15 questions with A3C performer Kamau Kenyatte

Fresh off his performance at the 2017 A3C Festival & Conference, where he was featured in the This Is My Year Showcase, and the release of the EP Zombie, trap-influenced Kamau Kenyatte is one of the hottest up-and-coming names in the hip-hop world. Here are 15 questions with Kenyatte about his music, style, and the importance of building a personal brand as a musician. Essential to the growth of an emerging artist, Squarespace has boosted his web presence and allowed him to express his individualism.

What​ ​inspired​ ​you​ ​to​ ​get​ ​into​ ​hip-hop​ ​and​ ​start​ ​your​ ​career?
The​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​I​ ​want​ ​to​ ​live​ ​my​ ​life​ ​with​ ​no​ ​regrets.

​​What​ ​is​ ​your​ ​favorite​ ​part​ ​of​ ​making​ ​music?
My​ ​favorite​ ​part​ ​of​ ​performing​ ​live​ ​is​ ​that​ ​I​ ​do​ what ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​”turn​ ​up”​ ​with​ ​the​ ​people​ ​who​ ​love​ ​my​ ​music and​ ​get​ ​to​ ​share​ ​new​ ​stuff​ ​with​ ​an​ ​audience​ ​and​ ​get​ ​instant​ ​feedback.

​What​ did ​it​ ​mean​ ​to​ ​you​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​A3C’s​ ​”This​ ​Is​ ​My​ ​Year”​ ​showcase?
It​ ​means​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​to​ ​me,​ ​actually.​ ​It​ ​means​ ​recognition​ ​for​ ​my​ ​hard​ ​work​ ​and​ ​artistry.​ ​One​ ​of​ ​my​ ​favorite​ ​music festivals​ ​actually​ ​deemed​ ​me​ ​worthy​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​be​ ​in​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​festivals​ ​in​ ​America.​ ​I’m​ ​highly honored!

​​What​ ​has​ ​been​ ​the​ ​biggest​ ​milestone/success​ ​for​ ​you​ ​in​ ​your​ ​career​ ​so​ ​far?
To​ ​get​ ​recognition​ ​from​ ​AfroPunk.com​ ​and​ ​have​ ​them​ ​premiere​ ​my​ ​EP​ ​meant​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​to​ ​me.

​​How​ ​would​ ​you​ ​describe​ ​your​ ​personal​ ​style?​ ​Do​ ​you​ ​have​ ​any​ ​signature​ ​pieces​ ​you​ ​always wear?​ ​Are​ ​there​ ​fashion​ ​designers​ ​or​ ​icons​ ​that​ ​you​ ​look​ ​up​ ​to?
I’m​ ​always​ ​wearing​ ​scarves​ ​and​ ​headbands—goth​ ​stuff​ ​you​ ​can​ ​only​ ​find​ ​on​ ​St. Marks mixed​ ​with​ ​hype beast​ ​brands​ ​like​ ​Off-White​ ​and​ ​Ksubi​ ​jeans.​ Right​ ​now​ ​fashion​ ​is​ ​in​ ​a​ ​state​ ​of​ ​being​ ​expressive​ ​and​ ​just doing​ ​what​ ​you​ ​feel​ ​at​ ​the​ ​moment;​ ​not​ ​being​ ​confined​ ​to​ ​rules,​ ​margins,​ ​or​ ​guidelines.​ ​It’s​ ​about​ ​just loving​ ​what​ ​you​ ​have​ ​on,​ ​being​ ​comfortable​ ​in​ ​it. I’m​ ​actually​ ​looking​ ​to​ ​launch​ ​my​ ​own​ ​merch/clothing​ ​line​ ​in​ ​January.​ ​Look​ ​out​ ​for​ ​that. It’s​ ​going​ ​to​ ​be dope!

​​How​ ​does​ ​the​ ​design​ ​of​ ​your​ ​website​ ​capture​ ​your​ ​personal​ ​style?
It​ ​really​ ​highlights​ ​some​ ​of​ ​the​ ​darkness​ ​of​ ​my​ ​style. Of​ ​course,​ ​the​ ​theme​ ​of​ Zombie​ ​was​ ​the​ ​color orange.​ ​I​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​express​ ​myself​ ​through​ ​a​ ​color​ ​in​ ​this​ ​EP, so​ ​orange​ ​is​ ​the​ ​basic​ ​backdrop​ ​of​ ​my​ ​site—it’s​ ​calm​, ​yet​ ​vibrant.​ ​We​ ​also​ ​mixed​ ​in​ ​some​ ​dark​ ​things​ ​that​ ​fit​ ​those​ ​spooky​ ​zombie​ ​vibes​ ​while​ ​still being​ ​stylized​ ​current​ ​and​ ​cool.

​​What​ ​impression​ ​did​ ​you​ ​aim​ ​to​ ​make​ ​on​ ​your​ ​fans​ ​with​ ​your​ ​website?
That​ ​this​ ​is​ ​a​ ​cool​ ​motherfucker,​ ​and​ ​we​ ​want​ ​to​ ​get​ ​into​ ​his​ ​world!

