Voice Of The Metro

Voice Of The Metro: Introduce yourself to the world.

Kendall Elijah: What’s good e’rrybody? I go by the name of Kendall Elijah, a young rapper out of the DMV, basically trying to make a name for myself.

VOTM: So give everybody a little history with you and this rap game.

KE: Well, first and foremost, I’m a music lover. My moms and pops raised me off everything from Earth, Wind, and Fire to Oasis. I say music is the only language that doesn’t need interpretation. But honestly, hip-hop hit me around age 11 or so, listening to Eminem and Outkast. Like, I knew it was time to rap when I could repeat everything they were saying, no matter how fast or complicated. I recorded my first joint with Sinitus Tempo at age 16, but I wasn’t really serious until people told me that I had a knack for it and I could possibly make it. So here I am - take it or leave it…but if you leave it…you’re braindead. (laughs)

VOTM: There aren’t too many young MCs with the lyrical skill level you’ve reached. How do you feel about being one of the talented underdogs in the area?

KE: Wow. I didn’t realize it was that serious. (laughs) But yeah, I think skill is a byproduct of determination in most cases. Now you’ll get a few that spit their first verse after the doctor first slapped their ass, but for the majority of us…we are determined. All I can say is, my influences forced me to challenge myself musically and lyrically, and I have this feeling that if even if I never get signed in my lifetime, people will still remember that tall kid from Hyattsville as an emcee, a promoter of real music and hip-hop. But people need to watch for the uprising of the young emcees out of the DMV.

VOTM: Definitely…they’ll find them here on VOTM. (laughs)

KE: Shameless plug. (laughs)

VOTM: So what do you have in works right now?

KE: Man! I’ve accomplished sooo much this week, it’s crazy! First and foremost, my debut mixtape, K4P (Kendall 4 President), is dropping mid-April. I’m really proud of the joint, honestly. It’s something really pleasing to the music lover’s ear. Oh, and coming real soon is The Hall Pass EP, produced by Judah. I also got some stuff in the works with Aja Imani and an up-and-coming clothing line, Piff (shout out to Savage!). So I’m trying to crank them joints out and get my name up real soon. But you never know what else is gonna pop up, because all this happened in a week!

VOTM: So your style is different from a lot of MCs in the area…who are your influences?

KE: I’m so glad you said that. My influences are spread across all music genres. Wale, of course. Kanye, Lupe, Common, Outkast, Eminem…that’s the hip-hop. Earth, Wind, and Fire for the level of music they achieved. Oasis, a Brit pop band. The Dave Matthews Band. And…my mother and father for being eclectic in the way of raising me. At a young age, I was in musuems instead of playgrounds, listening to B.B. King on the way to the babysitters. Real music.

VOTM: So what is your goal in your rap career?

KE: To put it simply, to make music I love, not what people want to hear, or what people want me to do. Oh, and some Brazilian models in a threesome, that would be cool too. (laughs)

VOTM: (laughs) Aight man. Well, now we reach the DMV section of the questions. Favorite carryout?

KE: Golden China in Hyattsville. Man, my house orders from there so much, we’re VIP members. We get first dibs!

VOTM: Favorite clothing store?

KE: Everybody says Commonwealth, and I got a ticket for that bandwagon, but I’m broke currently…but I’mma say that anyway! I’m always on cmonwealth.com if it counts.

VOTM: Favorite go-go band?

KE: I love musical go-go, so I’mma say UCB and Mambo Sauce, but cant forget the greats - Chuck Brown, EU, BYB, and Northeast Groovers.

VOTM: Stamp. Aight man…any last words for the people?

KE: Yeah…look out for K4P, The Hall Pass EP the whole 16 Bit Dreams crew,, and support your own, man. We, as the DMV, are next up, and if love is central throughout the city, who can stop us, really? Shoutouts to my man Lyriciss, of course. My mans Damion, Felon (Bit Boys ALL DAY!), Mouse, Nando, Savage, the entire city of Hyattsville! My mans Sinitus Tempo (album coming soon, which I forgot to mention) and David E. Beats. Real Hip-Hop Artists, and uh…everybody who I forgot to mention, don’t sue me…’cuz I ain’t got nothing. (laughs) I’m Kendall Elijah. YEP YEP!!!!

For more info on Kendall Elijah, go to…

http://www.myspace.com/kendallelijah

http://kidfromhyattsville.imeem.com