Kapital K Interview
Describe Kapital K in four words?
I need 7 words – Capital Invested in Kapital is More Capital!
What inspired the name Kapital K?
Well my previous rap name was Lil Keith but growing up that name wouldn’t stick for too long so since I come from a family that was financially well-off with my Dad being a big member of society the name Kapital in other words Capital is what constituted the first part of my name then the K for my real name Keith. My big homy Tags gave me the name.
What is one thing you can’t forget about your childhood?
Lol, I cant forget rapping Tupac’s Hit ‘Em Up verse with my dad in the lounge with the camera rolling like we were shooting the actual music video. We owned that song!
When did it become clear to you that you had to pursue music?
It became clear to me when I moved to Zimbabwe from North Carolina (USA) and my dad decided to take my passion seriously and put me in studio with the late Fortune Muparutsa. He was arguably the best producer in Zim at the time. I recorded the verse I wrote when i was 9 on my hit single titled Lets Party. (keeping in mind I’m 12 years old at the time)
What makes Kapital K different from any other rappers out there?
I have a different story. I grew up in a silver spoon lifestyle and had the downfall of losing it all when my parents split but never did I change the person I was. It never broke me or made me weaker. It jus encourages me to work harder and harder. My story is clear and all true. Also my sound. I think its “one of a kind”
Are you more of a pen-to-paper kind of artist or you freestyle to beat?
To be honest I can kick a good freestyle with the right environment, lol but my best work comes from the more pen-to-paper/fingers-to-keypad methods of writing.
Tell us about your latest Mixtape?
My latest mixtape is titled T.O.S.O.M (the other side of me). Mainly produced by my Boy Dutch as well as Jae Mac. Its a side that not too many have gotten the chance to get to understand. This tape is really more emotional however each line is said for a specific reason. I wasn’t just writing to rhyme lol. It gives my listeners the real me from a more sentimental aspect. The intro says it all J . I took the risk and people loved the realness in it. Didn’t you?
Who did you work with on this Mixtape?
Producer wise I worked with Michael “Dutch” Kanyama, Jae Mac, and Graig the Genius. Artist wise I worked a well known friend of mine Stan1 as well as a local artist by the name of M.O. (he muked his verse on Turn It Up!)
You have collaborated with a number of artist in and outside South Africa what has been the experience like?
Yes I have and the experience has been AMAZING! Just breaking new ground is always a great thing for music. Taking u out of your comfort zone to produce something special is something I cherish every time I’m given the opportunity. I plan to expand..
The quality of your beats and raps is on another level, why is it important to you to take the quality of your work seriously?
I believe quality is everything. Quality is what separates you from the mediocre. People want to listen or watch something that’s smooth and looks or sounds like time and effort and hard work has been put in. My lil studio produces some of the best sounds radio plays and I like to say its not the size of your studio that’s does the trick but how well u use the resources you have. Quality is the key to putting yourself ahead of others. Also in rap or hip hop, rappers may not have the meanest flow or bars or whatever but the fact that the track has been mixed and mastered to perfection (tied in with delivery) is what makes one that much better.
As a Zimbabwean artist based in South Africa how do you find the local industry’s attitude towards rappers of foreign decent?
I will use my Americanized slang to answer this – I ain’t gotten no bad feedback over my nationality so i ain’t trippin, lol! haha
What has been some of the highlights of your music career?
Highlights include working with JK from Zambia and CRISIS from Zambia. Getting Bigger is working with Baponga from Gabon and being flown to Gabon specifically for a show after Christmas. We put in a lot of work together. Music as well as Videos. Hes doing a great job exposing me out there. #Respect. Also working with Sean Pages and Ameen Harron during my video shoot for my new single HIGH was doooope! Recently I linked up with my boy Davido that’s why u see me in the beginning of his Gobe video. Big tings await! Lol..
You represent Zimbabwe religiously in your music. What message do you aim to communicate about Zimbabwe in your music?
Basically that Zim ain’t what the media portrays it to be. also how those from my city are Hustlers and go-gettas. That’s all.
You have been putting records since you were 9. What motivated you to push from then until now?
Same way a PC is driven by the CPU is the same way my passion for music is my driver. I compete with no1 however i stay up to date with everything around me.
What obstacles have you faced musician? And how did you overcome them?
Getting airplay was difficult in the beginning but its proving to become easier with time. Also TV rotation. But its all falling into place. I’m not where i intended to be but I’m getting there. God’s Time.
Where can people get your Mixtape?
You can get my mixtape off my website www.k4kentertainment.com
What is the state of hip hop in Zimbabwe?
Hip hop is growing. Not as fast as i would have liked it to but nonetheless we all tryna uplift the spirit. We ain’t got much support from the TOPS yet but with more and more input it should spark their interests J its also the artists themselves tho. As a collective we need to put out quality music and music videos. QUALITY! We still slacking there as a whole.
As artist who raps in English do you have any limitations?
Language wise maybe but I do get my French and shone on a lil bit.lol But lyrically as an English rapper there are no limitations whatsoever.
How do you think hip hop or music rather can be used to help address some of the challenges faced by the African youth?
Simple, its just a matter of artists putting the message in their records. Music is an international language and what better way to spread t he word than thru music. Good music. Some people don’t like reading, some people don’t like watching TV. Everyone loves music lol..
How can your fans connect with you?
You can hit me up on facebook – Kapital4Kapital Records (new page)
Twitter @KapitalK_1 , BBM pin …… syke …….or my website as mentioned above. All my YouTube videos can be found on my page www.youtube.com/kapital4kayThank you J #KapCity
