ASSOCIATE EDITORIf millennials have taught us anything, it’s that authentic individuality reigns supreme. Up and coming rap star Kamau Kenyatte is the full embodiment of the audacious ethos of today’s generation, transcending the popularity of fleeting trends and gimmicks . Socially bold, and artistically vibrant, Kamau’s musical DNA contains the edge and raw energy of Three 6 Mafia, and the infectious playfulness of Rae Sremmund.
How do you describe your music, what do you call it? Trap, Hip Hop, R&B, trap soul?
All of the above! I mean it’s mostly rap if you want me to narrow it down. When I start to create, it comes from a feeling inside which is never really the same, some days I’m angry and angst-filled and want to blow off steam so I make a trap song, then the next day I feel trippy, fun and high so I make like a trip-hop type thing. Then there other days where I may feel sexy and want to make a more soulful record. It really depends on how I’m feeling that day.
My goal is the blend the genres that I am mostly inspired by.
You’ve been making music for a comparatively short time period compared to your peers and in the process you’ve become a respected and successful emerging artist, tell us about your journey to this point.
It’s been very rewarding and I actually feel really lucky to be as blessed as I am. When I start to complain about the technical stuff. I have to stop my self and tell myself to look around and see how fortunate I am and to always stay in a state of gratitude and appreciation. That’s what keeps me grounded.
There’s no time for waiting around or procrastination, determination and drive is in me strong at the expense of a lot of my personal relationships friends and some family, I don’t get to see them as much I’d like. My projects have pretty much consumed my life. This music is all I think about sun up to sun down. Somedays I don’t sleep because I’m trolling the Internet for new ideas. Sometimes I want a new outfit or just to blow shit with my friends, but I cant because all my money has been spent on production of my music or a video.
But I know the people who are close to me will always be there. I love them and appreciate them for that.
How does your childhood in Washington D.C. inform your creativity and the kind of artist and man you’ve grown into being?
It wasn’t easy growing up with poor parents in Washington D.C., I had to grow up fast. I don’t know whether it was my environment or my spirit that had me ready to flee the nest at a early age, but I did. Maybe it was both. DC was full of culture and black empowerment that gave me a since of pride within myself. Art and music was everywhere. Homegrown GO-GO bands that generated local notoriety, the best art museums in the world, heavy jazz and live music influences. My Dad who played the saxophone was very into music and played wide variety of sounds all day from Sly and The Family Stone to George Michael to 2Pac. My Dad’s eclectic taste really inspired me
You recently performed at SXSW interactive, music and film festival, what was that experience like for you and how has it influenced your next moves?
SXSW was like no other experience that I had ever lived. It was wall-to-wall people and live music. I felt so blessed to be there. It did things for me like showing me where I want to be and it showed me I am already part the new wave of artists living their dreams and making interesting new art and music.
A lot of artists are great in the studio, but not so great on stage and vice versa. Which do you prefer more, live performances or recording and what do you love and hate about each of them?
I love and respect both crafts to the fullest extent. Recording and performing are both critical means of expressing musical ideas and should always be as passionately shared as possible and given 100 percent. There’s nothing about either experience that I take lightly and I fully embrace the moment that I’m in regardless of which of those creative spaces I’m vibing in at the time.
Every great artist I’ve met seems to have a vision for their life and something specific in their experience that drives their ambition and creativity. What is your vision for your life and art?
My vision is to share a way of living and to create a “lifestyle guide journal” for the world. I want people to walk down the street and say look how he’s dressed and the music he listens to “that’s so Kamau Kenyatte.”
What’s next for Kamau Kenyatte?
More of everything!!! More music, more live shows, me…. more ME. At the moment I have a single called “1996” that I am very proud of. I just got invited to return to SXSW in Austin, Texas as an official showcasing artist. My management is currently booking an eastcoast tour. And I have an EP called World Domination that I’ve poured a lot of myself into which drops soon. So look out for some powerful, impact- ful and wavy type sh!t coming from our camp this year!