Blaze review

CE: What inspired you to start making music?

DK: I feel like music was something that was always in me. I remember when I was younger, I got a keyboard for Christmas and I would make up raps and freestyle to the sounds I made on there. And even throughout the years I was playing sports, rapping was always something I was interested in perfecting before anyone really knew that was what I loved doing.

CE: We went to high school together for a year and hip-hop music was really expanding at that point. We had Drake, Wayne and Nicki really blowing up Young Money, Wiz Khalifa influenced style our style, Big Sean was on the rise, people questioned groups like Odd Future. What impact did that point in music have on your style?

DK: I’d say a lot of my style is based on early 2010s hip hop. When I was in the early stages of perfecting my craft, I listened to a lot of Big Sean, Kendrick, Cole, Drake, and Wale. That was during the blog era when I was studying and listening to all of their mixtapes, so their rhyming styles definitely laid the groundwork for what I do. Believe it or not, the first rapper who truly influenced the way I rapped was Tha Joker. When he came out I thought his punchline game was so crazy! But over time, the artists I mentioned beforehand showed me making hip hop music was more than just putting together a whole bunch of similes.

CE: Who would you most like to collaborate with?

DK: J. Cole. A Cole collaboration would mean a lot to me especially since he doesn’t give verses to just anyone, so being able to go bar for bar with him on a track would be the ultimate honor! I think our styles would mesh well together to, so it would definitely be a hit if we worked together. It’s a sign of respect whenever someone like Cole wants to work with you, so hopefully I get the privilege of doing so.

CE: What was it like hearing a song of your’s on the radio for the first time?

DK: Man it’s really one of those moments that’s just a dream come true. The first time I ever heard myself on the radio was in 2017 or 18 when 106.7 in Columbus played my song “Routine”. I was actually working at Bob Evans when this happened so I was tuning in from work with all my co-workers. I couldn’t believe my song had made it on there! When I first started making music I would always think about being on the radio, touring, hearing myself on TV and whatnot. It was a surreal moment that took me back to the times when I dreamed about doing that, and also reassurance that I’m on the right path.

CE: Any projects we should be on the lookout for this year?

DK: Absolutely! Me and my homie TYS Markie are working on a collaboration project right now. We don’t have a title for it yet but we have a few songs in the chamber so far that I’m excited for y’all to hear! I’ve always wanted to do a collaboration project, and I feel like this is definitely something a lot of people wouldn’t expect so I can’t wait to hear what we have on the way. Also, there’s a possibility that I’ll release a solo project this year whether it’s an EP or an album. I’m going to play it by ear and decide what I feel is best. Either way, I have a lot going on that my supporters should be excited about.