KINDA NEAT

Mavi was one of the first artists I reached out to when deciding to relaunch Kinda Neat, so it's only fitting he ended up as the last guest of this "season" before I take a little summer break. When I reached out I'd recently gotten hip to his triumphant debut, Let the Sun Talk. It turns out Mavi had recently decided to take a break from school to concentrate on playing shows and building on the momentous buzz of the record. Then the world came to a halt. I can't help but feel for all the young artists who were about to embark on their first tours when 2020 was stolen from them. Not being able to touch audiences and feel the palpable energy of a record like LTST can make an artist feel like the record quickly became a distant memory. In talking to Mavi, he seemed almost surprised someone (me) would still care about the album. But on the heels of his latest EP, END OF THE EARTH, with venues opening back up, hopefully 2021 will make up for lost time last year. This was a very thought-provoking episode. We broke format and talked less about Mavi's journey than we did his worldview. I'm thoroughly impressed and in awe of his intellect, insight, and insatiable curiosity. The breadth of knowledge available at his fingertips on a wide range of subjects is enviable, and the wisdom that shines through his songs is just as easily on display in conversation. Tune in to hear us talk about his deep connection to South Carolina, how America is deeply haunted, and why his name is nothing to play with.  -Lee

When ovrkast. came through last year, demahjiae came with him to the studio. I wasn't hip yet, but ovrkast. promised me he was next up. He was right!  demahjiae's 2020 release "And, Such Is Life." boosted itself right into my favorite albums of the year upon it's release. The self-produced opus features a litany of guests that stay in my rotation (Navy Blue, Pink Siifu, Zeroh, ovrkast.), thoughtfully cohesive production, and constantly inward facing lyricism. It's well worth your time and truly shows the potential for a long-lasting and impactful career.  Tune in to hear us talk about legendary bass player great grandfather, the influence of video game soundtracks, and a pivotal tech deck rejection.

SG Ali was brought to my attention by a trusted source and I've loved everything I've heard so far. She has a deeply intuitive sense of melody, and consistently creates inspirational ear worms. Turns out she's been honing her craft since childhood.  Born and raised in Near North Chicago, in the Cabrini-Green Homes, she was lucky enough to be a part of a music education program in middle school called "Friday Crew" where members learned to make beats, make raps, and make music videos. While she was initially only excited to get out of class, she quickly realized she had vast potential as a rapper, and it wasn't long before early teenage Facebook posts of her raps were going viral. Now after almost a decade of honing her craft, her first record with upstart label Steady Leanin is on the way soon.  Tune in to hear us talk about Mayor Daly tearing down Chicago's housing projects, being born to young parents, and her pivotal time in "Friday Crew." -Lee

Travis Thompson and I go way back now. Even before his performance of “Need You” went massively viral back in 2017, he was following my friends and I online, and occasionally asking for guidance, as far back as 2011. He’s one of the friendliest folks to ever come on the show, and I feel a bit like a big brother (whether he wants me to or not). After “Need You” blew up, labels came calling, and he signed with Epic. His first release with them Reckless Endangerment admittedly didn’t do what he wanted it to, and he’s been looking inward since. While fans and followers continued to wonder — and occasionally harass him about — where the new music was, he was in a spiritual crisis that’s helped inspire, what he feels is, the best music he’s ever made. Tune in to hear us talk about overcoming self-doubt, artistic growth, and rocking Bape on the Rez. -Lee

Been a Njomza fan for a long time now. After hearing about her way back in 2014, inviting her to perform on the show (I have an unreleased GEM of hers in the archives), and having her play one of my last shows back in 2015, I was thrilled to have her team reach out about performing the latest single on KN.  A theme of this episode is drive and ambition. Njomza learned she could sing very young, and by the time she was in junior high she held auditions to start a band. She began posting cover songs to YouTube in high school, where she was quickly discovered by Mac Miller, and eventually she moved to Los Angeles on her own to pursue music. But interestingly her confidence and assuredness in making life decisions around music is in sharp contrast with her, at times crippling, perfectionism when releasing music. With her upcoming LIMBO EP, she finds herself in a new headspace, in her bag, and ready to release more music moving forward. This, to me, means it's only a matter of time until she's a household name. Tune in to hear us talk about her parents immigration story, overcoming perfectionism, and a fateful night in Wisconsin. -Lee

