Interview with k-os

(photo via MySpace)

One of the more refreshing voices in 2000′s hip hop, Toronto’s k-os has already released a ton of great material, and he keeps it coming with Yes!, his new album due out March 31. Mixing b-boy aesthetics with elements of folk, soul, rock and reggae, k-os is that rare emcee who can actually sing as well as he can rap, and generally splits time between the two. Over the course of four albums he’s also shown an undeniable knack for pop songwriting; his music is cool enough for your holier-than-thou music head friends yet catchy enough for your ten-year old siblings. Culture Bully’s Guante threw a few questions at the enigmatic artist.

Guante: I feel like Yes! goes into some darker places sonically, particularly when compared to your last two albums. Maybe you don’t agree, but if so, was that a conscious decision or something that happened organically? Beyond that, was there a specific goal with this album in terms of building on or breaking from what you’ve done in the past?

k-os: I have pretty much always been afraid of the dark. This fear resonates from a strict Christian upbringing where darkness had always been symbolized and synthesized with evil. In breaking through to overstand superstition and voodoo it became clear to me that human beings may just fear the unknown and so then label it as DARKNESS. I guess Yes! has more of a carefree spirit and is a little more bravado than my other albums. The song “Emcee Murdah” on “Joyful RebelLion” is still, I think, the darkest track I have done thus far—its main inspiration derived from anger whereas any darkness heard on Yes! I think is coming from a place of curiosity…

G: I’m curious about your song writing process. Where a lot of emcees start with a hot beat and then a 16/8/16/8 bar lyric format, your songs often incorporate bridges, breakdowns, instrumental sections and much more beyond the standard formula. Where do you start? Who or what has influenced your song writing style over the years?

K-OS: Oh man… I have no clue. I tinker with guitars and pianos on the novice level, I like melody, I am a huge fan of people like Lennon/McCartney, Terence Trent D’Arby, Neil Young, Crowded House & Sam Roberts to mention just a few. Really, my goal is to impress other hip hop entities and make them crave writing songs, not just beats—I want them to envy the epic denouement that comes from crafting a song, which I fear is becoming a lost art. This could be considered mischief and borderline chicanery on my part. However, coming from a guy who felt awkward listening to Joy Division and Kid Creole and the Coconuts as a teen… it’s major payback! (ha ha)

G: What’s the story behind your MySpace track “I Wish I Knew Natalie Portman?”

K-OS: KRS-One said that verbal magic has the ability to allow its user to ‘rap’ their way into a new reality. So I’m trying to make things happen. I happen to love what that woman represents, and Star Wars of course.

G: Canadian hip hop seems to blowing up this year—yourself, K’naan, Cadence Weapon, Drake, Buck 65, others. Is there a reason for this? Who are some artists to look out for?

K-OS: Everyone has had their turn. Hip Hop started in the East, then it went to the West with Dre and Snoop. Then South with OutKast and so many others. Now maybe it’s just time for the Northern Lights to shine. DRAKE is intelligent and talented.

G: Is it too soon to talk about your next project? What does the future hold for k-os?

K-OS: Marriage, life on a farm and like seven kids…

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Also: Refresher Course: k-os