Rising Stars: Meet Kas Arkbar of Newark, new jersey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kas Arkbar.

Hi Kas, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started off as an artist who had a producer i knew from highschool. I was more of a battle rapper then. My favorite artist was Redman so i flowed similar to him. Me and my producer wound up going to college together and thats what shaped some of my ideas and perspective on creating music. We didnt really hang out in high school but began to hang out more in college and would record in his basement and start to perfect our craft with some of the people he grew up with. This was around 1997 to 2002. While in college i was an art major just taking classes since i knew i could draw but i didnt really know what i wanted to do. As time went on, the group i was in were almost signed a few times to same major labels but the situations never quite panned out due to the politics of the industry. Most times people just wanted to use you and take advantage of you and i felt that i was to smart for that. Shady contracts with people who will steal your music, money, ideas and anything else u can imagine. The glitz and glam but no money was the ultimate prize behind door #1 but hey life goes on right?

As time went on my producer became too busy with other projects so he couldnt get me the beats i needed or mix the song sessions i did in time so it taught me to not wait on anyone. If you want something done you have to depend on yourself bc people have their own priorities and interest ahead of yours. And with that i began to learn how to produce music. I actually bought a program called hiphop ejay off a kid in college. What that program did was simplify the producing aspect by making music on the computer in an easy format without the equipment most producer had used. I already had an ear for music i jus needed the time to master the program and perfect my craft.
I could make my own drum patterns. Important samples or melodies and make my own music.

As time goes on and im thinking im about to graduate college I am told that im going to have to take another year bc I didnt have enough credits. My advisors had not told me I was taking classes that didnt count towards graduating so I was infuriated but that was the silver lining I needed. In staying that extra year, I wound up taking video editing and I loved it. I had been taking classes i didnt care about the whole time but the video editing did something to me. I enjoyed the fact off adding music making effects and cutting visuals so the extra year made it all worth it.

As time went on, Im still making music but now im making music videos and doing sketch, and shows with the green screen. I evengually met a guy that worked for the music industry that had a few tv shows on air. I showed him a video reel of the sketch shows I had been working on called The Wack HipHop Show. This was a mix of news, comedy and music. He sees potential in it and decides we could work together on it. He became a vital part of my learning process bc he was harsh with his criticism on me. He constantly told me to fix things and that things neeeded to be better. Before him i had no one guiding or directing me and that was the cruticism I needed. Its always good to have an extra set of eyes whos gonna make you better and give advice. Whether u listen or not its always good to be open. He was also in the process of trying to buy a network to develop alot of shows and mine was gonna be one of them. Everything almost happened but thats when the pandemic hit and killed all momentum. People backed out and weren’t thinking about shows it was now overpriced sprays, masks, and essentials so that ship had sailed.

Through the pandemic I wind up coming across an NBA insider named Brandon “SCOOP B” Robinson. He came across as a cool, funny guy and I eventually reached out and asked him if he needed a video editor. Long story short I started editing for him and he eventually got me into BALLY SPORTS which lead to me producing content and traveling all over videotaping interviews with athletes and movies stars.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Its never an easy road there are always obstacles everywhere you turn but deing with them will and should make you better. Some times things dont turn out how you want them to. You have people who want your spot and are willing to try and sabotage you. Smile in your face stab you in your back mentality. People dont even know you and they dislike you. Alot of times you think your friends and family would be happy for you and alot of times they wont support you. Its a crazy world and a crazy mind game out there but you gotta stay focused and keep pushing towards your goals. Its always you and your team against the world.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Far as what I do ima videographer and a producer. I take the raw footage, cut out all the mistakes and extra words and content that shouldn’t be there. I add the music, the b roll, effects, and whatever else needs to be added to make your video look how it should be. Editing is a very tedious process and if you dont love doing it, youre gonna be there a very long time. Depending on what you have to do, you could be there for hours. The small footage most people see is nothing to what it took the producer or editor to get it to be. Far as being proud, im proud of the work ive done by going to Paris shooting NBA content, the NBA allstargame, ICE CUBE’s BIG3, shooting Spike Lee, Ben Affleck interviews and many more. What sets me apart from others is my personality and my focus. Ima cool laid back positive dude and if im going out im gonna dress to impress and I think thats what makes me different

What makes you happy?
What makes me happy is traveling and creating content. Being able to meet people that you only see on tv whether athletes or stars. I enjoy creating content to share with people. I feel like its giving a sneak peak into a world most people will never get to see up close and thats how I treat it. In my mind I feel like im doing it for the people and that makes me happy to show them one of their own can peel back the curtain

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realkasarkbar?igsh=MThwNmR4dWZsNmg4NQ==
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kas-arkbar-2b026128?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@realkasarkbar?si=lt7GPWDtnNgWIYle
• Soundcloud: Check out Kas Arkbar on #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/2ifUx38cRBSg0csxL2

Image Credits
First photo from @timelessimagenj
All the rest from kasarbar