Lou From Paradise hit it big in 2016 with a video that took him from never playing a solo show, to playing festivals within a matter of months. He was quickly swept into the major label system, and describes it as all being too much too soon. Feeling trapped by a machine that didn't want to see him grow and evolve, he asked to be released, and is now back on the indie grind feeling fully recharged. Lou's set to have a very busy year. With 3 releases already in the pocket, including the soon to be released tape produced completely by Statik Selektah, he seems set to have another big breakout very soon. He played me a bunch of new music after this episode and I can vouch, he's got all the bars, multiple styles, and seems to never run out of new ideas. Hear us talk about growing up a troublemaker in Staten Island, his journey through the major label system, and his dad not letting Eve in the club. -Lee

Kipp Stone's 2020 release HOMME was a carefully crafted and perfectly cohesive album. It was a stylistic leap forward for Kipp, and the first time he'd genuinely felt he found his voice on record. "Sprague Street" featuring Mick Jenkins was picked up by a number of playlists, and Kipp's buzz has been steadily on the rise. Born and raised in Cleveland, this was Kipp's first trip to Los Angeles. With the release of his excellent new EP Faygo Baby, and the "three perfect albums" he has plotted in his head, it definitely won't be his last trip out here. Tune in to hear us talk about cappin' and wreckin', getting fried in junior high, and ending up with a best friend by dissing every rapper in the city. -Lee

Was recently put on to Kear and intrigued by her innate pop sensibilities, confident delivery, and sensational ear for beats. The Philadelphia native was on her first trip to Los Angeles and it turns out she may never leave. After only working on music for a year, she has fully thrown herself into it, gathered a team, and made the trek across country to see if they can make it work. She seems to have all the right weaponry to achieve her goals. This episode contains a somber story of housing insecurity, constant uprooting, and overall uncertainty about even the most basic childhood needs such as attending school. Kear's had some tough years, but has kept an upbeat attitude, is quick to laugh, and has a magnetic personality to match her music.  Tune in to hear us talk about FKA Twigs influence on her style, the uncle that inspired her to rap, and bouts of homelessness. -Lee

I came across Airøspace in a Twitter thread. I asked people to put me on to new music, and out of the hundreds of responses, 2020's Senjougahara Hitagi, Vol. IV tape really stood out. His 2019 release Sorry to Bother You further solidified how asleep I'd been.  He lives in DC, and trying to arrange an episode of KN during the pandemic became touch and go due to the fact my wife was approaching her due date during the week he was in town. My wife was having contractions the evening we recorded the episode , but we weren't sure if was actual labor or not. We left for the hospital an hour after I finished talking to Airø, and my son was born the next day. Tune in to hear us talk about attending nightmarish boarding schools, drumming in metal bands, and spending time in a psych ward as a kid. -Lee

Carpetgarden's latest EP, "The Way He Looks," blew me away. The songwriting is impeccable, the production is great, and their gently deep resonant tone really hits an emotional soft spot. I gush over their talent in the episode because I really do think they have hit-record potential. With such a wide range of influence and consumed media throughout their youth, Carpetgarden has a established a sound with crossover appeal to all sorts of music lovers. Growing up on social media and online gaming, they're truly a product of the internet with an intuitive knack for marketing that will surely build a cult following over the next few years. Very excited to follow along on the journey. Tune in to hear us talk about growing up in a small conservative city, finding actual community in community college, and a very inspirational teacher. -Lee

