What Happened To The Island Boys | Internet Anarchist

0:00The island's boys went from practically printing money to drowning in debt. For a split second, they had the world's attention. They could have pivoted, cleaned up their image, maybe even dropped a halfway decent track. But instead, they crashed hard. Tiktok Personality Notice, Kodiak Red is in trouble with the law again. The judge gave Frank Vannegas failed this afternoon for having a gun without a serial number in oxypills. What started as a meme quickly spiraled into a spectacle of fights, arrests, cringy interviews, and desperate attempts to stay relevant. And instead of evolving into legit hip-hop artists, they became a cautionary tale on what not to do after your 15 minutes of fame. Hi, I'm the Antenna Anikas, I create weekly YouTube documentaries, and today,

1:00we're unpacking the messy rise and even messy a fall of the island boys. Everything that led to their demise and where they are now. Though looking back, it's hard not to wonder if they were doomed from the very beginning. Twins Alex Fly Soldier and Frankie Kodiak Red had a rough childhood. Their father passed away from a heart attack when they were just 5 years old, and with no father figure to steer them straight, the two fell into a life of crime from a young age, engaging in all sorts of illegal activities, like burglary, lossony, assault, battery, and even grand theft order. So we was out here while in a store like that. Once we got our mom, she made sure that we had a roof, everything was required. Even the police, no police, back in our seat, they knew that our mom could have control us. Like nobody could control us. She did everything she could, but we was out of control. We thought we could do whatever we want. And we got away with it because when you're a little kid, it's like slapping a wrist when you get in the system. The twins spent most of their teenage years bouncing in and out of jail,

2:02eventually getting kicked out by their mother when they had just turned 18. With nowhere left to go, the two decided to pursue a career on social media. They spent most of the money they had left on tattoos to emulate the look of sound cloud rappers. How much did you spend on all your tattoos? I spent around like 30k. And started posting random videos on Instagram and later TikTok. However, while their unusual appearance attracted some attention, the views were too inconsistent to make a stable living off these videos. That is, until one video went viral and changed their lives forever. On October 13th, 2021, the twins dropped a video of themselves singing their island boy song in a pool.

3:08This took the internet by storm, getting over 5 million views in just a week, and tens of millions more on other platforms. It also made the duo world famous practically overnight. However, despite its explosive popularity, the general reception to their video was a lot more mixed than the brothers would have liked. While a few found the song catchy, others, including hip hop legend Snoop Dogg, were straight up annoyed by just how bad it was. But as it turned out, the quality of the song didn't matter at all. What mattered was its incredible main potential, which resulted in countless parodies and edits boosting its popularity far beyond the island boy's wildest imaginations. What the two failed to realize, however, was that their success had nothing to do with talent, or musical ability. Instead, they were the butt of the joke, something for everyone to laugh at. Rather than seeing themselves as the meme they were, the island boys convinced themselves

4:12that they were the next big thing in hip hop, a delusion that fell apart when they were booed off stage just seconds into a Miami club performance. They also released a full music video of the song that made them popular, only to get dragged through the mud once again. With comments like, have this as my alarm every morning been waking up 30 minutes earlier just to turn it off? Thank you island boys. Thank you island boys, you saved my brother. He was paralyzed in a fatal car accident. Luckily, when I played this song, he rose and clicked the sound to mute. And this type of hidden talent should absolutely remain hidden. But even after facing the harsh reality of their situation, the two kept posting videos as the island boys. Since at the end of the day, the money was just too good to walk away from. We were making 40,000 dollars more than that. I'm not even playing with you. We were looking at the thing, it was just 70. The top of it said you got 60,000 dollars to do.

5:12To make. Then the next day, we would do that the next day, another 60,000. We're like, man, what the fuck is this? Unfortunately for the island boys, even the money was about to dry up, all because of their poor choices. The first big mistake the twins made was turning down an offer that could have resulted in a long-lasting and more stable career. Shortly after they blew up on the internet, Kodak Black, one of the rappers they modeled their looks after, offered to sign them into his label. But the two refused to offer completely, stating that they wanted to stay independent. Fly soldier later explained his reasoning in more detail, stating, I'm not currently signed to no label. I'm independent, and so far, I'm doing pretty good when it comes to the money. Because I feel like labels just take my money, and I'm doing pretty good right now. I got racks. However, this highlights one of the island boys' biggest flaws, one that sticks with them throughout their downfall. Their inflated ego and ignorance when it comes to their own talent. The twins believe their entrepreneurial geniuses, who always make the right decisions. And nowhere is this more obvious than their appearance on Logan Paul's impulsive podcast.

