It’s a rare and appreciated artist that sees their music as a vessel for helping others. KG is one such artist, a Canberra-based rapper who uses his music as a platform for black empowerment, social justice and to enact important changes in attitude.
His latest single Black Boy is the perfect iteration of this ideology; an anthem designed to tip stereotypes around disadvantaged youth upside down. Eager to understand more about this altruistic MC and the music he makes, we sat down for a chat.
Before he takes his new track Black Boy around Australia, learn exactly why KG makes the music he makes. And why he will never stop making it.
HAPPY: Hey KG, how’s it going? What are you up to at the moment?
KG: Hey man, just been putting the final touches on the album and gearing up for the first national tour.
HAPPY: Nice one. Your new single Black Boy could be my favourite yet, can you give us the background on this one?
KG: Black Boy is based on an event that happened to me when I was ten years old in Melbourne. My cousins and I used to play at this park across from a milk bar and every afternoon we would go inside to get snacks. The owner of the milk bar would always follow us around the store thinking that we where gonna steal shit. I remember when I told my Mum she just laughed and said “oh son people are just stupid to think that”. I never fully understood the reasoning until I was much older.
HAPPY: It does feel like you’re calling in a lot of different moments in time – your own and those around you. Was there a catalyst moment when you knew you wanted to write this song into a song, or had it been brewing?
KG: It took along time for me to feel comfortable enough as an artist to share some of my personal stories and I guess this was kind of like therapy. I put myself in that chair and starting writing down what I was feeling and the story I wanted to tell.
HAPPY: I understand the black boy is meant to be representative, but is there a specific person in your life you picture when playing this song?
KG: I picture myself as a young child/teen and all the wrong choices I made out of anger and lack of guidance. With all the hype around the African youth gangs and the indigenous youth incarceration rate, it got me thinking these youngns’ really need something uplifting and it inspired me to write the song.
HAPPY: You’re in direct contact with these disadvantaged communities, as I understand it. Can you tell us about the youth work you’ve done?
KG: I’ve been creating programs that encourage youth to stay in school and kick educational goals. I use my own passions to develop programs using hip hop lyricism, music and dance to relate to the youth and show them learning can sometimes be dope. I’m a big activist in lobbying our government to make changes to school based learning in poor socioeconomic areas, times have changed so the curriculum has gotta change, it’s insane it just doesn’t evolve.
HAPPY: How does that shape the music you make?
KG: It’s humbling to the core. I think no matter what setbacks I have musically, I never feel sorry for myself or dwell on the music losses because I know with my music I have a bigger goal than just my own musical success. It’s all about empowering these kids and showing them ways outs of situations and I get to do that every day in my youth work, even if my music isn’t number one on the charts, I’ll always be content.
HAPPY: Doing these things, seeing these people, and standing on the ground you stand on, would you feel as if you were somehow not doing the right thing if you weren’t saying anything?
KG: Most definitely. I could never go back to just doing things for my own personal gains, I’m a firm believer in everything you do needs to serve a purpose and benefit others. So many people in the industry want that fame for themselves without realising as a public figure you can actually empower others and change lives, that is my biggest incentive in having a platform, to use my voice and actually effect change. It’s why I make music with a meaning otherwise I don’t see the point. I’ve seen too much pain and suffering in young people and in the communities so I can never turn my back on that reality, my voice is for the people.
HAPPY: I love it. Will these stories be fleshed out even more in the album?
KG: Definitely, I don’t want to give too much away but the album gives a further glimpse into the certain stories and issues people of colour face on the daily, but there is also something in the album for everyone!
Catch KG around town on his Black Boy tour. Dates below.
May 11 – Mojos Bar, Perth – Details
May 12 – Settlers Tavern, Margaret River – Details
May 18 – The Chippo Hotel, Sydney – Details
June 2 – The Penny Black, Melbourne – Details
June 9 – The Flaming’ Galah, Brisbane – Details
June 16 – Mr Wolf, Canberra – Details
Black Boy is out now.