You're not going to find a lot of Clip's music on streaming platforms yet. Her underground hit "SAD B!TCH" sits alone on DSPs, but a quick trip to her Soundcloud page will show you why the industry is salivating over her. Her versatility and style is instantly apparent, and with the well established aesthetic of someone raised on the internet, it's only a matter of time until she and her gang Burn All Sex Dolls pop off something major.  Born in Brooklyn to scholarship athlete parents, and raised partly in Fort Worth, TX after the family relocated, her journey into music started when her NFL player uncle bought her an iPod touch with GarageBand installed on it. The first song she ever put online, a cover of SZA and Willow Smith's "9" got attention from former guest Cuco, and she was on her way. Clip has a magnetic energy, and a natural penchant for gaining a following so I really think she might be a sure thing. Tune in to hear her talk about her extremely athletic family, the similarities between small town Texans and big city NY models, and being accidentally popular. -Lee

Put Jacks Haupt on your radar now. We're tapping in extremely early in her career, and this could be a sure bet. With her sultry pop-savvy sound, and bilingual lyrical sensibilities, I could envision her being an international phenomenon. Big words to live up to, but we can look back on this post in a few years and see how it went. Jacks grew up in Dallas and recently had her first whirlwind trip to LA, where she filmed music videos, became part of a documentary, and got her first taste of the music industry. A big step for someone who was thinking about removing her entire catalog from streaming platforms and quitting just a few months prior. A fateful DM from a friend of our show changed all that. Hear us talk about living with bipolar disorder, skipping school to skinny dip, and the Vine covers she doesn't want you to find. -Lee

Jansport J has been working working. In 2020 alone he dropped four beat tape projects, and he's already released his first of 2021 in Save My Soul II. He's also been getting amazing placements from the likes of Benny The Butcher, Freddie Gibbs, Snoop, Ty Dolla Sign and many more. His soulful sample chops and swingy drums are a perfect palette for rappers, or wonderful standalone pieces that hold up just as well in headphones as they do knocking in your vehicle speakers. I've known of, and been acquaintances with, J for over 10 years now. During some of the best (and brokest) times of my life, when I was religiously attending every rap show and party I could get into, J was a similar fixture of the scene. I would always see him at shows or on flyers and he's always been a good dude with a big smile. I love talking to people that stuck with it long enough to see it pay off whether or not they ever became a household name, and J's one of those guys. Tune in to hear us talk about being born in Alaska, buying Fruity Loops instead of cracking it, and how he chose beats over raps. Don't miss his 8 minute beat set on our YouTube page. -Lee

Been wanting to have Rexx Life Raj on the show for some years now and finally worked it out. The Bay Area native has a butter smooth delivery, intuitive sense of melody, and a plethora of range in topics and emotional depth. His latest release California Poppy 2 finds him releasing the sequel to his heralded 2018 tape. While that release found him collaborating with Bay legend E-40, the follow up welcomes New Orleans legend Juvenile to the party as well. Raj started rapping in high school, when Berkeley High was bubbling with an immense amount of talent, but being a D-1 football prospect led him to college in Boise State. While athletics kept him busy from 5am to 9pm with workouts starting at 5:45 in the morning, he still found time to work on music whenever he could. Upon returning home to the Bay and writing raps while running delivery routes for his parents' business, the music slowly but surely started to catch on. By the time his single "Handheld GPS" took off, he knew he'd found his path. Tune in to hear us talk about majoring in communications, starting therapy during the pandemic, and still doing deliveries for his parents in his new Tesla. -Lee

N8NOFACE has been making music for almost 30 years, but for over 20 of those years he made it in secrecy. His first love, east coast rap music, inspired him to order an SP1200 from the back of a magazine when there wasn't a single music store in his home state of Arizona selling them. For years he toiled away learning how to make beats and rap, but never showed anyone. Even when he and his brother both owned hip hop shops in Tucson, hosting open mics and battle events in store, he still kept it secret. Finally, when DJ Kutmah heard some of his songs on his brother's Myspace page, he was pushed into playing his first ever performance and hasn't looked back since. His former group, Crimekillz, is where he started to develop his signature synth punk style. They had glimpses of success in the early to mid 2010's, but it always seemed as though self-sabotage kept them from reaching the promised land. Recently N8's solo career has been seeing an uptick in notoriety and fandom, and he credits it to his newfound sobriety and, surprisingly, Covid-19. Be sure to check out his latest record Bound To Let You Down out now on Eyeball Records. Tune in to hear us talk about growing up in coyote country (not the animal kind), owning a record store, and recently becoming a grandfather(!?). -Lee

