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Exclusive, Interviews | An Interview with Kinetics [FNT Exclusive]
Posted by jeffwbaird on August 16, 2012
Earlier this morning we had the privilege of gracing our site with “Still Dreamin'”, the first single off Kinetics & One Love’s upcoming album You Are Not Alone, which is due out August 28. We also had the pleasure of sitting down with Kinetics to discuss his place in hip-hop, the new album’s concept, and what we can expect from it. If you missed the video, you can check it out here, otherwise, sit back and listen to this talented lyricist speak his mind.
FNT: “Still Dreamin'”, which we premiered this morning, was our first taste of You Are Not Alone. What can you tell us about the rest of the album?
Kinetics: You Are Not Alone is by far our best work. Everything about my performance – from the issues I talk about, the flows I use, the mastery of my delivery – is a level above my previous projects. One Love’s production has also reached new heights: the beats just knock harder, sound more professional, and stay truer to hip-hop. Fans will immediately recognize a maturity in the sound. It still has that underground, indie and trippy Kinetics & One Love vibe that our fans have grown to love, but two years of songwriting for Warner— sitting in sessions with multiplatinum producers and writers —has taught us how to better package our sound. It’s tighter, more professional. It was cool writing the album together, because Love would notice me stepping my game up and would feel obligated to step his own shit up, and vice versa. No one was allowed to come weak even in the slightest.
And I’ll be the first to say it: the tapes I put out last year were trash. Little kid shit. There were a few songs I did that were cool, like “Butterfly Effect” and “Halley’s Comet,” but the whole vibe of What Model Are You? as a cohesive work was lame. No personality, no soul. TO EVERYONE AND ANYONE THAT HAS EVER HATED ON MY MUSIC OR JUST BRUSHED IT OFF UP UNTIL THIS POINT: YOU HAD THE RIGHT TO DO SO. But I promise if you listen to You Are Not Alone, there is no way you can deny its talent. There’s a reason why the first song One Love and I ever wrote together sold millions of copies across the entire planet. The songwriting on this album is exactly where it needs to be.
With so many new rappers popping up out of nowhere and releasing new music left and right, how do you feel You Are Not Alone fits in to or stands out from the crowd?
I had a lot to say on this album – and I think that’s one of the key differences between me and a lot of these other kids. I’m not just rapping about partying, or “swag,” or blowing up and making it. I’m talking about issues that will resonate a little bit longer with listeners. For example, there are songs about feeling like an outcast and struggling to fit in, a song about domestic abuse, teen suicide, a verse where I address a corrupt pharmaceutical industry and prescription drug abuse. I’m not saying you can’t throw this shit on at a party and let it bump – because you can, as should be the case with any good rap album – I’m just saying that if you wanted to, you could sit there with your eyes closed and have something to walk away with when you listen to the music.
So, would you consider it a concept album?
Yes, it’s a concept album from start to finish – but the concept and backstory may not be entirely obvious at first listen. I want you to listen closely, a few times, make some guesses, ponder a little bit and fill in the gaps yourself. In as few words as possible, the concept is this: the entire album is told from the perspective a futuristic alien society reflecting upon Earth’s mistakes in 2012 and pondering the future direction of mankind. Kinetics & One Love are a computer from this alien society, observing and reacting to what they see on Earth, like a reporter. That sounds really fucking weird when I say it like that. You’ll just have to listen to truly understand.
I’ll take your word for it. So what’s the deal with the whole “I am a computer” and “#teamcyborg” theme you constantly write about? You even have a little robot on your chain. I’m assuming that has something to do with the album concept?
Hah yeah…the robot/cyborg/computer alter ego is a major component to the You Are Not Alone concept. It started a few years ago. I would be freestyling for a crowd of kids, drop a crazy punchline or rhyme scheme and people would start shouting, “Holy shit, he’s not human! You’re a fucking robot, dude!” So I ran with it. But over time the robot persona began to symbolize more than that. Now it’s a metaphor for feeling like an outsider or outcast. I say “sometimes I feel like a robot” on the album for anyone that has ever felt slightly different, or alone – like a robot. It’s about embracing that feeling of being a weird ass robot amongst a world of completely normal humans and embracing it, using it to your advantage. Or…you know…maybe I am actually a cyborg uploaded into a human body.
Okay. And what about this Christopher Nolan comparison you’ve been making for yourself. Why do you consider yourself “hip-hop’s Chris Nolan”?
Chris Nolan — who directed movies like Inception and The Dark Knight — is my favorite director. The Prestige is one of my favorite movies of all-time. I just really admire his work, and I think there are similarities in the way we present stories, with hidden double-meanings and crazy twists in the conclusion. I would also like to think there are parallels in our career paths: Nolan’s first film, Following, was low-budget and didn’t really bring him much commercial success. Memento, his second film, was a major improvement in terms of production quality and was the project that put him on the map to a mainstream audience. From there, he followed up with huge blockbuster successes like Inception and the Batman trilogy. If our first album, Fading Back To Normal, can be compared to Nolan’s Following in that the quality was amateur and its reception lukewarm, then our second project, You Are Not Alone, like Nolan’s second, will put us on the map and introduce us to a wider audience. From there, we’ll sign a record deal and drop huge mainstream successes like The Dark Knight. Know what I’m saying? “It’s all part of the plan.”
