Growing up in Oakland, (“the City of Dope”), a kid doesn’t have many options. Typically, you go into one of the ghetto-related professions: pimping, robbery, selling drugs, using, or other gangster activities. Or, if you’ve got some talent and a lot of hunger, you take the frustration from your limited options and the negative stereotypes surrounding you and craft them into the sound of the streets.
Part GANSTA, part PROPHET, part Hip-Hop SAVIOUR, part ECCENTRIC PLAYBOY , these are the reasons his first solo LP in 8 years was called KHAOSZ and his second, URBAN LEGYND. He spits with a passion because he feels every topic he touches on. From fake thugs and the ups and downs of the ghetto, to his love for children and the female anatomy, KC a.k.a. KrAz creates vivd pictures of reality fused with hints of fantasy over musical backdrops drawn straight from this old ghetto soul. As an MC he represents realness, stating that “staying true to Hip-Hop is the only way to survive this game.” By ignoring the trends of Hip-Hop (i.e., the gangsta, thug, and bling eras) and just staying true to the foundation of the culture, he aspires to record alongside those he admires most in the business, Redman, Busta, Nas, Jay-Z, and Eminem.
With a work ethic reminiscent of the late Tupac he lives in the studio, recording 10-20 new songs a week while putting out a new album every year on his own, independent Underwyrld Entertainment label. And it’s not all fluff. He bares his soul on every track, displaying his many personalities. Whether it’s tales of his time spent selling drugs in the streets of Oakland or translating one of his boy’s stories into rhyme. Even when he’s trying to lighten the atmosphere, taking a break from discussing the social ills of society, racial prejudices, and just plain bad habits to drop hot bars about the good things in life, he’s keeping it real.
To hell with 100 bars, he’s been called a monster in the booth. Known to freestyle for 20 or 30 minutes at a time. That’s why he was crowned freestyle champ 8 weeks in a row in 1994 in a weekly freestyle contest. As a producer he’s inspired by Timbaland, Dr. Dre, and OutKast, creating urban anthems that push the envelope. He’s impressed by those willing to take a risk and change what the world is listening to while staying true to Hip-Hop. He’s not afraid to stand out in the crowd. It shows in is music. He’ll use any instrument, sound, or “thing” to get his point across.
Songs like Hot Wangz and Khaosz use Star Warz effects to compliment the beats. Strings, basses, drums, acoustic guitars, techno sounds, samples, it doesn’t matter. He turns it all into Hip-Hop one way or another. He massages the sounds to evoke feelings of suspense, elation, enebriaton, and anger. He’s a great puppet-master of the sounds with no formal training just years of honing his craft. The same sick wok ethic that plagues him on the mic follows him behind the boards, where he’s been known to bang out 5-10 beats a day just vibing. Rumor has it he’s already completed his next 3 albums, he’s just taking his time unleashing them on the world. And that’s outside of the string of mixtapes he’s currently releasing to the streets.
He’s coming to change the game…he won’t be denied.