Meet Kofi The Kyd Producer Singer and songwriter from Chicago Illinois

We’ve interviewed another amazing artist, Jamaican/West African Producer Singer and songwriter from Chicago Illinois who goes by the name Kofi The Kyd.

Every song I make is really me reflecting on real life thoughts and emotions and so I guess that’s why my music is so deep and genuine. I bring genuine energy to everyone.

I started making music in 2015. The pandemic gave me time and space from everything outside because there was a lot going on. I had just lost someone who was supposed to come up with me. The love support and motivation from Chicago and Florida is unimaginable yeah they keep me going.

My friends would hype my head up and gas me about my music. Like “kofi you just gotta do it because you got it” so I just ran with it even though it was something I always knew I wanted to do.

I became Prominent to the underground scene after meeting power92’s DJ hotrod in 2019 at a Dunkin’ Donuts. We exchanged contact information and I later on that year produced a project for Chicago rapper C40 who made music Along side fellow Fallen Chicago rapper young pappy.

Lisa: What’s the story behind “Kofi The Kyd” name?

Kofi The Kyd: Well my middle name is kofi. Everyone calls me kofi where im from, KYD is an acronym for Know your destiny and kill your demons, I just started saying kyd and it stuck.

Lisa:Tell me more about your album “Aroura nine”. What inspired you to write it, and is there a theme that connects the songs, or is it something else?

Kofi The Kyd: I wrote the songs finishing my senior year of highschool. I was in search of peace for a long time now, you know people see what you’re capable of and try to use that against you, i was trying to get away from all of that.

Lisa:What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

Kofi The Kyd: The exposure to it all has been a blessing from God to me.

Really being hands on early and getting in reach with the people I look up to. I’m from the northside of chicago you know, everyone wants to achieve the same goal as the people who up right now, and knowing how it can get here, I stay on point 24/7 because the game is really cutthroat for real. Versatility is valued really more than music is itself here. People assume the type of music I make by how I move and who I move with when really I’m just on point all the time. Right now Spazzout pronto, DCG and Heavy steppers are shifting the sound for chicago.

Lisa:What are some newer projects that you are currently working on?

Kofi The Kyd: I’ve been dropping singles as well as “electric company” on my instagram tv series so make sure to check those out. You can also find them on youtube and spotify.

Lisa:How would you describe the music that you typically create?

Kofi The Kyd: I’d say spontaneous. Because the inspiration from it could come from anywhere at any time. I give energy to every idea that spawns in my head in some way shape or form.

Lisa:What is the message you are trying to give with your music?

Kofi The Kyd: My overall message to you all is peace throughout morality and honor beyond it.

Lisa:Do you get creative blocks? If so, what do you do to move past them?

Kofi The Kyd: I rarely get creative blocks because I’m always thinking about music, even when I’m not supposed to, music has been an addiction of mine since elementary school. I record all of my ideas through voice memos and notes on my phone, so i’m always revising if I can’t quite think of anything else to do. You know changing rhyme schemes and chord progressions and stuff like that.

Lisa:You’re latest single “Electric Company” is awesome. What inspired you to write it?

Kofi The Kyd: A Lot has happened over the course of really less than a year, and I wanted to write a love song to my past and present emotions. Electric company was a show that used to air on PBS kids back in 2009. It was a creative workshop produced by Sesame workshop and the hook to the theme song was “electric company,” so i took a spin on it with a telepopmusik sample produced by Harlem’s finest Charles Hamilton. The song covers topics like, girls on the gram and dreams and ambitions to be a rapper from a big city.

Lisa:If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

Kofi The Kyd: Artists’ control over their music agendas. Often, there is a gap in trust between the artist and the label they’re signed to. If the industry could focus on really just marketing the ideas of the artists for whatever they might be, and take measure to their creativity, that then would allow space for contrast between us musicians. The industry right now shouldn’t need to exploit its artist for good marketing. You should be less worried about trying to mass produce a sound than nurturing the source. Creativity is the element needed.

Lisa:What are you currently working on, and what’s next for you?

Kofi The Kyd: I’m currently working on a christmas EP with covers from Nat king along with a few original singles. Stay tuned to kofi the kyd radio on Iheart radio and pandora.

Thank you!

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Lisa

Lisa is an undergraduate at Universitá Degli Studi di Roma, she is currently studying course in modern pop culture. She loves to write about and live for the music.

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