​​Why​ ​did​ ​you​ ​choose​ ​Squarespace​ ​over​ ​other​ ​platforms?
Squarespace​ ​gave​ ​me​ ​the​ ​cleanest​ ​and​ ​most professional​-looking​ ​templates​ ​for​ ​websites​ ​that​ ​I’ve​ ​seen.​ ​It seems​ ​to​ ​cover​ ​all​ ​the​ ​bases​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​giving​ ​me​ ​the​ ​freedom​ ​to​ ​express​ ​myself​ ​the​ ​way​ ​I​ ​needed​ ​to.

​​Did​ ​you​ ​create​ ​your​ ​site​ ​yourself​ ​or​ ​did​ ​you​ ​have​ ​help?​ ​How​ ​long​ ​did​ ​it​ ​take​ ​to​ ​create​ ​your site?
I​ ​had​ ​a​ ​little​ ​help. Most​ ​of​ ​the​ ​concept​ ​ideas​ ​were​ ​mine. It​ ​took​ ​us​ ​a​ ​couple​ ​days​ ​to​ ​build​ ​it.

​​Has​ ​having​ ​a​ ​website​ ​made​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​impact​ ​on​ ​your​ ​career​ ​as​ ​a​ ​musician?​ ​If​ ​so,​ ​how?
Yes!​ ​It​ ​gives​ ​fans​ ​and​ ​people​ ​I​ ​may​ ​be​ ​going​ in​to​ ​business​ ​with​ ​a​ ​true​ ​feel​ ​of​ ​what​ ​it’s​ ​like​ ​to​ ​experience​ ​my​ ​world and​ ​my​ ​music. It​ ​lets​ ​me​ ​express​ ​myself​ ​to​ ​the​ ​fullest. It​ ​also​ ​gives​ ​me​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​display​ ​everything​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​know​ ​about​ ​me​ ​and​ ​my​ ​artistry​ ​in​ ​one​ ​place.

​​Why​ ​is​ ​it​ ​important​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​digital​ ​presence​ ​as​ ​a​ ​hip-hop​ ​artist​ ​in​ ​2017?
Because​ ​it’s​ ​the​ ​new​ ​wave.​ ​​​It’s​ ​just​ ​the​ ​way​ ​things​ ​are​ ​done​ ​nowadays,​ ​and​ ​you​ ​have​ ​to​ ​get​ ​with​ ​it​ ​or​ ​be left​ ​behind.

​​What​ ​advice​ ​would​ ​you​ ​give​ ​to​ ​young​ ​artists​ ​like​ ​yourself​ ​who​ ​want​ ​to​ ​make​ ​their​ ​start​ ​and build​ ​their​ ​personal​ ​brand​ ​and​ ​online​ ​community?
Know​ ​who​ ​it​ ​is​ ​that​ ​you​ ​want​ ​to​ ​reach,​ ​understand​ ​and​ ​know​ ​how​ ​to​ ​speak​ ​to​ ​them,​ ​and​ ​stick​ ​with​ ​one​ ​thing,​ ​and ​people​ ​will​ ​love​ ​you​ ​for​ ​it.​ ​Also​, ​don’t​ ​be​ ​afraid​ ​to​ ​make​ ​changes​ ​if​ ​need​ ​be.

​What’s​ ​to​ ​come​ ​in​ ​the​ ​year​ ​ahead​ ​for​ ​you​ ​and​ ​your​ ​music?
So​ ​many​ ​big​ ​things.​ ​I’ve​ ​been​ ​getting​ ​such​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​response.​ ​I​ ​can​ ​only​ ​see​ ​Kamau​ ​Kenyatte​ ​being everywhere​ ​in​ ​2018!

What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​want​ ​your​ ​fans​ ​to​ ​take​ ​away​ ​from​ ​listening​ ​to​ ​your​ ​music?
The​ ​authenticity—that​ ​this​ ​is​ ​my​ ​real​ ​life,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​pain,​ ​the​ ​rage,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​victories​ ​that​ ​I​ ​go​ ​through. This​ ​is​ ​how​ ​it​ ​felt​ ​and​ ​this​ ​is​ ​what​ ​it​ ​sounds​ ​like.

​​Anything​ ​else​ ​you’d​ ​like​ ​to​ ​share​ ​(e.g.​ ​fun​ ​facts,​ ​interesting​ ​anecdote)​ ​about​ ​yourself​ ​and​ ​your music?
I​ ​was​ ​very​ ​depressed​ ​when​ ​I​ ​made​ ​this​ ​project​, ​and​ ​I​ ​use​ ​this​ ​art​ ​to​ ​help​ ​unload​ ​my​ ​stress.​ ​I​ ​recorded​ ​my EP​ ​in​ ​the​ ​same​ ​studio​ ​where​ ​Cardi​ ​B’s “​Bodak​ ​Yellow”​ ​was​ ​recorded.

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