After being acclaimed as the #1 opening act in Canada, Juno nominated artist Kay L is one of the new brightest stars from America’s hat. Born in Zimbabwe, Africa and raised in the 5th District of Calgary’s North East quadrant, Kay L is probably most known for his work with the group District 5.
Known for his clever lyricism and intoxicating choruses, Kay L has established a sound that is nothing short of unique. Touring with the likes of Nas, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Game and many more, Kay L has also been able to extend his talents far beyond his stomping grounds to countries such as Jamaica and Europe.
Through the success of his debut mixtape “Nightshift”, the countless A-list artists he has toured with, his witty yet intelligent lyrical skill blended with his compelling and contagious personality both on and off the stage, Kay L has created a buzz that is unrivalled by any other independent artist in the nation.
In the beginning, introduce yourself to the audience. What was your life like growing up?
My name is Kay L and I am a Hip-Hop artist who was born in Zimbabwe, Africa and raised on the North East Side of Calgary.
Ok, tell us about your hometown, Calgary. How is the Hip-Hop scene there?
Well, as you could imagine doing young black music in an old white city can come with its hurdles and boundaries. But the Hip-Hop scene has grown so much in the last few years in my city that I’m happy too see what it has become.
Where did your love for music derive from?
I think I was about 2 or 3 years old and my family was watching Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” video. I remember running away from the TV being so afraid of it, but I also think that those moments sparked a love and an interest in music that never left.
Who would you consider your early musical influences and why?
As a kid, my parents had a lot of Motown music playing, that soulful R&B from the 70s and that played a major roll in my childhood. But Michael Jackson has always been my biggest musical influence for as long as I can remember.
At what moment did you decide to pursue a career in rap music?
I always wrote poetry and I always wrote rhymes, but I think when I actually started to pursue rapping as a career was when a close friend of mine, DJ Kav, who was a promoter, started attaching me to all of the major Hip-Hop shows that he was putting on, it was then that I decided to pursue music as a career.
You have toured with the likes of Nas, Snoop Dogg, Game and Rihanna. What was the most memorable moment on stage?
There has been so many memorable moments during performance and on tour that stand out, but one in particular was a moment before I went on stage to open for Nas, who is one of my idols. I was handed a microphone from the sound guy and he said, “You gonna be using this mic.” I took it and said, “Cool”… like I would at any other show. At that moment I looked down at the microphone in my hand and it had a piece of tape around it with the name “Nas” written on it. I got to use the same mic as Nas and it felt like one of my life’s accomplishments.
Think about all of the artists who have died. If you could pick one of them to have been on the album, who would it be?
That one is really hard. I would have loved to work with Michael Jackson. But to be in the studio with someone like Tupac and be able to feel that kind of energy from such a passionate artist would have been something I would have liked to live.
What are some elements that you believe uplifts Hip-Hop?
I think there are 2 main elements in Hip-Hop that uplift the people. One being the content, if the words and syllables and melodies in a song are strong, positive and inspiring then people are gonna feel that way. The second is the overall vibe of the song. There are certain songs that feel so good the moment you hear them that it doesn’t even matter what the lyrics are.
What sets you apart from other artists?
I think what sets me apart from other artists is the fact that I really take the time to find words, lyrics and melodies that are gonna find their way directly to people’s hearts. Most of the time, artists like to make music that can make them dance in the club or hustle in the street or get the crowd pumped up at their show… I really try to focus on finding situations that resonate with the people.
What’s next on deck for you?
I’m currently pushing my single, “Exit”, which is available on iTunes right now and I will have a follow up single called “Popstar” coming real soon. So stay tuned!
When it’s all said and done, what do you want your imprint to be on the game?
I would like my imprint on the game to be a positive one. I hope people remember me for positive energy and an artist whose music made people happy.
Where would you like to see yourself 5 years down the line?
If the good lord blesses me with 5 more years, I see myself being able to feed and accommodate for all of my closest friends and family.
Before you bounce, where can folks go to get the latest info on you? Where can they go to stay involved with your movement?
They can check out my website as well as all of my social netwoking sites by visiting www.kaylmusic.com, www.facebook.com/kaylmusic, www.facebook.com/thekayl, www.twitter.com/kayl_promo, and www.instagram.com/kaylmusic.
Source: YoRaps
