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$KiLLz (DOLLASIGNKiLLz)

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | SELF

Established on Jan, 2009

Solo Hip Hop

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Music

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"Milwaukee rapper $killz cast on 'Empire'"

It's the role Tony Kolstad was born to play, because he's playing it in real life right now.

The 26-year-old Milwaukee native has been making music since he was 14 under the stage name $killz. But he goes by another alias, Rico, on Fox's hit show "Empire," playing one of the rappers signed to Lucious Lyon's prestigious label.

"A friend of mine got me the gig, and I filmed as an extra in Chicago back in October," Kolstad said. "They really liked my look and kept calling me."

Even with stand-out dreadlocks snaking down his back, you can only spot Kolstad for a split second in the background for three different episodes in season two. But he gained enough favor with producers to be a central figure in a minute-long short on YouTube, where recurring characters Becky (Gabourey Sidibe) and Porsha (Ta'Rhonda Jones) try to get Rico to a recording session after a hard night of partying.

Wisely, Kolstad did not go "method" with the performance, and he's set to do some more filming this fall while working on new $killz material.

"It's kind of surreal. 'Empire' is one of the most-watched shows," Kolstad said. "I'm thankful, but at the end of the day, I have to continue to work even harder now that I've gotten this opportunity." - Journal Sentinel

Discography

Still working on that hot first release.

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