Category: Featured

Get to know: Kayeff

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Explain who you are for those who don’t know

I go by the name of Kayeff I am a artist out of Los Angeles, CA if I had to compare myself to anything I’m the man that is born from tragedy, oppression, biased attitudes, struggle I’m a product of reaction. Sounds strange but u know that attitude u feel when someone out does u that I’m going to comeback harder than ever attitude? Inject that into yourself permanently even before your ever outdone, THAT’S ME.

Where are you from?

Los Angeles, CA (south central)

Whats it like growing up where your from?

Man growing up where I’m from just like any other ghetto, everybody around u doing bad some ppl doing a lil better than bad and everybody stepping on each other head for anything that even look like a opportunity to make it out. You watch a lot of friends die young. You suffer through family members with drug addictions, Dad in jail serving so many years you’ll be a grown man before you ever see him free, Crazy statement but where I’m from it’s the cliche ghetto novel that u gotta glorify and paint out to be a love story because that’s your reality and man if u can’t deal with reality as best as possible this life will consume u.

How did you get into music?

Music for me started out as just something to do when there was nothing to do to be honest, I had a couple of friends that wrote music and was doing shows etc etc and I mean I was around it mostly for the turn up but I fell in it 1 day and was actually good at it, it seem like from day 1 it just made sense to me and for me, it became my niche the thing that could embed my everyday experience into someone else ear without me having to talk and seem like I was looking for a pity party. I fell in love with the vastness how my mood and my experiences really reflected my sound, my tone make u feel like you’ve stepped outside of yourself and now your just giving a narrative on your own life.

What is it that you do? 

I’m a artist / songwriter I hate to categorize exactly what type of music I make because on a Friday night I might get a bass heavy 808 filled melodic record that u want to take str8 to the club but then on Thursday I might get a piano influenced record with a heavy violin my voice scratched up telling a story full of pain. I’m just a artist as far as what I do I just tell my story what I’ve seen what I experience what I like what I know, I lick as much game as possible.

What are your goals? 

I mean my goals are of course to be the 1 of the biggest artist out if not the biggest artist, I wouldn’t be mad at that at all but short term I just want to be heard I know what I have all I will ever need is the listeners, I want to get my family out the hood not that the hood is a terrible place honestly that’s all a lot of us know but I feel like u only get 1 life don’t go through your whole life only seeing 1 side of the spectrum I want to see something different and allow the people that’s been with me through it all to see something new as well.

What are you currently working on?

I just finished up my project S.O.M.L ( Story Of My Life ) don’t have a release date for that yet but I’ll be dropping singles and visuals for the next few weeks to come just building the following so it makes sense when I do put it out. And I’m currently working on the follow up tape as well as a collaboration tape with 1 of my compadres.

How do you feel about the current state of HipHop?

Man I feel like Hip Hop is what hip hop has always been fresh, new, groundbreaking. I don’t necessarily like everyone’s music that I hear but at the same time when u go to a art gallery you’re not interested in every piece of artwork u see we have to remember this is still art I respect the composition if not anything else.
Hip Hop is in a great place a lot of the youth are able to break out and get to the bag and feed they family and buy nice shit without having to take penitentiary chances and that’s dope, more artist each and everyday, I like to see it!

Anything you would like to say? 

Man stay on the look out for my upcoming project S.O.M.L , tap in to my socials “Ihatekayeff” on everything including SoundCloud. Go Tap in to my new single RIDIN’ and just stay tuned in man watch this journey I was On hiatus for a second but now I’m back and I’m applying pressure.

Follow @ihatekayeff 

Indy Spotlight: J The Assassin

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Explain who you are for those who don’t know
I’m a music producer that goes by the name of J the Assassin who loves to experiment with different sounds from other genres in order to find mine. I enjoy taking time thoroughly viewing trends and analyzing why they’re so popular. Not only do I venture out when it comes to music but I also hone in on artists’ tastes to successfully establish a rapport with them. This makes it so much easier that way so that the chemistry between an artist and me can be strong enough to where we can unleash massive amounts of good music. I’m a person who loves making people feel comfortable in general, let alone for business purposes; therefore getting them to drop their guard is a virtue.

Where are you from?
I’m from Sicklerville, NJ about 20 minutes from Camden and Philadelphia.

What’s it like growing up where you’re from?
Growing up for me was pretty easygoing. I grew up in the burbs so it wasn’t like I struggled. Most of my high school was filled with Camden and Philly natives that enjoyed not having to worry about not being able to come home. So on the all and all, I consider the environment I grew up in to be secure, quiet and clean.

How did you get into music?
I got into music late to be honest back in 2012 when I was still in high school as a junior. I took Music Appreciation II during my junior year and Electronic Music I my senior year and I’ve learned a lot about music theory, software and song structure. I purchased a 61 key Casio keyboard my junior year plus FL Studio 11 followed by a 13″ Macbook Pro laptop with an Akai MPD18. From that point on, I agreed to dedicate my life to music and absorb every bit of info relating to my craft.

What is it that you do?
I make Hip Hop/Trap beats for artists that support my take on music. I work as an HVAC Technician Apprentice and do various jobs on the side while I’m still trying to make producing my career.

What are your goals?
My goals are pretty simple and straight forward (since they’re long overdue). I want to create a brand and learn how to market it. I want to dig deep into the logistics of the music industry and really know the do’s and don’ts of it too. My goal is to make artists confident and comfortable with the beats I’m providing them so that they can deliver with no hesitation. As soon as I accomplish that, I’ll be able to have decent revenue and say that I can reach my ultimate goal of making a cereer out of this with the demographic I’ve built.

What are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on beats for various artists here and there until they decide to make a solid project out of them. I’m looking forward to making another EP while I’m preparing for bigger things.

How do you feel about the current state of HipHop?
I feel that the current state of Hip Hop is more balanced than it ever was. Due to the fact that people can now grab conscious rap as well as the nonconscious rap evenly because of how technology is today. Music is too accessible nowadays and I feel as though the industry is more open to the new wave of music along with the heavy streaming. Although it is good that people are able to access music at a higher rate, it’s also a double edged sword because now we’re dealing with oversaturation from producers and artists because of the high demand for new material. Not to mention, everyone wants to be a rapper or producer now that has even the slighest bit of equipment; which is another reason for the issue being. Therefore, if more and more artists and producers took the time to learn how to conduct themselves and their business, there wouldn’t be an abundance of issues regarding beat crediting and legal disputes as well. Overall, I can see doors opening up more for even producers in the industry so we all can shine.

Anything you would like to say?
As of now, I have nothing further to add at the moment.

Follow @JTA_Pr0ductions