Over the past week or so, I was given the privlage of interviewing a gentlemen and scholar by the name of 14KT. I could write a witty little intro, but... fuck it, let's just get into it.
For people who maybe don't know (how unfortunate for them..... but I guess they are about to come up in the world). . . who are you? Tell me about what you do, from the basic, to the intricate, to the broad ranging... also, how did you get your name?
What up world? I go by the name of Kendall Tucker (KT). I am a bighead light skinned alien from a place called The IS. The IS is where I work. I am a recording engineer, emcee, child of God, DJ and producer there. I also Co-own a Day Spa called My Day Spa as well. Many know me as 14KT, I got my name in high school from playing basketball (number 14...Kendall Tucker), started rapping with my brothers Athletic Mic League and the name stuck with me cause it made sense in more ways than one.
So... I hear you make beats. .. . what's with that? How did you get started? Drop some beat making history on us. . .
Yep, I’m known to tinker with the beats a little bit. Well, I started writing rhymes in 93'. I wanted beats/breaks to rhyme over so I started making the pause/play/record cassettes tapes, looping breaks just so I could rap over them. When I linked up with the AML crew, I started getting more heavy into the beats. Then around 95'-96' me and the Lab Techs Production crew got up on a computer program called Cool Edit Pro and been using that ever since. For the last 6-7 years, I’ve been getting more into playing instruments and messing with synths, but that's basically what's up!
14KT - Gee Whiz
Fair enough... so, being a fan of your beats myself, I kinda wanna know, what inspires you? And, even more than that, who inspires you? Both in terms of their career and their actual music... is there a difference between the producer whose career you are modeling yours after versus the producer who has the most tracks on heavy rotation in your iPod? If so, why?
That was like 3 questions in one...haha. First of all, I appreciate you being a fan of the music! What that inspires me? God, creativity, records, emotions, challenges, downfalls, relationships, women, family, peace, joy, love, hate…all of which are apart of my journey and purpose in life. There are way too many artists to name that inspire me, but to name of few Stevie Wonder, Dilla, Organized Noize, Quincy Jones, Dexter Wansel, and my crew Athletic Mic League. In terms of careers, I think of Quincy Jones the most... Now, I would be lying if I said that I liked and owned every project that Quincy Jones was involved in, which I don't, but when I look at his accomplishments in his life as a producer/composer/arranger/artist/etc...it is VERY inspirational.
As far as the producer who's career I’m modeling mine after versus the producer who has the most tracks on heavy rotation. If you saw my iPod, you would probably think that I’m modeling my career after Dilla. Obviously, if you've heard the material that I’ve put out and the fact I’m from Michigan, it would be easy for you to think that. Really, I’m just a HUGE fan of his work and naturally I study things that challenge myself in life. However, as much as Dilla inspired me, I'm definitely not looking at his career as my model. I’m looking at ME as my model. I want to have the most tracks on my iPod honestly. There is no one person or artist that I shape my career after. So, everything that inspires me, I use that inspiration as tools to shape my career. Kanye said it best, everything I’m not made me everything I am…haha.
If you could make a record with anyone... who would it be? Why?
Simple…either with Stevie Wonder or Outkast. Stevie Wonder because he's my fav all time artist and it would be blessing to work and learn from him. Outkast because they're my fav hiphop group and they are always trying to stretch the game out with their creativity and that's where I wanted to be!
Define yourself musically. Are you hip hop? Soul? R&B? Some sort of hybrid? What do you relate to and/or aspire to most in terms of your sound and how people perceive it?
For the most part, I'm Hip Hop because that's really how I fell in love with music & found my place to express my art. However, as I got older, I would say I embody an Hip Hop Gospel Electro-Soul style...haha.
Okay Mister Hip Hop Gospel Electro-Soul..... why hip hop? Why do you love it? What does it mean to you?
Well, I feel Hip Hop music gave me my voice in music. It gave me confidence. It taught me that it was okay to be unique, be me, stand up and represent where I’m from because that's what made Hip Hop music dope to me! So I was attracted to that when I was young. That's why I love it. Honestly, the shine of Hip Hop music got kinda dull to me, but when I hear records where cats tell you exactly who they are...like if you love eating frosted flakes and you make a song about it not caring about if anyone else likes it, if it’s a hit and the song is dope...that makes me love Hip Hop you know?
Speaking of hip hop losing it's luster, how do you feel about radio/mainstream hip hop? Are you as jaded as some of us... and by some of us, I mean me. Or........... do you have some sort of hope or something? Would you like to someday be considered 'mainstream', or do you want to keep it more underground?
Honestly, I don't care too much about radio/mainstream. It's hard to keep up with all that cause it's tons of new artists who make songs that sound the same and I can't tell the difference between none of them...haha. I always have hope because hope is all I got. Plus, I know tons of artists that make great music that I wish was "mainstream". I love the "underground", but a lot of underground music sucks. However, there is a lot of "underground" music that I wish was mainstream like Black Milk's “Tronic”, Foreign Exchange "Leave It All Behind", Mayer Hawthorne "Strange Arrangement", Buff1 "There's Only One", PPP "Abundance", Dam Funk…I don't want these artist to be underground! This is stuff that needs to be heard on a bigger scale! It was inspiring to see Foreign Exchange nominated for a Grammy! That's hope right there!
