KEV - Interview [D1 Music]

Valdyr interviews KEV, Centerline Entertainment's new rap artist, about his upcoming album.

Valdyr: Tell us a bit about your upcoming album.
KEV: It's called "Street Trophy." A lot goes down in the street; it seems like every time you turn your head, there's someone else missing...It's rough. There's a lot more evil than good, but you know, things are ok once you get that you're in the hands of the Man upstairs. 'Street trophy' really means 'tombstone'... the only trophy you get living in the streets.
I write my music so that you can actually hear something new each time. I want to make a thorough beginning and ending. I write my music like I'm doing homework; I start writing like it's a story. My songs are all stories, not any "me, me, me" or "look at me, I'm the one bragging" like other rappers. The entire album is a story and I'm not the main character just telling it like it is.

Valdyr: I've seen that your parents, especially your dad, were very influential in your musical education. How do these relationships help create your music today?
KEV: My mom and dad broke up when I was 10, so I was with my pops down south and that's where it all started. Then I moved in with my aunt and uncle. That's really when I got in the streets. My uncle couldn't watch me like my mom and dad did, you know? I learned early. I liked being around my elders - they tell you like it is. I always looked up to them and respected them. I'm all about respect. I looked to my dad. He was both mom and dad to me. Especially in going to California, he was my backbone. He's been through it all. He'd been shot, had his throat cut... and he survived. But you know it meant something to him. Cancer took him away and I pray to see all of us together again, my sister, my mother, me, and him. My mother has lung problems, so I thought I'd lose her sooner. In the end Daddy went first. I know where he is, and that's what keeps me comfortable. The way the Lord works is mysterious. It's just the way it is. we only get one time around. It's not a 'Pac-man', 3 lives for a quarter type of deal. We got just one chance to make a difference. We know we're gonna die, but we gotta survive now. Really, it's all about your relationship with the Lord. You can't hide from Him.

Valdyr: What would be a few of the most important messages you hope to convey through your music?
KEV: I'm speaking about reality ... life. Street trophy is a tombstone. The streets are a dead end way of life landing you in your grave. The song "Life", is all about life. Eyes wide open... watch out, you know watch your back.! "Churrp"; the lifeline of the streets the cell phone. The title has meaning, as well as the song. I love to study the music. Like with my instrumentals, I listen to them for days first, and frame it up. You gotta put meaning into it. It's more about reality and not style.

Valdyr: So there's a lot of hype with your new single and video. What awesome things we can expect from the video?
KEV: The new video is for "Churrp", directed by Dave Meyers. We put all the MCs together and everyone's partying, and then there's the new phones. It's like the phones themselves are talking. You know, "Can't you hear them ringing?" It's talking to you.
I try to make each song better than the last. My friends listen to it, and say it's good, but I'll keep coming up with something better. With this song, I got this hook together, and the 'phone' words, and I knew this was it, this was wonderful. The song is about a day's movement; people calling too early, people waiting for calls, people tracking you down and spying. People are always looking towards it, always looking to the phone. It's like the phone itself is actually speaking, or controlling. That's why it's named "Churrp". I wanted to do something that hasn't been seen.

Valdyr: How did you become associated with Dave Meyers?
KEV: It's like me and him from day one. I was with Willie Brown around '93, '94, and that's when me and Dave started working. My old posse, Slaves to Society, was his first video! That got spread around, got accepted, and he blew up. He always had much love for us; in fact, he's in the video. He's not in any of his other videos, you know. Usually he does his job behind the scenes and that's that, but he's in mine. I'm thinking, "Maybe he needs to have a verse or bar!" I'll have to write him a song!
That's really the way it started. From scratch, people offered me a deal, not the right one. I wanna finish what I started. It goes back to respect. I owe this to my buddies especially the ones who got the street trophy before their time. That's part of the 'street trophy'idea. It's a tombstone. I lost four of them on the streets.

Valdyr: Is there anyone in the music industry you'd like to work with?
KEV: I mean, yeah, lots of them; all the respect, all the love. You know me, I'm out of south, so I'm not picky! I make friends! I feel if someone wants it, they're gonna ask. That's just the way it is.

Valdyr: How do you feel about the state of the music industry today?
KEV: It's sort of a status thing; it's all about east side, west side, south, whatever. It's a feud, and I want no part of it. I think we should all be behind each other - do it for me, for you, for everybody else. That's how I would like to see the game change.

Valdyr: What advice would you give to aspiring artists, rap or otherwise?
KEV: I mean, you need to put down what you love, and work hard toward anything you wanna do. It all depends on how much you want it. If you really want it, there's no overnight, you gotta go toward that point and keep doing it. If you got the talent, you can't just sit on it. I'd advise artists to look around. Don't just focus on different parts, different colors, different humans; don't just look at it in pieces or by races. If you're right with You-Know-Who, the music will come, and stay around for good. Like the old music playing right now still. Make some music that everyone can listen to. Something for everybody; the elders, the kids, people my age. Don't stay in one place.

Valdyr: Can we expect a tour anytime soon?
KEV: Yeah, I'm thinking the tour should be this summer. You can check with Centerline Entertainment for the actual dates. They'd be able to tell you.

Valdyr: Thanks so much for the interview! Is there anything else you'd like to tell your fans?
KEV: Much love right and left to all! Mix the south with the west and you've got the best.