Manhattan's Most Wanted: Get Hip to the Music of King Kavon
A name to remember in the underground
An NYC rapper storms into an Uptown bodega with a boombox, unleashing bars about everything from Bacon Egg and Cheeses to Amethyst Rocks. For us, and over 27,000 other people who tuned into the visual for October 2020's Bodega Dreams, this was our introduction to the world of King Kavon. Like many of our favorite underground artists, it wasn't just the lyrics that caught our attention, it was the image as a whole. Decisions like rockin with the boombox for example, are proof that King Kavon acknowledges the Hip Hop Culture of yesteryear, and he wants to be a big component in the direction it's headed next.King Kavon's latest EP "How Novasin Got His Groove Back" further cements his lyrical style, while also marking as a major progressive step in his development. In the years that have followed since his 2018 project "11:11" he's opened his eyes to a lot, and this change in perspective is evident throughout the project. In Free Spirit, the project's intro track, he raps like a man reborn, as the chorus reaffirms his emancipated mindset. In the Bonus track "Heart & Soul", he repurposes a Nas chorus into his own chant "Soul of a God, Heart of a King".One of the standout moments on the project is the track "Waves", which features AE TheBrokenArtist, and we're excited to know it has a visual on the way. As we await that video to hit the streets, we're holding you down with an interview with the man himself. Read up below.
1. Let's start from the beginning. You're from uptown, right? What were some of your influences coming up? How did you get into making music?
I been listening to music almost my whole life. Hip hop, to be exact. I been into other genres like R&B, Reggae and even Pop. I been influenced by Jay-Z, Nas, Fabolous, Kanye West, and Notorious BIG. I was always writing poems as a kid and by the time I was in high school, I turned it into rhymes. And from there, I decided to rap.
2. Your latest project "How Novasin Got His Groove Back" feels like a rebirth. You speak on being a "Free Spirit at Last" on the first track. Was there a major shift in your mindset coming into this project?
The past 4 years has really been a eye opener for me. I realized that a lot of people didn’t have my best interest at all. It cause me to hinder myself at one point. In 2020, despite of the pandemic, I felt a push to keep writing and recording. My true self/inner child was starting to come out and I’m still learning more about myself. The EP is basically me showing the world who I am. And this is only the beginning for me.https://youtu.be/OTTcHwkeNlo
3. What's your creative process like when working on your music? How hands on are you with the production, the visuals etc?
Whenever I’m in the studio, I start off with a freestyle over mainstream beats, old school or new school, which I call KINGMIXes. And then I get into songs. Majority of the time, it’s just me and the engineers. I don’t like other people in the studio with me unless I’m doing a feature. I also produced half of my beats too. When it comes to visuals, I prefer the theme to be urban and nostalgic.
"I’m still learning more about myself. The EP is basically me showing the world who I am. And this is only the beginning for me."
4. The whole concept behind your breakout visual Bodega Dreams was dope. What should we expect from your next video, "Waves"?
I decided to shoot the video in Coney Island. I always wanted to shoot a video over there. The song is featuring my friend, A.E. “TheBrokenArtist”, who’s from Brooklyn. Beaches relieve stress and so does art, which you’ll see in the video as well. Plus, if you listen to the beat, you’ll hear the sound of the waves in the background.
5. A mainstay in your content is your signature boombox, a nice homage to the golden age of Hip Hop. How important is keeping the history and traditions of Hip Hop alive to you? Do you feel like it's your duty at all?
I feel like it is my duty. Kids who were born between 1987-1995 are the bridge between the old and the new generation. A lot of the people got the culture all twisted up in this messed up game called the “industry”. I know my history very well and I research it as much as I can. Me carrying a boom box shows people that there is hope. Real hip hop is slowly making a comeback. And I wanna be a huge part of it.
"I know my history very well and I research it as much as I can. Me carrying a boom box shows people that there is hope."
6. How would you describe the King Kavon sound? What do you feel that you bring to the table as an artist?
My style is smooth with a slight aggressive tone. Very 90s and 2000s based too. My lyricism is dope, my punchlines is outta this world, and my delivery will catch your ears and attention.
7. Looking forward, what are some of your future plans in music? What should we look out for from you?
I’m currently working my 2nd project, 11:11 Pt. 2. Bodega Dreams is the leading single for the project. I’m also starting my own movement with other artists in New York like myself. So stay tuned for that! Tune in to more King Kavon here
Find More Underground Artists Here