Conversations with KishaRyder

Today we’d like to introduce you to KishaRyder. Them and their team share their story with us below:

Born in Frankfurt, Germany as a natural-born American citizen to parents who are now U.S. Army Veterans, the early life for KishaRyder would be spent traveling the United States in the South Central Region and along the East Coast until moving to Georgia where her parents would eventually retire. However, life before that would foster Kisha’s love and affinity for music that would catapult her to where she is today. At just merely two years of age, Kisha would be introduced to music by the likes of Michael and Janet Jackson that would fuel her inward passion to pursue music. Because she loved music so much, her father thought it was a good idea for Kisha to watch Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” documentary, which would scare any three-year-old lol; however, after wiping her tears, she asked her father to “Play it again!” It was then that her love for music would become infectious.

Growing up, Kisha would perform in groups with her friends, choreographing dance moves and singing routines to likes of SWV, Queen Latifah, Boys II Men, 112, and Xscape, just to name a few. These rehearsed routines would eventually be performed for the living room audience in her parent’s home. She would always practice recording herself on the microphone of her father’s stereo system just to hear the playback of how good; or in some cases, how bad she would sound lol. Not too certain on where life would take her, Kisha always maintained that one day she would have the opportunity to follow her dreams.

Fast forward to the tender age of thirteen, Kisha was living in Maryland, where she would be introduced to battle rap, which was much different than the musical performances she’d became accustomed to over the years. Though she never battled, Kisha was more so intrigued by the courage some of her acquaintances possessed to perform in front of crowds of people. It was during that time she would be taught by a former friend “how to write bars” as a result of a dispute. An avid writer of poetry and short stories at the time, Kisha’s imagination had no boundaries. National Geographic books were her eyes to the outside world, and she wanted to see all the places that were in the books she would read; and music was going to be the way. Possessing her own gifts, Kisha was encouraged to participate in a talent show at the local youth center, which, unfortunately, was declined due to her parents becoming heavily involved in the church. The bright light Kisha once had to perform was no longer.

Opposite of how life was prior, Kisha began to spend a lot of time attending church and would eventually join the gospel choir as a freshman in high school. However, not understanding the transition at the time, Kisha managed to still consume the music she always loved as much as she could, despite her parents no longer approving of her musical likeness. As a result, she spent a lot of time with her friends who were allowed to listen to the latest music where she was introduced to artists such as Aaliyah, Dru Hill, TLC, Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Tupac, DMX, The Notorious B.I.G., etc. She remained inspired and continued to carry her passion for music and performance in her heart. As the years would go by, Kisha would face a lot of obstacles as a teenager and would eventually be introduced to fostering a relationship with God that would increase her church involvement in the choir, youth praise team, chorus chorale, and the praise dance team. Kisha was finally settled in what she thought would be her life for years to come; yet, transition would happen again as her parent’s received military orders to move to Georgia. Everything that Kisha knew for the past five years was no longer, and she had to start all over once again.

Southern hospitality wasn’t too hospitable, because moving to the south was a complete culture shock! From attending schools that were occupied by minorities as the majority to living in the rural south where a confederate soldier was the mascot and rebel flags were flying high wasn’t the life Kisha wanted. Racial tension was “normal,” everything and everyone was different, and she wanted out! With no plans on attending college before moving to the south, Kisha would find herself graduating from high school with honors, thus obtaining the HOPE Scholarship to attend Savannah State University to somehow make a life for herself. She would become involved in on-campus activities/organizations where she would be initiated as a member into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. through the Delta Nu Chapter.

Not knowing which route to take, Kisha would find herself graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and was on her way to the University of South Carolina to pursue her Master’s Degree, where she would be introduced to the field of mental health. Passion was reignited again as she finally found something she was interested in and thrived. She never wanted to be typical, and this profession wasn’t any different. Graduating with a 3.8 GPA, Kisha found herself in the middle of an employment crisis, and all the plans she had after graduate school didn’t turn out like she thought. She was back in rural Georgia living with her parents. Employment was scarce, but Kisha didn’t want to fail and would eventually be granted an opportunity to begin her career.

