Introduction
Kai Carlo Cenat III (/ˈkaɪ sɪˈnæt/ KY sin-AT; born December 16, 2001) is an American online streamer and YouTuber. He is best known for his live streams and comedy-based content he uploads on YouTube. He is currently the second most-subscribed Twitch streamer and the 14th most followed Twitch streamer with approximately seven million followers, surpassing Ludwig Ahgren's record during a February 2023 subathon. He was named "Streamer of the Year" at the 12th Streamy Awards and the 2023 Streamer Awards.
Early life and education
Cenat has three other siblings, a younger brother named Kaleel, an older brother named Devonte, and a twin sister named Kaia.
Cenat attended Frederick Douglass Academy for his secondary education. He graduated high school in 2019 and then attended the State University of New York at Morrisville in August 27, 2019, to study Business Administration. He eventually dropped out in 2020 due to the struggle of keeping up with schoolwork and content creation.
Career
Cenat uploaded his first YouTube video on January 13, 2018, and began making videos surrounding pranks and challenges. He joined the YouTube group AMP (Any Means Possible) after being discovered by fellow Bronx-born YouTuber Fanum. He started regularly appearing in the channel's videos. He began streaming on Twitch in February 2021 after migrating from YouTube, broadcasting gaming and reaction content.
Cenat had an acting role in the trailer for Polo G's June 2022 single "Distraction". On May 8, 2022, Cenat released his debut single "Bustdown Rollie Avalanche" with NLE Choppa.
In 2022, Cenat began including celebrity guests on his streams, including Bobby Shmurda in April, Lil Baby in October, and 21 Savage in November, who helped him receive his highest viewership at the time with 283,245 concurrent viewers at its peak.
In October 2022, Cenat was nominated for the 12th Streamy Awards in the "Streamer of the Year" and "Breakout Streamer" categories, winning the former in December.
On January 31, 2023, Cenat began a month-long subathon. On February 28, 2023, he became the most-subscribed Twitch streamer of all time, reaching 306,621 subscribers at its peak. On March 11, 2023, Cenat won "Streamer of the Year" at the 12th Streamer Awards.
In March 2023, Cenat was reported to be making approximately $23,280 per month from his sleep streams, resulting in an annual income of $285,480. According to Streams Charts, his sleeping broadcasts have amassed over 5.6 million hours watched, showcasing the significant viewer engagement during these streams.
On April 17, 2023, Cenat was temporarily suspended on Twitch for reasons undisclosed, though he eventually returned, with him initially noting it as a permanent ban in error.
In May 2023, Cenat announced a livestreamed show with IShowSpeed exclusively on Rumble, titled the Kai 'N Speed Show.
In October 2023, Cenat made his music video directorial debut with American rapper a Boogie wit da Hoodie.
2023 Union Square riot
On August 4, 2023, Cenat announced a giveaway of PlayStation 5 consoles and gift cards, in Union Square, Manhattan with Twitch streamer Fanum. Thousands of his followers appeared at the impromptu event, which soon spiraled out of control and devolved into a riot. The New York City Police Department (NYPD) mobilized forces in the area as a large group swarmed a Best Buy and other businesses in the area. Cenat was arrested by the NYPD for inciting civil unrest; police also made 65 other arrests. He was later charged by the NYPD with first-degree rioting, inciting a riot, and unlawful assembly.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12th Streamy Awards | Streamer of the Year | Won | |
| Breakout Streamer | Nominated | |||
| 2023 | The Streamer Awards | Streamer of the Year | Won | |
| The Esports Awards | Streamer of the Year | Nominated |
Discography
Singles
| Title | Year | Album |
|---|---|---|
| "Bustdown Rollie Avalanche" |
2022 | Non-album single |
| "Dogs" |
2023 | Non-album single |
Guest appearances
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The End of the Road Begins - Intro" | 2023 | — | Fast X (Official Motion Picture Soundtrack) |
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Good Burger 2 | Disgruntled Customer | Guest appearance |
Music Videos
| Year | Title | Artist(s) | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | "Shoot" | Adot | Himself |
| 2022 | "Distraction" | Polo G | |
| "Just Wanna Rock" | Lil Uzi Vert | ||
| "Plenty" | FaZe Kaysan feat. Nardo Wick, G Herbo, Babyface Ray & BIG30 |