6:15Do you boys feel like you have an inherent musical gift? inherent like, like, an inherent... Born with it. Um, I mean, I've been singing since I was a little kid, yes, too. Do you have that it factor? Yes. I'm a star. Yeah, we do. Around 25 minutes into the podcast, George Janker suggests that all of the jewelry they'd bought could serve as a smart investment if they ever faced a financial crisis. I think if God forbid, it doesn't go in your guys' direction for real. I think you guys take all of your jewelry assets and invest in something. So you guys will never ever be broke again. So I don't think there's going to ever be a broke situation. All things considered, this was fairly good advice from George. However, instead of thanking him for his consideration or showing gratitude of any kind, the island boys flipped out. George, stop talking. We have multiple... Wait, that was... Hey, that was for you guys. Yeah, you... That was like a hitch. I don't need financial advice when I pride making money. They got offended by George simply entertaining the idea that they could ever go broke, and turned to what was nothing more than friendly advice into a full-blown argument.

7:20So that was me being nice. It wasn't me being like an asshole. It's not me being an asshole. I could turn it up and be an asshole. I was like, I could go in my favor. But that could go in my favor. You really don't want to go there, bro. I could go there. Because I was giving you guys advice and you guys were being asked for. Hey, George, keep talking and I'll walk out. I'm right here, you guys. Okay, what are you trying to say? You guys are throwing a lot of threats. I'm sitting right here. No one's threatening you. You guys said it's not going my way. This is not the new boys. Who don't do fake over here? Trying to scare me or something. I'm not scared of you, homie. Ultimately resulting in the two puffing up their chests and storming off the podcast altogether, just to protect their bruised egos. Nope, here I'm moving for you. I was giving you nice advice, bro. I agree with that. Though given what happened next, George's advice would have actually helped them survive. Not long after their impulsive appearance, the island boys meme started to fade away, and the crazy amounts of money they were earning at the height of their popularity vanished alongside it. Their views dropped to a fraction of what they once were, booking slow to a trickle, and the people that once obsessed with cladding on them simply moved on.

8:22By the times the twins realised the severity of their situation, it was already too late. Instead of prepping for their inevitable fall off, they spent most of what they owned on cars and jewelry to flex on social media. In an even worse financial move, they even sold the rights to their viral song to a man named Check the Star. So when the income dried up, they had nothing left. In a desperate attempt to stay relevant, the island boys resulted to increasingly erratic behaviour, like starting a fake beef with one another, on which one of the two was responsible for their success. And even believing that their dramatic exit on Logan's podcast was the right thing to do. You guys regret walking off that podcast?

9:22No, I wouldn't regret it. I went, I went pro five times no more viral than in that podcast that I probably wouldn't find just what it had like a regular sit down and talk. Not understanding that this kind of entitled behaviour was a major contributor to their downfall. After all, no one wants to support self-absorbed pricks who think they're better than everyone else just because they went viral once. As a comment on YouTube, which described them perfectly, simply stated, they are perfect examples of internet making the wrong people famous. Even then, the island boys still had the chance to make something off their dying career. They already had millions of followers across social media, all they had to do was give these followers a reason to stick around. A potential route for them could have been to work on their music and to try and become real hip-hop artists. But that would have meant putting in real work. Work that the twins clearly weren't interested in. Instead, they chased the next viral moment, hoping to cash in big once again, without lifting a finger. And after much deliberation, Fleiss Holger and Cody Akred found the shortcut they were looking for.

