Kevin Kartier

Kevin Kartier interview with 24hourhiphop.com - 24hourhiphop.com

Name: Kevin Kartier

Age: 22

Reppin’: Aviator Gang (AvG)/Biloxi, MS (Katrinaville)

My style and/or skills have been compared to: Most of the people I hear from say that my style really isn’t a lot like anyone else’s. The most consistent comparison I’ve heard is to Bun B because of my versatility & consistency. I really appreciate any comparison to someone successful but I really don’t try to emulate anybody.

I started rapping: I originally would rap alone to songs when I was a kid. I wrote my first rhyme in sixth grade & I haven’t stopped since.

My standout records and/or moments have been: I think the track I did with Brisco (“The Set Up”) really helped me catch the attention of a lot of people & blogs. After that, I followed up with Katrinaville (Co-Hosted by RefinedHype & The Sermon’s Domain) & things have only been growing from there. I’ve been fortunate so far.

I’m gonna change the game by: By being a part of something bigger then myself. I really feel like there’s been an upswing in talented, musically inclined people coming into the game & finding success. I’d just like to think I can contribute to this movement & help this become almost a “new golden era” for a younger generation.

My goal in hip-hop is: Is to be able to create the best music possible, & contribute to the cultures overall survival, growth & evolution. I genuinely enjoy creating music & being able to express how I feel through art, being able to make a living doing it is just a blessing.

I’d like to work with: Man, to be honest, theres almost too many people to name. Just a few would be Bun B, Kayne West, Just Blaze, The Neptunes, Cee-Lo Green & more. I could keep going haha.

I’m gonna be the next: I’m gonna be the first me. I’m one of the first from where I’m from to start really getting some attention & I plan to only build on it. I’m gonna always give you me & my point of view on my tracks. You’re gonna get to know me through my music.

To check out more of my music, you can go to: My site or Twitter - XXL

Tricksta hooked up with the team to all the latest info
about their new release with DJ Ames...



Where are you from and what’s the Hip-Hop scene/industry like there?
We’re from Biloxi, MS, or as y’all might better know it, the place where Hurricane Katrina hit. The Hip Hop scene in the ‘Sip is, honestly, being slept on. There really are a few people that are doing their thing, the problem is we have no exposure down here. I really feel like all its gonna take is for something or someone to jump off and then its gonna be on and popping. Its just a matter of time.

How did you get into music and what was the first Hip-Hop record you ever brought?
Man, I’ve been into music for as long as I can remember. I remember being younger, the older kids in the neighbourhood used to listen to that older southern music man. I’m talking “Ghetto D”, “400 Degreez”, “Ridin’ Dirty” and, man, whatever else was poppin’ back then. I came up listening to all kinds of music really, but the first real Hip Hop record I remember having, like on cd, was DMX’s “Its Dark and Hell is Hot.” And I was probably too young to really appreciate that record. I just remember that that shit used to get us hype. Ha.

What have you released so far and what has the response been like?
Well we just dropped “The Crown & the Crest” with DJ Smallz a couple months ago and the response we’re getting’ is that its pretty dope. It’s a breath of fresh air really.

What would say is the most popular track that you have released to date?
Honestly, we haven’t really been pushing just one joint. We’ve been focusing on getting’ people to listen to the whole project cause we’re really proud of it. With that being said, we’re thinking of dropping “What’s Good?” or maybe “Greetings” real soon so y’all look out for that.

What producers, mixtape DJ’s, record labels and rappers do you work with, and label are you signed to?
Well, right now we doing everything independently through our company Swagger Music. We’re been doing out thing for like 2 years now. We been puttin’ in work not only with music, but with merchandise too. We’ve also worked with my man DJ Smallz and dropped “The Crown & the Crest” a couple months ago, check that out. We bout to drop “Persistently Consistent” with DJ Rell, so look out for that. We just dropped “The Coronation” with the #1 DJ in the UK, DJ Ames, and that one’s pretty ridiculous too. We just busy puttin’ in work man. We already plannin’ our next joint too. It might be with DJ 5150, or maybe with Don Cannon, so keep your eyes open for that. Producer wise, I gotta give a big shoutout to my dude Skinny “D”. He’s done a big chunk of my production work and I really feel like he’s one of the nicest out. When me and him work together, its like a dynamic duo. We both came up listening to a lot of the same kind of music and really feel like we just gotta go hard. Also big up to K1X, they’re a clothing brand out of Germany and they’re doing their thing too.

Tell us about your latest release, who features, what producers where involved and where you recorded it.
Well, the new joint we put out is “The Coronation: The Reign Begins” with the #1 DJ in the UK, DJ Ames. What up Ames? The tape is what up man, as a fan of music I’m really proud of it. We got my man Skinny “D” handling most of the production and he is a beast. The way he can switch his style up is crazy. Also shoutout to Ceege, J-Mitch, and T-Skhillz who pick up the rest of the slack on the tape. I feel like we really came with it on this one. We setting the bar high, so y’all better come with it.

What radio stations in are supporting your music, and how important is radio play in the digital age?
Yea, I’ve had a couple joints played on local radio and its cool but its not really that big a deal around here. To be honest, the local stations really aren’t helping anybody like that, and add to that the type of music I make, I really wasn’t expecting them too. We just focusing on getting our music to people that’ll really pay attention and listen.

You Tube is a massive medium now for worldwide exposure. Do you have your own channel, and apart from music videos what other footage do you have?
Honestly, we have a couple tracks and videos on youtube but nothin’ too major yet. We’re getting’ everything together to put a proper youtube channel up, but that’s all in the future. So look out for that soon.

As a recording artist or musician how do you hope to stay earning money in a time where record sales are notoriously bad due to downloading?
Really, I do music for the love of it and realize that the industry isn’t like it used to be. Before you had nobodies dropping records, going platinum and gold but now everything has slowed down. I plan on just doing as much as I can: shows, clothes, digital downloads, ringtones, and other business ventures. I’m not out to just get money, but to create fans too. I’m in it for the long haul.

Thanks for your time, before you go is there anything you want to add?
Yea, I wanted to give shoutouts to my man TV aka Tevaar Smith aka The President, my man Skinny “D”, the baddest on the beats, DJ Smallz, big up for our first major look, DJ Ames for pluggin’ us up worldwide, we Internationally Hustling now man, K1x for holding us down, and DJ motherfuckin’ Rell, “Persistently Consistent” COMING SOON! To all the fans thanks for the love and to everything else: Get ready cause here we come!

www.myspace.com/SwaggerMusicLLC
www.myspace.com/KevinKartier


Interview by Tricksta
www.myspace.com/trickstawolftown
www.myspace.com/ragomagazine

- Tricksta of Ragomagazine.com