Canadian MC/vocalist
K-OS recently discussed his future musical ventures, while elaborating on the
state of the Canadian hip-hop scene and expressing his connection to reggae
legend Bob Marley.
K-OS said although he hasn’t begun work on his next studio album, he is developing
song ideas and playing around with remixes.
The Trinidad-born rapper also pledged that his upcoming records will not rehash
the same type of music.
"Right now I’m making a lot of beats and sizing up ideas for songs, but
I haven’t actually been in the studio," K-OS told AllHipHop.com. "[But]
if I did a whole album of songs that sounded the same, I think I wouldn’t know
what to do with myself. I’d go insane."
Comparing Canadian hip-hop to that of the States, K-OS said the consistency
of the U.S. music industry leaves much to be desired.
The rapper praised certain Canadian hip-hop artists for recognizing their identity
as non-Americans.
"I don’t think the [music] industry in America is so hard to get into by
accident. I think they’re very particular about what shapes the culture and
the fashion of that country," said K-OS. "Unfortunately, you have
to jump through a lot of hoops to get heard in America, so it’s very political."
Regarding his own infiltration into the U.S. music scene, K-OS expressed his
dissatisfaction with the selection of music videos available and stated that
his story lines in videos are typically unconventional.
"The way I’m coming across in my videos doesn’t really fit into the American
diaspora of what the Black identity is," said K-OS. "[In videos] Black
people are never [presented as] human beings, they’re never characters. They’re
never just people who are evolving, and I think my videos show me as that character."
Akin to his mentor Bob Marley, who pioneered reggae in America and internationally,
K-OS said his rebellion is a personal movement.
The rapper’s sophomore
release Joyful Rebellion consequently explores this theme through hip-hop,
rock, and reggae elements.
"The real rebellion is choosing to think for yourself. That’s what Bob
Marley did," said K-OS. "And in him evolving and being this kid from
Jamaica [who] took the music so far, he helped a whole people evolve because
he was representing them in a way."