Today we’d like to introduce you to King Ken.
Hi King Ken, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always had an ear for music especially hip-hop. Growing up in NY durning my early teen years, I was in in-school suspension (I.S.S) a lot even though it was supposed to be “quiet” we would have freestyle battles and I actually was good at it. I remember it was me and this girl named Star who had just moved from Brooklyn to my hood yo we would always eat up the classroom competition, lol. Anyway Chilee to make a long story short, I grew up around the studio but I was behind the scenes just writing music pushing my pen and freely giving out bars for people songs which I’ll never do again. You live and you learn from your younger mistakes. Although I spent much time in the studio, I never recorded in the studio. I did however secretly record in my bedroom because I was like I’m part of the lgbtq community no one wants to hear my lyrics. So I would basically try to downplay myself to keep myself from trying to pursue my own music. So instead I went to college and got my degree in a career I do enjoy but this is about the music I just wanted to throughout there that it’s always good to have a degree or something to fall back on. Anyway back to my story, lol. So one night, I was in LA visiting some friends and one of my ig influencer friends and I decided to book a studio session in LA likeeee Ew. I love it. So My friend couldn’t make it the day of the studio session. I was like I’m not gonna let the session go to waste I had no clue wtf I was gonna do but I’ll wing it. I only had the hook written and freestyled the rest and that’s how my first single “Talk Shit” came about and here I am today working on my EP HoodDiva making amazing connections and just finished working with an amazing artist (can’t drop the name yet) who is relatable to me from the first time I saw their story on TV. Ya keep your eyes out for me because it’s about to get realll nastyyy. (In a good way).
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road nah I’d say we hit a few potholes, one big pothole was me being comfortable with my sexuality like when you think of hip hop especially a man in hip hop you think thug, hood, street, no homo shit. I grew up with the thugs, I ran the streets, I was all the above except I was gay. So today, I’m comfortable in my skin and I’m just here to show others who may be on the DL like I was that it is ok to be yourself. You may lose a few friends along the way and some people might talk shit about you behind your back but that shit gonna happen regardless of who or what you are. In one of my soon to be released songs “Bitcoin” I said “bougie bitch but you know I’m still hood” meaning even though I’m not running the streets anymore and I’ve leveled up doesn’t mean the streets don’t live in me still. That’s who made me and raised me besides my mama.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m an artist I create music, I look at the whole process of creating a song therapeutic. From finding the perfect beat to match the mood, you are in to help get whatever off your chest while writing a song. Being able to put the emotion into the words can be helpful with healing for your soul. I’d say I’m most proud of being able to write my own lyrics (hooks and verses) and just overcoming obstacles life throws at you. Even though I put music on the back burner for years, I’m glad I picked it up again. It’s like I never left.
What sets me apart from others. I really grew up around this music, the streets, and I’m an openly gay male with real bars, I’m marketable, I’m not a one trick pony, I look good and have amazing ASSets. I’m a whole vibe, and I have career goals and I’m competitive af. I always have to win at everything I do.
What were you like growing up?
Imagine growing up in NY in the hood. Running the street and just being a product of your environment that what it was like growing up and honestly I wouldn’t change shit about. I am King Ken because of that and that pretty much sums up my adolescent years without saying anything that could get me in trouble. Lol.
I’m alright now. I got right with the lawd. The universe knows the deal.
Contact Info:
- Email: Itskingken28@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/damnnn_kingken
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/FFIIPfYOLtw
- Other: https://allmylinks.com/kingken28
