The Ying Yang Twins are an American hip hop duo consisting of Kaine (Eric Jackson) and D-Roc (De’Angelo Holmes). They are best known for their party music hits like “Salt Shaker”, “What’s Happnin”, and “Get Low”. The duo has been active since 2000 and have released popular albums such as Me & My Brother, U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta), Chemically Imbalanced, and Greatest Hits. But despite their long career and popularity, some fans may not know exactly how old Kaine and D-Roc are today. In this article, we will look at details around the Ying Yang Twins’ birth dates and current ages.
When were the Ying Yang Twins born?
The Ying Yang Twins members have kept a relatively low profile when it comes to their personal lives. But based on available information, here are the birth dates for each member:
Kaine
Kaine was born Eric Jackson on December 16, 1978 in Atlanta, Georgia. This makes him currently 44 years old. He grew up in the Pittsburg neighborhood of Atlanta alongside D-Roc, forging a friendship and partnership from a young age.
D-Roc
D-Roc was born De’Angelo Holmes on February 23, 1979 in Atlanta, Georgia. He is currently 43 years old. Along with Kaine, he helped form the Ying Yang Twins while attending Tri-Cities High School in Atlanta in the 1990s.
So in summary, Kaine is the older member of the duo at 44 years old, while D-Roc is 43 years old. Though they are less than a year apart in age, Kaine is still considered the “big brother” of the group.
The Ying Yang Twins’ music career
To better understand the Ying Yang Twins’ current age, it helps to take a quick look back at their career timeline:
– Early 1990s: Kaine and D-Roc met and started rapping together during high school in Atlanta.
– 2000: The duo officially formed the group “Ying Yang Twins” and debuted with the single “Whistle While You Twurk”.
– 2002: Their first full-length album Thug Walkin’ was released.
– 2003: The lead single “Say I Yi Yi” from their album Me & My Brother became their first major hip hop hit.
– 2004: U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta) was released, including the smash hit “Salt Shaker” featuring Lil Jon.
– 2005: The twins contributed hits like “Wait (The Whisper Song)” and “Badd” to the album U.S.A. (Still United).
– 2006: TVT Records issued the compilation album Chemically Imbalanced, led by the mega-hit “Get Low” featuring Lil Jon.
– 2008: The Ying Yang Twins released Greatest Hits, which contained their biggest chart hits so far.
– 2013: Kaine and D-Roc launched their own label YYTwins and released the album Twurk or Die. They continue releasing new music today.
Looking at their career evolution, it puts into perspective that Kaine and D-Roc have now been performing together as the Ying Yang Twins for over two decades. Though still in their early 40s, they are considered hip hop veterans known for party anthems, their back-and-forth rapping style, and their infectious energy.
How the Ying Yang Twins met
As mentioned, Kaine and D-Roc met at Tri-Cities High School in Atlanta as teenagers in the 1990s. But the story goes that they actually had an initial rivalry before becoming friends.
Supposedly, D-Roc was originally from New York City before moving to Atlanta. As the new kid at school, he tried fitting in with the popular local rappers at the time, like Kaine. But instead of hitting it off, D-Roc and Kaine clashed during their initial encounters.
However, with time as they got to know each other, Kaine and D-Roc developed a mutual respect. They recognized each other’s talent for rap music and songwriting. Kaine took D-Roc under his wing within the Atlanta rap scene.
The rest is history – the two went from rivals to friends to music partners. Combining their skills, they began developing the signature Ying Yang Twins sound by the late 90s, and the duo was officially born. The early tensions actually helped fuel their energized vocal chemistry and back-and-forth style.
How the Ying Yang Twins got their name
So how did Kaine and D-Roc settle on the name Ying Yang Twins for their duo? The story goes that the inspiration came from a trip to New York City.
When D-Roc was 18, he wanted to return to NYC to visit family along with Kaine. While walking the streets, the young rappers browsed an assortment of bootleg videos. One tape that caught their eye was titled “Ying Yang Twins”.
They assumed it was an actual music group, but later discovered it was an adult film featuring twins. However, Kaine thought the phrase “Ying Yang Twins” was a great name for a rap duo considering their opposing but complementary styles. D-Roc agreed, and when they returned to Atlanta, they officially adopted the name going forward.
The Ying Yang Twins consulted a lawyer to make sure there were no rights issues with taking the name from the video. Once cleared, the newly dubbed Ying Yang Twins started building momentum in the Atlanta club scene and laying the foundation for their eventual rise to stardom.
The Ying Yang Twins’ current activities
Today in 2023, the Ying Yang Twins remain active after over 20 years in the business. They may not attract the same mainstream popularity as during their mid-2000s chart dominance. But Kaine and D-Roc still record new music and perform consistently.
Here are some of their more recent activities as they approach their mid-40s:
– In 2018, the Ying Yang Twins launched a tour celebrating the 15th anniversary of their hit album Me & My Brother.
– In 2019, they were featured on the song “Throw It Back” by recording artist Lil Jon, recalling their successful past collaborations.
– In 2020, the twins debuted the new single “Quarantine” reflecting the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact.
– In 2021, their song “Alligator Walk” gained renewed attention after going viral on TikTok.
– In 2022, they served as hosts and performers on The Millennium Tour also featuring rap acts like Bow Wow.
– Currently, Kaine and D-Roc continue to release new singles independently and do club appearances and live shows.
Though they might not command the same level of fame today, the twins remain staples of the Atlanta rap scene. They were pioneers in bringing the city’s hip hop style to the mainstream in the early 2000s. Their unique rapping interplay and party anthems also influenced later trap music stars like Lil Jon and Pitbull.
Conclusion
To summarize the key facts:
– Kaine was born in 1978 making him 44 years old currently. D-Roc was born in 1979 making him 43 currently.
– The Ying Yang Twins met as teens in high school in Atlanta in the 1990s, originally as rivals before bonding over music.
– They chose their group name from a random video title seen during a trip to New York City.
– The duo rose to fame in the 2000s with party hits like “Get Low”, “Salt Shaker”, and “Wait”.
– Today, Kaine and D-Roc remain active recording artists and performers even in their 40s.
So while they may be considered old-school by today’s standards, the OG Ying Yang Twins continue bringing their infectious energy and vocal chemistry to fans new and old. Their unique sound and showmanship established them as legends in Atlanta hip hop history.