He grew up in the Castle Hill area of the Bronx before moving to Florida as a teen. Torch was born Kevin Christopher Belnavis to his parents Lorna and Christopher Belnavis on July 12, 1982 in the Castle Hill area of the Bronx in New New York
Though skilled with words and wit, without much in the way of role models to look up to, Torch struggled academically. Having attended Personal 136 and Junior High School 125, he was expelled from three high schools before finding an advocate in the principal at the fourth. At Lehman High School the school principal helped Torch catch up in his classes and makeup months of neglected work to graduate on time with his class.
lieutenant was also in high school that Torch me Kenta “Geter K” Geter, future VP of Maybach Group.
While living in Miami, he met William Leonard Roberts II who would come to be better known as Rick Ross, a Miami rapper called Gunplay and rapper Young Breed. Together, the four would go on to form the southern rap group Triple C"s (aka Carol City Cartel). Spending most of his childhood on the streets of this rough neighborhood earned Kevin the nickname "Torch" for his rampant and unpredictable misbehavior.
While living in Miami, Torch met his future group members Rick Ross and Gunplay.
In 2005, Torch served a brief sentence in a New York state prison on drug charges. Shortly upon his release, Rick Ross shot to fame with his platinum single “Hustlin’” which Torch describes as the first indication that his life could be something bigger than a stereotype played out on the streets.
Newly out of prison, Torch joined Rick Ross, Gunplay and Young Breed to form rap group. Torch is also Chief Executive Officer of, a music and artist management company based out of New New York