Who are you looking forward to collaborating with in the future?
Man, this summer has been such an exciting period for me in terms of meeting and collaborating with new artists. Within a few days, I recorded a song with the internationally-known Termanology, said what up to Statik Selektah, chilled in the studio with Remedy and R.A. the Rugged Man, and met Hopsin. I also ran into Childish Gambino at a club, introduced myself to him and the next day we were sitting in his hotel talking about setting up some sessions. I would really love to do a track with Hopsin — he’s one of the only artists out of all these new cats that I really fuck with. What else? You can probably expect a track with the homie Skizzy Mars soon. I want to do a track with Immortal Technique on my next mixtape. Oh yeah, someone tell Soul Khan that Accent and I would love to do a track with him. And last but not least, everybody go please check out the reggae band Morning Sun & The Essentials. We’ve already begun working on a joint hip-hop/reggae album with them that we plan on releasing next spring. But in the meantime, make sure you cop You Are Not Alone on August 28th!
Hip-Hop, Videos | Kinetics & One Love — Still Dreamin’ (feat. Termanology) [Music Video]
Posted by jeffwbaird on August 16, 2012
Here it is, ladies and gentlemen. This is the moment where Kinetics & One Love transition from renowned songwriters to renowned artists. The moment where they become known not for penning the hook to B.o.B’s 2010 mega-hit “Airplanes,” but for tracks of their own. Today we have the privilege of premiering “Still Dreamin’”, the first single and video off their new full-length, You Are Not Alone, which is dropping exclusively on iTunes on August 28 (and features the likes of Termanology, Nitty Scott, Wynter Gordon, and Accent). I promise this video is going to leave you mesmerized, and is true evidence of their achievements and the improvement this duo has made since their last LP, Fading Back to Normal, which they released in 2009 still as undergrads at Cornell. Termanology’s feature here is the latest in the trend of Kinetics rapping alongside underground vets (he traded verses with RA the Rugged Man, Remedy, and Unknown Prophets on his recent mixtape) and no longer the pop-rap upstarts of earlier days, whom he easily out-spit. Term’s presence here—both on the track and in the video—brings great power and shows off his versatility, as we more commonly hear him over Premo or Hi-Tek beats. Kinetics’ newly honed delivery and voice is hypnotic as he aggressively whirlwinds over One Love’s fierce and magnetic instrumental with lines like “I’m here to give the streets crack/Call it Ronald Reagan.” The video features cameos from Freeway, Statik Selektah, and Accent, and perfectly captures the energy and visual reaction I had the first time I heard the track. Even though this song will be sold on iTunes, K&1L have agreed to release a free download if the video reaches 100,000 views. So, enjoy the visual, share it with your friends, and let this hold you over until we’re graced with You Are Not Alone in full on August 28.
Hip-Hop, Videos | Kinetics — Make It Work (feat. Accent & Missy Modell) [Music Video]
Posted by jeffwbaird on August 10, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EupsCQLfAk0
Fresh off the heels of releasing his captivating new mixtape, With A Little Help From My Friends, Kinetics drops off a big treat in the form of the Jon Kilmer-directed visual to “Make It Work”, featuring New York City’s Accent and Missy Modell. In contrast to the nebulous and conceptual “Cosmic Consciousness” (the mixtape’s first release), “Make It Work” features clean shots of Kinetics and Accent as they blaze through their verses with multisyllabic and poignant rhymes, pleading a relationship back to health over the powerful and melodic piano of Ages’ instrumental. Kilmer provides strong visual treatment to the first instance of Kinetics and Accent on camera together, though their work together spans more than half a decade. Accent’s feature here is one of four on the mixtape, and gives RA the Rugged Man and other hip-hop royalty a run for their money for best guest spot on the project. Be on the lookout for Accent’s new mixtape Sight & Sound dropping August 23rd, and Kinetics & One Love’s full-length album You Are Not Alone, which hits iTunes on August 28th.
