Kuba Ka (March 28, 1986 – April 23, 2021) was a Polish entertainer, wrestler, singer and actor.[citation needed][citation needed] He had recorded or performed with Sean Garrett, Flavor Flav, and Laurieann Gibson, among others.[3][4][1][5]

Kuba Ka
Kuba Black Picture
Background information
Birth nameKuba Stepniak
Born(1986-03-28)March 28, 1986[1]
Poland
DiedApril 23, 2021(2021-04-23) (aged 35)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Performer, Dancer, Wrestler
LabelsUniversal[2]

Career

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In July 2010 Frank DiLeo began managing Kuba.[5][6][7][8] DiLeo previously collaborated with Michael Jackson, Prince and Richie Sambora.[6]

After DiLeo's death in 2011, La Toya Jackson, Michael Jackson's sister, managed Kuba and he signed with Universal Music Group.[9] That year Kuba won a Yacht Film Festival award for his music video, Streets of Freedom.[10] Kuba released his first single, "In the Streets," with Universal on March 20, 2012.[9] Kuba released "Come to America," a single that featured Flavor Flav, a rapper from the group Public Enemy, in July of that year.[4] The single was featured on his EP, Combat. Kuba partnered with Sean Garrett, a songwriter and producer, to produce the single "Stop Feenin" in 2013.[11] Kuba released his third album at a 2014 charity event for the Face Forward Foundation, a charity for victims of violence, at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills.[12] At the event, Kuba also unveiled the creation of the first pop artist superhero with Versace.[12][13] He was also a guest on Jake Steinfeld's talk show, Healthy Living.

In 2014, Kuba was featured in a calendar with Apollo Male Models Magazine, a male fitness and fashion model magazine.[3][14] The magazine also featured Kuba on the cover of its winter edition.[3]

Kuba played the European gangster Prince, Krol in Live Nude Girls, an action comedy written by In Living Color actor Jay Leggett and Indie writer/producer, Mike Hatton, who also stars in the film alongside Dave Foley and Andy Dick.[15][16] Live Nude Girls was Kuba's first American film and his 2014 Hip Hop, RnB, single 'Stop Feenin' was featured on the movie soundtrack.[17] Kuba Ka was cast by actor/director for the role as 'Krol'. Kuba Ka remembered Jay Leggett on the red carpet of the 'Live Nude Girls' movie premiere held on August 12, 2014 at the Palace Theater, located at the Avalon, Hollywood. He spoke about the powerful impression he had of Leggett after meeting him for the first time and honored the actor/director for giving him his first big acting gig in the U.S.[18]

In 2015, Kuba was featured in a rockumentary on the E! Channel series New Money.[19]

Kuba died in April 2021 due to methadone toxicity.

Filmography

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Kuba Ka performing on stage in 2013.
List of film performances as an actor
Title Year Role Notes
Creating a Pop Sensation 2011 Himself Lead Role
LA Live the Show 2013 Himself Celebrity Guest
Live Nude Girls 2014 Krol Supporting Role
Healthy Living 2014 Himself Celebrity Guest

Discography

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List of EPs, with selected details
Title Album details
Moonboy
  • Released: 9 February 2014
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: KUBA Ka Empire Inc.
Combat
  • Released: 4 May 2014
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: KUBA Ka Empire Inc.

Singles

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Song Year Artist(s) Label
"Combat" 2011 Kuba Ka Interscope
"Streets of Freedom" 2011 Kuba Ka Interscope
"Come To America" 2013 Kuba Ka & Flavor Flav KUBA Ka Kingdom Inc.
"Roman Robotic" 2014 Kuba Ka KUBA Ka Empire Inc.
"Stop Feenin’" 2014 Kuba Ka KUBA Ka Empire Inc.
"In The Streets" 2014 Kuba Ka KUBA Ka Empire Inc.
"Be With You" 2014 Kuba Ka KUBA Ka Empire Inc.
"Moonboy" 2014 Kuba Ka KUBA Ka Empire Inc.
"Physical Attraction" 2014 Kuba Ka KUBA Ka Empire Inc.
"Here We Go" 2014 Kuba Ka KUBA Ka Empire Inc.[20]

Soundtrack Appearances

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Song Year Artist(s) Movie / Television Series
"Stop Feenin’" 2014 Kuba Ka Live Nude Girls

References

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  1. ^ a b "KUBA Ka" (in Polish). Newsweek. 9 February 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  2. ^ "KUBA Ka – Major Deal with Universal". www.charmaineprfirm.com. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 23 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Jon Weirman (7 February 2014). "Kuba Ka celebrates debut of 2014 Apollo Calendar at the Beverly Hills Hotel". A&M Entertainment. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  4. ^ a b celebnmusic247.com "KUBA Ka taking on the world with King of the Knight"
  5. ^ a b variety.com
  6. ^ a b "Frank DiLeo; Legendary Music Impresario Frank DiLeo, Architect of Michael Jackson's Thriller Project, Signs With European Pop Superstar Kuba Ka". Entertainment Newsweekly. 23 July 2010.
  7. ^ Odessy Barbu (4 April 2013). "KUBA Ka". DNA Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  8. ^ "Legendary Frank DiLeo Signs With European pop star Kuba Ka". Biz Journal. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  9. ^ a b "Kuba Ka Biography". Star Pulse. Retrieved 8 June 2014.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ Tomasz Rozwadowski (10 September 2011). "Yach Film Festiwal 2011:Grand Prix dla wideoklipu "Nie ma cwaniaka na warszawiaka"". Dziennik Bałtycki. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  11. ^ Jon Weirman (12 November 2013). "Kuba Ka teams with chart-topping producer Sean Garrett for "Stop Feenin" single". A&M Entertainment. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  12. ^ a b Marci Weiner (22 April 2014). "Gypsy Awards Salute Leslie Caron & Kuba Ka Joins Force with Versace". Entertainment Today. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  13. ^ "Pop Artist Kuba Ka loves his Versace at For the Stars Fashion House opening". New York Fashion Times.
  14. ^ "Kuba Ka in Apollo 2014 Calendar". DNA Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 June 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  15. ^ "KUBA Ka". Backstage. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  16. ^ "KUBA Ka". Indie Wire. Retrieved 5 September 2014.
  17. ^ "KUBA Ka". Fox8 New Orleans. Retrieved 5 September 2014.[permanent dead link]
  18. ^ "Kuba Ka Interviewed at Live Nude Girls red carpet". Youtube. Retrieved 8 September 2014.
  19. ^ "Viewing Party for E! Television new show starring Kuba Ka". New Money. 11 June 2015. E! Entertainment.
  20. ^ Jourdain, Travis (9 December 2014). "Kuba Ka's Newest Single 'Here We Go' Comes to Hollywood". The Examiner. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
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