Southeast Hip Hop Magazine recently sat down and talked with rising hip hop recording artist, illustrator and graphic designer K.W. the Artisan about his current mixtape Paradise Phone Home, his background as an artist, plans for the future and more! Read all about what this young, brilliant and talented artist had to say.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: How are you doing K.W. the Artisan?
K.W. the Artisan: I can't complain. Too blessed to stress. Too great to hate.
K.W. the Artisan: I can't complain. Too blessed to stress. Too great to hate.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: Could you tell the readers how you got the name K.W. the Artisan?
K.W. the Artisan: The K.W. stands for King Wundaboi. Malik (Maleek) means King in Arabic. Wundaboi has always been my rap name since like middle school. The Artisan is the line name I earned from my fraternity, Pi Sigma Epsilon.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: How would you describe yourself as an artist?
K.W. the Artisan: I'd say I'm a jack of all trades. I rap, draw, photo edit, and create videos. There isn't much that I can't do and I am currently in the process of learning the stuff that I don't know.
K.W. the Artisan: I'd say I'm a jack of all trades. I rap, draw, photo edit, and create videos. There isn't much that I can't do and I am currently in the process of learning the stuff that I don't know.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: You are a young artist that's influenced by a lot of 90s, golden era, boom bap hip hop. Who are some of the artists from that era that influenced you?
K.W. the Artisan: 2Pac is definitely my biggest influence. Some others are J. Cole, N.W.A., Jay-Z, Bob Marley, and Jimi Hendrix to name a few in no particular order.
K.W. the Artisan: 2Pac is definitely my biggest influence. Some others are J. Cole, N.W.A., Jay-Z, Bob Marley, and Jimi Hendrix to name a few in no particular order.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: You have a mixtape out now, Paradise Phone Home... how would you describe the overall feel of the mixtape?
K.W. the Artisan: Trippy, in one word. It's music for late nights and smoke sessions. If you listen to it all the way through, it'll definitely take you on a trip.
K.W. the Artisan: Trippy, in one word. It's music for late nights and smoke sessions. If you listen to it all the way through, it'll definitely take you on a trip.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: Who did you work with for this project?
K.W. the Artisan: The features I have are Deak the Digger, Phenom, and Cairo Starr. Mike Blayz helped executive produce and let me use his studio.
K.W. the Artisan: The features I have are Deak the Digger, Phenom, and Cairo Starr. Mike Blayz helped executive produce and let me use his studio.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: Although I'm sure you are proud of the entire project, what are some highlights on this mixtape? What are some of your favorite songs?
K.W. the Artisan: "Pride" was the 1st song I recorded in a real studio. It was also the 1st song I wrote after I took a break from writing for a few months. "Paradise" was a song I had fun with. I wrote each verse differently and it just feels good.
K.W. the Artisan: "Pride" was the 1st song I recorded in a real studio. It was also the 1st song I wrote after I took a break from writing for a few months. "Paradise" was a song I had fun with. I wrote each verse differently and it just feels good.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: What types of topics and subjects do you normally rhyme about?
K.W. the Artisan: I usually just write about what I'm going through or feeling at the time. People relate more when it's real.
K.W. the Artisan: I usually just write about what I'm going through or feeling at the time. People relate more when it's real.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: What type of beats bring out the best in what you do?
K.W. the Artisan: Hmm I guess I would have to say beats that sound old school. Stuff that Outkast started out on for example.
K.W. the Artisan: Hmm I guess I would have to say beats that sound old school. Stuff that Outkast started out on for example.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: Who are some of the artists you are feeling right now? What's in your iPod?
K.W. the Artisan: I'm listening to Bas right now. I keep Logic in rotation. A$AP Ferg just dropped a dope album.
K.W. the Artisan: I'm listening to Bas right now. I keep Logic in rotation. A$AP Ferg just dropped a dope album.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: What are your plans for the rest of this year musically?
K.W. the Artisan: I plan on performing some and hopefully do a few collaborations. Just work on getting my name out really.
K.W. the Artisan: I plan on performing some and hopefully do a few collaborations. Just work on getting my name out really.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
K.W. the Artisan: Alive hopefully. Just making more music and art and being better at it.
K.W. the Artisan: Alive hopefully. Just making more music and art and being better at it.
Southeast Hip Hop Magazine: Is there anything you would like the readers to know about you that we haven't mentioned so far?
K.W. the Artisan: The 1st time I went to Lenox Mall in Atlanta, I saw Gunplay in the Apple store. I didn't say nothing to him or anything because he was trying to make a purchase and the girl he had with him was bad.
Check out more of K.W. the Artisan on these sites and links below.
I.G. = K.W. the Artisan
Listen to the Entire K.W. the Artisan PARADISE PHONE HOME Mixtape at this link.
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