Hip-Hop | Saturday Standouts: New Rick Ross/Andre 3000, 50 Cent/Dr. Dre/Alicia Keys, Wiz Khalifa/Game
Posted by jeffwbaird on July 28, 2012
It’s been a big week for hip-hop, with Nas’ authentic and lyrical Life is Good taking the top spot on the charts, and a number of big-name collaborations dropping (a majority of which happen to be leaks from God Forgives, I Don’t). We’ve already taken a look at his underwhelming trade-off with Dr. Dre and Jay-Z (“3 Kings”), and now with a handful of rapper-assisted tracks leaking (featuring the likes of Andre 3000, Drake and Wale) I’m becoming more skeptical of his upcoming effort. I think that too many times artists rely upon features to provide sales and generate interest, when much of the time all it does is disguise the fact that a rapper can’t keep a listener’s interest over the course of a full LP. Other times, the featured artists’ contributions can become the highlights—which is certainly true in regards to Andre 3000’s work on “Sixteen.” Here’s a look at some of the week’s most compelling collabs:
Rick Ross — Sixteen (feat. Andre 3000)
This track is definitely the best thing I’ve heard from God Forgives, I Don’t thus far, and it’s not because of Rozay. Over some extremely soulful, saxophone-induced J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League production, Rawse bellows about how “sixteen [bars] ain’t enough” before dropping an elongated verse that certainly could’ve been shortened. Then Andre steps into the light with a plethora of flows and multisyllabic lines, and that crisp form of storytelling that is so illustrated and idiosyncratic that it’s just mesmerizing. Here’s one standout for Ross’ project.
50 Cent — New Day (feat. Dr. Dre & Alicia Keys)
For so much star-power, it’s a shame that this track never really manages to grab me. The whole track just bleeds a genericness that it never steps beyond, from Dre and 50’s stagnant verses to the Alicia-crooned chorus that really isn’t saying anything (“Party people say, party people say ‘ayyyy’/It’s a new day.” It’s the kind of pop songwriting that makes me cringe—that which strives to make people think they’re listening to something meaningful, keeping the shallowness of the message directly equivalent to that of the listener. This one’s a big flop from my end, as is everything I’ve seen from 50 and Dre lately.
Wiz Khalifa — Far From Coach (feat. Game & Stat Quo)
I used to be a huge Game fan back in his G-Unit/Aftermath days, and though I’ve stayed in touch with his music I haven’t found anything as gripping or interesting in his recent work. But for his verse on the new single from Wiz’s upcoming work O.N.I.F.C., Game is back to his energetic, rhyme-heavy flow that always leaves a great West Coast tint on the track. He steals the show here, especially compared with an average chorus and Wiz verse, and a poor assist from Stat Quo (the former Shady signee) that struggles to keep the vibe up. Overall, though, this is a feel-good track that I’ll be bumping as proof that Game is back on his game.
Albums | KAM Royal — Still Waters [Mixtape] + One Time [Music Video]
Posted by jeffwbaird on July 22, 2012
Way too many people have been sleeping on this tape. I’ve always paid attention to KAM’s moves, but only after posting the Time Out Club posse cut “Cosmic Consciousness” (on which he has the first verse) did I decide to take a deeper look. His most recent tape—a collaboration with Kid Vision (the beat virtuoso behind “Cosmic Consciousness”)—features what is by far the most mature sound we’ve heard from KAM, yet with all his idiosyncrasies and characteristic humor intact. This project flows extraordinarily well for a mixtape— which is largely a nod to Kid Vision—who provides one of the most impressive album-length backdrops that you’ll ever hear on a free mixtape. And there’s KAM’s wit, sharpness, and personality, which permeates every track. Still Waters is a tribute to the movement of artists trying to bring underground hip-hop back towards substance and quality, steering clear of the pop-oriented punchline rap that is quickly saturating the blogosphere.
As a bonus, KAM dropped off the tape’s first video, to one of my favorite tracks “One Time.” Enjoy this laid-back, playful visual and be sure to cop the tape—I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFtvbiQJDd8&noredirect=1
KAM Royal — Still Waters [Mixtape]
“Still Waters” cover art—painted by Kid Vision
Hip-Hop | YONAS — The Transition [Music Video]
Posted by jeffwbaird on July 16, 2012
Fresh off the heels of his latest mixtape, The Transition, YONAS comes through with the visuals to support the standout title-track. Substantially flashier than his previous work, YONAS is improving his brand and shooting for a bigger audience, yet still keeping the bar high when it comes down to lyricism. There aren’t a whole lot of artists right now that can sound this comfortable and poised on top of electronic-infused hip-hop beats and still spit like he can. It’s only a matter of time until the world starts paying attention. If you missed his mixtape release, you need to get on that right about now.
Hip-Hop | Kia Albertson – Rogers feat. Dylan Owen – It Bes Like That (Prod. DJ Grumble)
Posted by jeffwbaird on July 14, 2012
Just came across this track via Dylan’s page, and was immediately hooked by the laid-back beat and lively, lyrical verses. DJ Grumble, who has previously done some great work with Dylan and KAM Royal, laced the summer-style instrumental, and Dylan and newcomer Kia Albertson-Rogers trade intricate and punchline-heavy verses. This is the first song I’ve heard from Kia, but it makes a great first impression, and Dylan’s flow and punchlines here are as on-point as ever (“’cause recycling your verses isn’t fucking ecofriendly”). Do yourself a favor and give the track a listen, and check out Kia’s page for the rest of his debut mixtape, Yesterday, Tomorrow.
DOWNLOAD: Kia Albertson – Rogers feat. Dylan Owen – It Bes Like That (Prod. DJ Grumble)