Since the release of his new mixtape Keen Epiphany. Keen has been trending all over the internet, so we had a chance to catch up to him for an interview. In this interview he discusses what and who inspires him, who is Keen, and having to sleep in a car.
Where are you from, what type of music did you grow up on? (Who is Keen?)
I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California but I didn’t start doing musicuntil I moved to Florida when I was 9 years old. I grew up listening to Bone Thugs & Harmony, Alicia Keys, & Tupac. I really didn’t know too much aboutthe 90’s artists because I was too young so I just listened to the radio and what ever my brother played when I was around him. I remember vividly though listening to J. Cole at the beginning of high school. He’s my favorite artist. Keen is who I am and how I’ve lived my whole life. I was always smart and cunning in school and that’s how I come off whenever I write my music so that name is perfect for me.
Who inspired you growing up, what role did they play in your life, and what are they doing now?
I would probably have to say my mom. She has inspired me the most because we have both been through some tough situations and have even had to live out of the car for a couple of days and we were homeless for about 2 months, but she was always diligent and always found a way to provide for me. She’s doing decent right now though, she owns a daycare and runs it with my pops and we as a family are doing decent, but I want more for her. I want more for everyone because we’re still in debt and struggling to pay the bills.
Explain the emotion in your music and what inspired your sound?
My music is extremely emotional because I put my life experiences into my music. Life is my inspiration, everything I’ve experienced and encountere; Pills, Cocaine, People who’ve had hits put out on them sitting on my living room couch. However, I want the world to know that it’s not only my story I’m telling. I rap from other people’s perspectives as well.
What is the message that you are promoting in your music and your lifestyle?
I really want people to realize that when it comes to music. There’s more to it than just Sex, Weed, and Money. I mean don’t get me wrong cause I indulge myself in all of that, but Hip-hop is about expression and seeing a deeper meaning in music than just the surface. I lived my life being apart of the influence, but I also pride myself in living above the influence when needed.
How would you categorize your music?
Real, Unique and the true definition of Hip-Hop.
What does your new mixtape Keen Epiphany mean to you and what do you want others to take away from it?
Keen Epiphany to me is a sudden realization of the artist that I know I’m bound to be. It took a long time to find out my niche as an artist. Where do I stand as a person and how do I want people to perceive me when I’m spitting? Then I realized that I’m my own niche. I go to college, I’ve made the deans list twice and have been an academic scholar all my life…I fuck females, get drunk and smoke weed. I really want others to see who I am as a person, but like I said before there’s tracks on Keen Epiphany from everyone’s perspective so its not only me you hear. Your hearing the lives other people live as well.
What is next for Keen?
What’s next for me? Greatness…I’m working on promoting the singles of Keen Epiphany so be on the lookout for the music videos real soon.
Do you have any important dates coming up as far as shows or projects and where can people find you and your music?
I don’t have any dates as far as shows are concerned as of now, but to stay updated on my music and my future shows this is how y’all will stay informed.
Keen Epiphany: https://www.datpiff.com/pop-mixtape-player.php?id=mc7ca460&tid=1
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KeenNation
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation/KeenNation
Soundcloud: www.Soundcloud.com/KeenNation
Youtube: www.youtube.com/theKeenNation
