TikTok Stars' Fla. Home, Arrest Friend for Allegedly Killing Young Girl in Drive-By Shooting". People. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ Colombo, Charlotte; Bergman, Sirena (12 February 2022). "Meet 'The Island Boys,' the controversial TikTokers who keep feuding with social media stars and celebrities". Insider. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ Jawnson, Kershaw St (November 26, 2021). "The Island Boys Booed At Club LIV". AllHipHop.
- ^ "Island Boys Get Offer For Boxing Reality Show, Could Win $1 Million!". TMZ. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Funcheon, Deirdra (15 December 2022). "New documentary to tell "untold" story of South Florida's Island Boys". Axios. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Who are the 'Island Boys' on TikTok?". Yahoo! News. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ Sung, Morgan (24 January 2022). "TikTok-famous 'Island Boys' promote Army recruitment in Cameo". NBC News. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "Island Boys' Flyysoulja Sends Condolences to Victim's Family After Friend's Arrest". TMZ. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
- ^ Nevares, Gabriel Bras (15 July 2023). "Island Boys Brother Flyysoulja Says Clip Of Them Kissing Isn't Sexual In Nature". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Island Boys star Flyysoulja comes out as gay following video showing him kissing his twin brother". UNILAD. 2023-08-01. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ Fenley, Nick. "Island Boy Kodiyakredd Accused Of Domestic Abuse By His Girlfriend". Blavity News & Politics. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Deutsch, Kevin (27 March 2022). "Woman Alleged Battery by Island Boys Rapper at Coral Springs Home". Coral Springs Talk. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
- ^ Crespo, Veronica (9 May 2023). "'Island Boys' twin arrested for domestic battery in Pompano Beach". WPLG. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ Yousefi, Ryan (9 May 2023). "Island Boys Rapper Island Boys' Kodiyakred Arrested After Pushing Girlfriend Into Pool During Argument". Coral Springs Talk. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ "Island Boys' Franky Venegas Can't Go Near Ex Following Domestic Battery Arrest". TMZ. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ^ Marie, Erika (1 June 2022). "Adam22 & "Island Boys" Star FlyySoulja Get Into Heated Exchange: "You Inbred F*ck"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Trent (25 December 2022). "Blueface and Island Boys Beef Erupts on Instagram Live - Watch". XXL Mag. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Cole, Alexander (24 August 2023). "Fousey Confronts The Island Boys For Kissing Each Other". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
- ^ "Island Boys Home Raided and Child Murder Suspect Arrested". Paper. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ "PBSO arrests second man in 2022 drive-by killing of 8-year-old girl in Belle Glade".
- ^ Marie, Erika (10 February 2022). ""Island Boy" Flyysoulja Speaks On Friend Being Arrested For 8-Year-Old's Death". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 24 March 2023.