10:23However, much to their dismay, this idea-backfied spectacularly, eroding the little reputation they had left on the internet. In April of 2023, the two shocked the internet with their announcement of their joint OEF account, with a now-deleaded post on Twitter. Although many assumed it had to be a joke, it turned out to be completely real, and even more disturbing than anyone ever expected. Over the next few months, the twins kept posting increasingly salacious pictures with each other, all while promoting their OEF account. But even all of that wasn't enough to prepare for what came next. On the 1st of August 2023, a video of them making out with each other started making rounds on the internet to the complete shock and horror of anyone who came across it. This was disgusting on so many different levels, but it worked. The island boys went viral once again. Only this time, it was for all the wrong reasons. However, to them, this was a complete victory. I'm gonna talk about it because people really don't like it, so like, hey, look, we got something on them,

11:25they kissed each other, so we kind of knew it would go viral. But before they had the chance to celebrate their rekindled success, it went away faster than they would have liked, leaving them stranded with no stable source of income for a second time. And unlike their previous fall off, where they could have still retained some viewers by improving their music, they didn't have that option anymore. No self-respecting artist was going to work with them ever again, or offered to sign them to his label. So what's going on with you two kissing each other? That's such a hard stuff for our practice. Dude, hey, hey, yo, that ass, that ass, I would love to see you try that shit. But we'll tell you that I would love to see you try that shit. The OF stunt eroded any respect people had left for them, and it was only downhill from here. During this time, the island boys tried to maintain their image of wealthy gangsters who still owned mega mansions, sports cars, and diamond jewelry, when in reality, Mercevitt was fake, and the island boys were drowning in debt. They did poker dirty. They did you dirty how? They owe me about like $150,000.

12:27From what, your percentage of the cameo money? Yeah. Is that the only money they're bringing in? Um, mostly maybe a little bit on TikTok, but I mean, it's pretty much run dry at this point. Despite their best efforts, the twins couldn't maintain the rich boy facade forever. They started getting more and more desperate with each passing day, and even lowered their cameo price from $135 in the beginning to just $30 in a last-ditch effort to make some money. But when that didn't work either, they decided to hang out with jackdowty of all people, just to regain some sense of relevancy. Even then, they couldn't resist the urge to stir up drama and pick fights at every chance they got, willing to do whatever it took for that viral moment to keep them in the spotlight.

13:30It even got to the point where the two were accused of hitting Jack's girlfriend. But as you might imagine, hanging with jackdowty was never the right move, especially if they wanted to win back even a portion of their audience. And with jack losing everything he had, the island boys were left without a home on the internet yet again, forcing Alex and Frankie to become even more desperate, and sacrifice their dignity in exchange for fleeting moments of fame. Alex, for instance, had a baby a few months ago. Unfortunately, the baby wasn't perfectly healthy, and had to be put in the NICU until it could recover. However, instead of taking care of his wife and child, Alex decided to use his son's tragic health to farm TikTok views.

14:30So it goes by God always with me, and let's start reading it. Fortunately, the baby survived, and is in much better condition now, but that has only given Alex more opportunities to use him for content. I think he looks like fly. Yeah, he looks a lot like me. At least, his spending time with his wife and child, Frankie's situation on the other hand is 10 times worse. TikTok personality known as Kodiak Red is in trouble with the law again. The judge gave Frank Venego's bail this afternoon for having a gun without a serial number in Oxypills. He was a resident may of 2023 for domestic battery, and allegedly slapping his girlfriend before pushing her into a shallow pool, injuring her chin. More recently, he was arrested again in February 2025, after offices found drugs and a gun without a serial number in his car. A few months ago, Alex and Kaylee posted a video updating everyone on Frankie's situation, and according to them, he's practically homeless at this point due to his addiction.

15:38They also claimed that he didn't pay for the cars the twins bought for months, bringing Alex's credit score down with him. Alex's credit downed so much while we're in the middle of looking for a house, and it's not even his fault. It's his brother's fault because his brother hasn't paid his car in four months, and we could show you guys the voicemails of the car people calling him every single day, saying where is the payment? Unfortunately, for both brothers, the internet doesn't have any sympathy left for either of them. With comments stating, This is why you don't start an OF with your twin brother, and they should have listened to George Janko's financial advice. Put simply, the island boys have lost everything they gained back in 2021, and there's nothing they could do to get it back. Their ego, overconfidence, and questionable antics have also burned down any opportunities they could have had after the meme died down. The only option they have now is to slowly fade into internet obscurity, where the only thing people would remember about them is the time that they were traumatized by seeing the island boys' OF content on Twitter. And even if by some miracle they managed to go viral again,

16:40it's only a matter of time before they find themselves right back in the same desperate situation.