A recent interview on Atlanta Magazine with A3C '17 Alumni Kamau Kenyatte
Fresh off his performance at the 2017 A3C Festival & Conference, where he was featured in the This Is My Year Showcase, and the release of the EP Zombie, trap-influenced Kamau Kenyatte is one of the hottest up-and-coming names in the hip-hop world. Here are 15 questions with Kenyatte about his music, style, and the importance of building a personal brand as a musician. Essential to the growth of an emerging artist, Squarespace has boosted his web presence and allowed him to express his individualism.
What inspired you to get into hip-hop and start your career?
The fact that I want to live my life with no regrets.
What is your favorite part of making music?
My favorite part of performing live is that I do what you need to ”turn up” with the people who love my music and get to share new stuff with an audience and get instant feedback.
What did it mean to you to be a part of A3C’s ”This Is My Year” showcase?
It means a lot to me, actually. It means recognition for my hard work and artistry. One of my favorite music festivals actually deemed me worthy enough to be in one of the biggest festivals in America. I’m highly honored!
How would you describe your personal style? Do you have any signature pieces you always wear? Are there fashion designers or icons that you look up to?
I’m always wearing scarves and headbands—goth stuff you can only find on St. Marks mixed with hype beast brands like Off-White and Ksubi jeans. Right now fashion is in a state of being expressive and just doing what you feel at the moment; not being confined to rules, margins, or guidelines. It’s about just loving what you have on, being comfortable in it. I’m actually looking to launch my own merch/clothing line in January. Look out for that. It’s going to be dope!
How does the design of your website capture your personal style?
It really highlights some of the darkness of my style. Of course, the theme of Zombie was the color orange. I wanted to express myself through a color in this EP, so orange is the basic backdrop of my site—it’s calm, yet vibrant. We also mixed in some dark things that fit those spooky zombie vibes while still being stylized current and cool.
