Come Get Love With KayCyy

Interview and photos by Mary Perez

Graphic by Rebekah Witt 

KayCyy may just be a rising rapper, but he has already worked with the likes of Kanye West, Lil Baby, Travis Scott, and Lil Wayne. Even in his earliest days, the Nairobi-born, St. Paul native has made quite the name for himself by connecting and working with some of the biggest names in the rap and hip hop worlds, playing shows around the world, and getting to continue building his following with new releases. In his latest project, KayCyy collaborated with French producer Gesaffelstein to create TW2052, a seven-track mix that experiments with catchy rhythms and clever lyricism. After his set at Governors Ball, KayCyy sat down with us to discuss TW2052, favorite collaborations, and upcoming tours.

How was your set earlier today?

Everything was just amazing. I'm trying to find a different word, but it was really dope to see all the fans coming together. It was like really intimate— it wasn't like the biggest crowd, but it was just like people that really liked my music. Yeah, I just got to interact with them and know faces and remember people.

In terms of the new album, I noticed that you also had an album that came out last year. Was there a reason that you chose to do it in such close succession?

I think people just need more music. You know, like our short right now. Like the short span that's like, very small, like our youth is like, ready to get to the next thing like, what's, what's next, I keep giving us more. I don't want to hold too much music back or nothing, but just be really strategic and smart and give people what they want, but in a way that I want to give them.

Who do you feel are your biggest influences, and what artists do you think you sound like? 

I believe my biggest influences are people like Michael Jackson, James Brown, Kanye West, Bob Marley. I feel like I'm kind of a mixture of all the all of those people. Number one, whether it's my tone, my pockets, my soul, my spirit side, which would be Bob Marley, or creative entertainment, Michael Jackson. There’s certain things, [and] everything just kind of meshes into one thing. Those are my top artists for life to take influence from these people. 

Are there any unique things that you find inspiration from, such as art pieces or books?

 I mean, art and fashion always, you know, it's a new thing that we see, right? When I traveled overseas, I listen to different music, and that's all part of like, the art the reason I brought me over there, the fashion, right? That kind of opens my mind to things that I like or things that I'm not accustomed to every day in America. Even my African culture, digging into that, brings a whole ‘nother side that I really, really can pull from: make it one thing that people can understand or don't understand yet. 

I know that you've collaborated with a lot of different people, so do you have a favorite collaborator? 

It would obviously have to be Kanye. You know, out of everybody that I've worked with, him, for sure. You know, it's just like a lot of fun, like learning and experiencing through him. I met other people that I learned from, and it was a good collaboration throughout that whole process working with him, so I'll give it to him. 

Do you have a dream collaborator? 

Rihanna, Rihanna. Rihanna and Rosalía. Those are my top. Really often, females are going so crazy right now that I even want to work with Latto or I want to work with different people. Just find a different direction; the females are goin’ so crazy.

Would you say that there were any differences between your album processes from these last two albums?

Absolutely. It'd be different, for sure. No, I made this last project with Gesaffelstein in my garage, most of it, in Akon’s car garage, actually. I was staying over there. I set up a studio there I was working in because I can't smoke in the house so I’d smoke outside. I just made it a whole vibe. I just made “ROLL THE DICE” and “TIMELESS” and all that stuff there. It was just a vibe, you know? 

You're going on tour very soon, so is there any place in particular that you're looking forward to playing or any surprises that you have for fans? 

I can't wait to go to Amsterdam and I can't wait to go to Paris. My LA show is coming up. I can't wait to do that, and it's gonna be dope. I got a couple people coming out to perform. My London show, I'm working on that a lot for bringing out some people to be able to perform on that, so there's a couple places where I can't wait to just touch. 

What about any long-term and short-term goals for your career?

It's just like headlining things like this, you know? You know me and myself there, and it's short-term just like putting in the groundwork that I'm doing now and just going harder like to get to that point. Talking to people like you, building and letting people know who I am and dropping good music, that's all I'm on short-term. In terms of long-term, just seeing myself get to where I want to see myself. 

If there's a celebrity that could show up at your next show, who would you want to be?

The fans will want to come out to support? I mean, obviously, Rosalía will be crazy. That's crazy to bring out and Travis Scott would be cool. 

Do you have a particular favorite hype song? 

I love Future; any time I play Future gonna hype me up. That's like one of my favorite artists. 

Do you have any messages that you'd like to share with your fans?

Keep being you, stay positive. Listen, but choose what you’re listenin’ to. Be mindful, and just love yourself and love everybody else. 

It was great getting to speak with KayCyy, and it’s evident that he’s going to go far. Be sure to check out his latest release, and catch him on tour!