Q&A: bKIDD

Hailing from South Auckland, hip hop artist/rapper & lyrical maestro bKIDD is no stranger to setting the stage alight with his unique sense of style & delivery. Having collabed with the likes of icons POETIK on “Up” and Scribe on “NEED DAT pt.2”, he’s also dropped a collaborative EP with Sam V and hit the charts with the track “Can’t Take This” ft. JARNA. He chats to us about his debut album “DARK DAYS TURN NIGHT”, his latest single “KICK BACK” and more.

We’d love to know a little bit about your musical journey from when you first started rapping and creating music!

When I was in school I would hear songs on the radio and think "man, I swear I could write something better than this?". And so I low-key started writing little verses in class. But I was always shy with my songs and didn't tell anyone I wrote raps until years later, after I finished school. I wish I had pursued music back then instead of worrying what other people might think!

Let’s take a throwback to your debut album “DARK DAYS TURN NIGHT”! Can you tell us about the concept of this album and how you came up with the name of it?

So last year I released my first album DDTN - I wrote most of those songs when I was going through a rough patch in my life. I was always going out, drinking and partying but for some reason I wasn't all good. The days seemed to blend into each other, and mentally the days were as dark as night. I really felt like I was living in a cycle of darkness for a while. That's how the title came about. Most of the songs have angry and sombre undertones but there are little glimmers of light like “DRIFT AWAY” that are on the album too.

And a feature with kiwi legend Scribe on “NEED DAT pt.2”?! What was that experience like?

Maaaaan working with Scribe was crazy! It was cool because it wasn't one of those “email” collabs. He actually came into the studio and chopped it up before he pumped out his verse. We got to talking about life and a bunch of random things which was hectic because this is THE Scribe that we all grew up listening to! But the real highlight was when he invited me on stage to perform the song live with him in Hamilton, the same weekend I dropped the album. That was a moment. He'll always be the GOAT.

Congrats on your latest track “KICK BACK” - we’re loving this new vibe from you! Can you tell us a bit about this track and the meaning behind it?

Thank you! I've always loved this sound and it's a style that I find really easy to write to. I realised that I've always written to externalise my emotions, and to help myself get over things. But this year I want to make music based on how I want to make OTHERS feel. So “KICK BACK” is really about not letting things that are out of your control dictate your joy, but rather prioritise important things like peace within your soul and not letting negativity take over. Shoutout to EDY who done his thing on this too.

What can you tell us about your upcoming music? 👀

Upcoming musiiiiiccccc ... I do have a few singles with EDY that are marinating in the vaults. I may or may not have some new music with LNGSLV who assisted me on “WUSSDAT?!”. So there is a bit of content, it's just a matter of when. And hopefully I'll be able to bring some of my video ideas to life.

If there’s anything you could change about the current music industry, what would it be and why?

I feel like there shouldn't be this attitude of “you have to achieve this or that in order to work with me”. This goes for collaborations, funding, etc. If the music is great, that should be the most important thing. I've encountered a bit of that along the way, but it's all good. To each their own.

Who are your biggest inspirations in music?

Honestly, there's too many to mention. I draw inspiration from different artists for different things. I love artists like Nas and J. Cole for their storytelling, Erykah Badu (who I named my daughter after) for her buzzy vibe, the energy and humour of Action Bronson, Bas for his beat selection ... the list is endless. But ultimately it was guys like Scribe, Smashproof, Deceptikonz, Rizván, Homebrew, David Dallas, that made it seem like it was possible to make dope hip hop music in NZ.

Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you especially love or connect with?

I love our scene here in NZ! I feel like we have a bit of everything and we make music that can hold its own at the international level. I'm a big fan of JARNA at the moment. I really dig what deadforest is doing too. Sam V is a beast live. I still have “Ghostly” by Sven Illy and Judah Kidd on repeat. They're dope too.

What do you love most about living in New Zealand? Do you have any favourite places to travel to or local spots to visit?

I'm gonna go with some basic answers here and say Queenstown and Tauranga. I love the vibe in Tauranga. And you can't get sick of the scenery in Queenstown. But South Auckland is always home.

What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career so far and what advice do you have for new artists out there?

The biggest lesson I've learnt in music that I think I would tell an upcoming artist (or definitely to a younger me) is to always make music that YOU like. Don't follow “formulas” and what's trending. Be genuine and make music from a pure place. Don't worry about the numbers, charting, etc. The music should always be first. It's better to sell 50 records of music you love, than 1000 of something your heart wasn't in.

Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?

Life is short so use the time you have to do good. Spend time with loves ones, be grateful for what you have and don't worry about things that are out of your control. Love more.

Thanks heaps bKIDD! Make sure to keep up with him on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify or Apple Music.