Nana's recently released Save Yourself LP is an absolute gem. Looking at the complete picture - extremely high production value, master class level bars, cinematic visuals, polished and professional album photography - it's hard to believe the record was released independently. Even the collaboration with TDE's Reason was an organic introduction from family and friends in the Crenshaw District. Nana's been quietly honing his craft for over 10 years. Save Yourself, and 2018's Nana's EP, are carefully crafted battering rams that will surely kick down the door for this exciting new voice. Get familiar now, because the whole industry will know his name by the next record. Tune in to hear us talk about visiting his parents home country of Ghana, working with my ex at Abercrombie & Fitch, and James Harden making the basketball team he didn't. -Lee

The Khan has been bubbling in the underground for a few years now, but underground rap wasn't his first foray into music. Originally inspired by classic rock, he started a band inspired by the likes of Led Zeppelin while still in middle school. Born and raised in DC, Khan's unique experience has inspired his political activity. The song he performed, "BLM PLAZA," was created after weeks of protesting in front of the White House (Pen Ave & 16th). After weeks of BLM protesters being beaten, belittled, and berated by police and the president, the corridor was renamed BLM Plaza, and a song was born. He's been in the lab cooking up new styles, and lately he and his peers have been incorporating Drum n' Bass into their beats, which leads to a refreshing twist on a retro sound. You might be familiar with some of Khan's bangers like "Tires" and "Vices," but in speaking with him you really get the sense he's always trying to grow and expand as an artist, and the fact he and his friends may be birthing a new sub-genre is very exciting. Tune in to hear us talk about immigrant parents, his first underground show, and learning to take his time. -Lee

Oliver the 2nd is a rapper out of Fontana, CA (the I.E.) who's been honing his craft for years. He's been collaborating with his cousin Jeremiah Jae since before Jae was signed to Brainfeeder, he was featured in a Boiler Room episode with Jon Wayne, Zeroh, and Azizi Gibson, and he's had the opportunity to work with Alchemist multiple times over the last few years. Clearly he's in a circle with some of rap's elite, so why did he almost disappear for 6 years? He released his last project in 2014, only popped up on collaborative records and compilations, and then released the spectacular "Lingua Franca" EP in November seemingly out of the blue. After running across the record I wanted to get to the bottom of his hiatus, and how we knew so many of the same people without ever running into each other in the past. Hear us talk about battling at both lunch periods, working with Alchemist, and approaching his music with refreshed dedication. -Lee

Dana Dentata's story is a real roller coaster ride. After becoming a model at age 14, her journey has been filled with seedy men, shady scenes, and lots of demons. Those demons were a signature part of her visual aesthetic to this point, but she's recently brightened her outlook after signing to legendary metal label Roadrunner Records and, through therapy, learning about her dissociative disorder. From close encounters with Jeffrey Epstein, to being the face of American Apparel, and eventually being mentored by Kanye West, Dana has stories for days and experiences that run the gamut. Hear us talk about starting an all-girl band in her teens, dissociating from traumatic experiences, and losing a modeling competition thrown by Jeffery Epstein. -Lee

YUNGMORPHEUS had a busy 2020. Starting off the year dropping the impressive collaboration Bag Talk with Pink Siifu, before continuing with solo project Black Schemata, a beat tape Pieces, and wrapping it up with the great EP Mise En Place. He's started 2021 with the same feverish pace dropping the States of Precarity LP last week. In the song he performed for us, "Championship Spliff," he states he "took time to hone the pen, I had something to say." His progress as a rapper and beatsmith have been on a constant upward trajectory, and I find that line to be poignant because he seems to have really hit his stride this year and sounds more comfortable and formidable on the mic than ever before. You can tell he's been taking the time to hone the pen. We discuss hitting that stride and much more. Hear us talk about growing up in Miami, skipping grades in elementary school, and why he's pursuing art rather than academia. Head to YouTube to see him perform "Championship Spliff." -Lee