After working in her career for several years, Kisha found herself at a crossroad where she was no longer happy and reminded herself, ‘You said you weren’t going to retire from this.” Not knowing that music would come around again, she would find herself setting up a studio in her apartment for her boyfriend and his bestfriend to record; that was the birth of BordenStreetMusic. The year was 2014 and the passion Kisha thought she had lost started brewing. Though only providing background vocals at the time, it wasn’t enough. She knew her potential and was challenged by her boyfriend to “pick a beat and write a song since you know all that!” A week later, she came back with her song “Hol’ Up” which would be followed up by her single “Good Enough.” She would have her very first recording session at 912 Studios in Savannah, GA and was baffled when the engineer at the time said to her, “You’re a rapper!” *shocking* Kisha would eventually find herself recording with an engineer consistently, and within six months, KishaRyder was in full effect with the release of her very first mixtape, “Kindergarten Problem Child,” in April of 2016.

However, life or music didn’t quite go how Kisha planned. She was still in her career while pursuing music, and in 2017 she would find herself jobless as the working environment became unbearable, prompting Kisha to leave abruptly. Depression had set in because this wasn’t what she wanted for her life and things would continue on a downward spiral. She would relocate to Atlanta in December 2016, where she was able to get back on her feet and became married in September 2018. Kisha would eventually find herself performing at the local clubs in Atlanta and the surrounding areas to get her name up in the city. Things were going very well, then she and her husband became pregnant in September 2019. It was an exciting time for the both of them and Kisha was ready to stop rap to become a mommy full-time. But as the saying goes, God laughs at your plans.

The Sunday before Christmas, life would change drastically as tragedy struck. Kisha would find herself being transported by ambulance, not knowing she was clinging to life. “You won’t be able to have this baby” is what the doctors were telling her. How can that be when we’re just two weeks shy of our gender reveal? But Kisha wanted to hold on to the possibility. The morning of Christmas Eve came with a rotation of doctors and medical teams providing their expertise about why it was completely impossible for Kisha to continue carrying her child; “We can’t lose the both of you.” Hours passed, but Kisha wasn’t giving up and was still holding on. However, the clock struck six o’clock in the evening and she found herself being rushed back to surgery. This can’t be how Christmas was supposed to go. The voices of physicians, nurses, and bright lights is all she could remember. When she woke up, there was no more pregnancy, no more belly, just unbearable physical pain and a lifeless little boy with the features of his older brother laying in the carrier next to her. The staff heard she was up and rushed to her room. Not knowing why the nurses had tears in their eyes, “We’re so glad you’re with us” followed up with “We almost lost you, sweetie!” Completely oblivious to what had occurred, Kisha would eventually discover she had almost hemorrhaged to death, requiring twenty-four blood and platelet transfusions. She felt like she had lost everything.

Just two days shy of her birthday, Kisha was released from the hospital; alive, but not well. She knew she had to fight to survive by any means necessary because life itself was going to take her out. But she remembered the words her Grandmother told her years prior, “The world is going to see your heart for what it is” and that was all she had to hold on to. The last gleam of hope, and she’s still holding on.

Kisha would spend the year of 2020 rebuilding her mind and spirit, eventually releasing her comeback single “Black Blues” in June 2020 as a direct reflection of the racial injustice that has been swarming the country. She would go on to release her awaited eight-track Sophomore EP “Moonlight Diaries” on September 1, 2020, that speaks to a continuous journey of life through pain, love, compassion, and perseverance four years after her debut mixtape “Kindergarten Problem Child.” With leading singles “Cut the Check” and “Starbucks,” Kisha has continued to release follow-up tracks “Foolish,” “Ball Out,” “Smoke One,” and “Hit the Gas,” with more to come.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
KishaRyder is an Atlanta-based musical artist who’s rap cadences and blended vocals speaks of a continuous journey which at times, is hard-pressed to travel yet never impossible to navigate.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Becoming the best version of myself and fulfilling the destiny/path that God has set before me.

Contact Info:

• Email: kisharyderbsm@gmail.com
• Website: https://linktr.ee/KishaRyder
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/kisharyderbsm?igshid=195qaeuqc3bi5
• Twitter: kisharyderbsm
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3rELygL6Se48VKHtj1Y2QQ