Steven Markowitz was born in New York City and raised in a Jewish household in Plainview, Long Island. He started writing lyrics as a child, and would perform raps for his friends at house parties. Markowitz attended Plainview – Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School where he was introduced to Matthew "The Beat Freak" Doan in his senior year who produced some of his first beats. Growing up, his nickname was "Hoodie." He wanted a rapper name that "would stick in peoples' minds and be a little bit funny and representative of who I am," so he settled on "Hoodie Allen.