Speaking of music you support... what's on heavy rotation in your iPod/CD player/boom box/8 track player/record player/etc right now..?
Well since I'm working on a lot of music, I've been listening to beats and tracks I've done with my brothers Mayer Hawthorne, Othello and my brother Ro Spit for our albums we're working on together. Three different albums. Besides that, M83 "Before The Dawn Heals Us" LP, Ab "Student of my Dreams", my man Black Milks new joint "Keep Going", Elzhi "The Leftovers"…that 5 man Hustle joint is my ish… Swiff D "Basic Cable", some New Wave ish and a lot of afrobeat, Nigerian rock music...haha..
Your state... is pretty much embarrassing other states in terms of music. Invincible, Apollo Brown, MarvWon, Guilty Simpson, Black Milk, Slum Village, YOU. . . and about 96 million other ridiculously talented people. Without gloating... what are your feelings about that? Anyone from the Mitten us non-Mitteners need to know about that we might not know about already?
I love my state! I love that…when it comes to music, everybody here goes 200%. That's why I still stay here and surround myself with all these talented cats. Hmmm…cats you should know about? Nametag (Black's Cousin), Young RJ, Ro Spit, One Be Lo, Magestik Legend, Cold Men Young, Street Justice, Miz Korona, Nick Speed, Illite, Kodac, Fes Roc, DJ Dez, Cream of Beats, Will Sessions, Ren Cen, Fat Killaz, Yoshi, Fowl, Denmark Vessey, Celsuis Electronics, Othello, Finale, Now On, I can go on and on.
Invincible - Sledgehammer! (prod. by 14KT and Haircut of the Lab Techs)
Yeah, yeah, yeah... we get it, your state is awesome. Now tell me more about the Athletic Mic League, and any other projects you have going currently, or that are in the works.
Athletic Mic League a.k.a Mic League Kingz…that's my brothers. My Team. 7 man Hip Hop group from Michigan consisting of Buff1 and Mayer Hawthorne aka DJ Haircut. We're actually in the process of putting together our 3rd official group album after a 6 year hiatus. I'm planning on putting out at least 3 new projects this year including an album with Othello of Lightheaded and an album with Ro Spit. I’m also working on my 3rd Solo that will hopefully come out in the fall. I'm also working on full lengths projects with my man Ab, Dibia$e, and a New/Dark Wave album with Mayer Hawthorne...dropping albums like mixtapes.
Okay so, it sounds like you have some amazing things in the works... but let's take it back. What's your favorite project of your own that you've done so far? It can be a track, an album, etc... and why is it your favorite?
Aaaahh...I don't really have a favorite cause every project I’ve done has been different. I would probably say my projects are a tie between Athletic Mic League - Sweats & Kicks LP and the Jungle Gym Jungle LP because they were the first time I had really put together a real official album and they're like my "Southernplayalisticcadillacmusik" and "ATLiens" respectively.
Athletic Mic League - RU???
There are a lot of beat makers who will be reading this who I'm sure would love any advice you could give them... So... give it up, give it up, give it to me... errr, them? Anyway, advice for beat makers?
Word…before I say anything...I'm definitely following my own advice, haha...but beat makers need to embrace the creativity they have within. Everybody was created uniquely, just master your uniqueness! Don't feel like there's rules to the "game" of beat making, so chop a record how YOU hear it, not how Premier or Dilla or Madlib would. Also, work on crafting your ear. Study and practice some type of music theory, pick up an instrument, learn scales and chords. Anything that will improve yourself as a beat maker and producer!
What do you want the world to know about you and your music? Or about life in general... drop some knowledge on us KT...
As far as my life and my music, I just want the world to know that I'm part of "The New Model" that me and my A-Side Worldwide crew exemplifies. God put me on this earth to inspire. God has a purpose for everyone and if you're living on earth and you don't know what you're purpose is, you need to be working on it! It's important! While I'm here on earth I going to do the most I can. I already accepted the fact that I'm never gonna be a superstar or crazy famous, but I gotta work hard anyways and hopefully I will inspire someone or something that will be greater than me and change the world. Sorry to get all deep...haha. But that's how it is right now...oh yeah…Celebrate life!
So that concludes my interview with beat maker, producer, and all around super human 14KT. I hope you enjoyed this interview and have learned something... or not, whatever. I would like to thank 14KT again for allowing me to interview him, as he and you already know by now, I am a huge fan of his and it was an honor. If you wish, hit this light skinneded big headed alien on Twitter at: @14KT - and make sure to keep an eye out for the limited edition gold vinyl of The Golden Hour, coming at you very soon.
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