Mixtape Chronicles Pt. 8: K-Nine
By Tiffany Natasha
TN: Introduce yourself and where you’re from.
K Nine: Wassup with it! They call me K Nine aka K Nina. Born and raised in tha Veg. I’m a northtown native!!!
TN: Another Vegas native, like myself! Tell, me fam, how did you get started in this game of Hip Hop?
K Nine: I really started getting my hands wet when I was an intern at One Vibe Studios back in ‘02. I’ve been writing since about ‘95, producing since around ‘01,‘02.
TN: So you‘ve been rhyming since ‘95?
K Nine: Actually, I started off with the both poetry and freestylin’ in ‘95. I don’t really freestyle anymore, I’m more of a writer than anything now. I like to think before I let things come out my mouth, that’s why I don’t freestyle.
TN: I feel you. Poetry is where it all starts. Knowing that you’re a writer first, who in and outside the game has influenced you?
K Nine: God if first. I’m a lil’ more conscience of what I say now because of my beliefs. Musically I have to say Techn9ne, Ya Boy, Yukmouth, Jin n Trae. There’s a lot of “rappers” I really like, but it takes a lot to actually influence me as an artist, not just as a fan.
TN: Now try to describe your style for me.
K Nine: Forever twisted! (laughs) I have songs where I’m spittin’ n twistin’ over the beat, then I have those tracks where it’s more mainstream, a lil’ more easier to follow. I’m working on some “hip hop” type tracks, for the hip hop heads out there. You know, using metaphors, wordplay and all that good stuff. I really want to define what “Vegas style” is more than anything for us out here though.
TN: What makes you different from other artists out there?
K Nine: One, I’m Pinoy (Filipino) mixed, I’m trying to incorporate a bit of my culture into the culture of rap music. Teach these cats out there a lil’ different lifestyle and background like Apl D from the Black Eyed Peas did. Two, I’m not afraid to show my pain in a track. A lot of cats hide the real heart and soul of their music by talking about things they don’t even own an doing things they’ve never done. I think that’s why the game is so watered down right now. We don’t have the Pacs and the Biggies like we used to so the game has open doors to anyone with money or the right connections and has disregarded true talent. I believe some of these cats are really flushed out and flossin’ hard, but most of them aren’t whales. They’re still small fish, wishing they were sky ballin‘.
Another thing, I know a few other homies doing it, so it’s not just me, but I’m really trying to come up with our own words out here. Vegmade, I got that from my boy Booskee. (laughs) I use that a lot. I say flush, got that from Dee-1. Lyt City, got that from Trajik n Infared-Desert Mobb; RIP. And Redlight Runner. That’s my shit, I came up with that.
TN: (laughs) I like the lingo! How did you come up with that term?
K Nine: Because I run red lights like a bad habit, I think a lot of us do out here in the Veg. (laughs) In the Bay they call ‘em scrapers, so out here, I call em, runners. The Bay gets hyphy, down south gets crunked in the 702, we get viped! (laughs) That’s my shit, but these few words are open for all my people out there. That’s Vegas talk for ya!
TN: So, besides creating a new language for Vegas, what else are you up to?
K Nine: I’ve been working on my solo album, Forever Twizted. Trying to make sure I’m content on how it sounds and with what I put out there. Hopefully that’ll be released this year in 08.
TN: Where do you want to be in 5 to 10 years?
K Nine: Heavy in the game, strong with a name. Would love for all my Vegas artists out here in the game doing it Palazzo style, would love to see us all unify and stand strong. I love my people!!!
TN: Drop your contact info for those that want to reach you.
K Nine: The best tow ways are My Space are my Email. www. MySpace.com/Kninemuzic, Kninemuzic@hotmail.com. Or you can holler at Pro Dash, he’s got the 7 to call me!!
TN: Anything you want to add?
K Nine: Everyone wants to make it, not many want to work together, please, for real, push those egos to the left, stop acting Hollywood and let’s unify to build a Vegas empire. Stop hating, look past your ignorance, and see intelligence. I promise we’ll blow faster if we make moves together. It’s a struggle for us as “Vegas artists” to get into the game and be taken seriously, it’s really like a war. How many so called “Vegas artists” have made it, and never gave back to the town?? We’re all soldiers fightin’ the same battle, but at no time in history was any war won by one single soldier. There were always thousands more to back that one soldier up! We can all be generals, legends and leaders in our own time, but for now, let’s make moves as one before it’s too late!
TN: It seems that everyone shares you feelings on that. What to shout anyone out?
K Nine: Shot outs to you, TN of Vivid N Urban Magazine for taking time to get to know a Pinoy. Pro Dash for always reaching out, Dee-1 (one of my aces) Booskee, Synyster D, Low Green, Desert Mobb, Doomsday, Murderous Click, 420, Click One, Johnny Boy, Lady Synful, Lady Lust, Lady B, Lady Heat, DJ Supajames, Docwell, Trigga, Mr. Nano (Free Nano) Campfire, Young G-no. That’s only a small few of the artists out here. We’re thick as hell out here, all grindin’ and makin’ moves. If we come together and move together we’ll make it happen!
One more thing I gotta add. Look out for the album Forever Twizted. I produced about 8 tracks on there. Show support for the artists, buy their albums, support their shows, spread their music out there. R.I.P. to my boy Pierre John Uniza aka Unkle P. He passed June 1st, 2008. He was one of the realist Filipinos in the game, we love you mayne!
