Peace Kenn Retro. Tell us the significance of your name?and what sets you apart from other Hip Hop artists?
I’ve always been told the greatest MC’s have two names, so I chose my first one Ken but i thought too plain so i added an extra N, hence “Kenn”, which comes from my birth name Kenneth then “Retro” came from my personality, old spirited mind state, open minded, but Laid Back demeanor.
Who is your target market?What is your USP?
My Target Market Is Hip Hop. I wanna reach those that love the sound, feel and understand the message only hip hop can provide. Age is not really the issue, it’s giving something to those who feel as though music no longer caters to what they wanna hear. But at the same time i don’t want to live in the past either, i try to bring something that feels familiar, but also new. A New “Retro”.
What sets me apart from artist on the come up, is that I’m more business minded and assertive. Behind the scenes professionalism and first good impressions are key for me. In addition to that I love what I do with the ambition to stay creative and free. From major artist in the game, I make feel good music that’s relatable yet still lyrical, I’m a lyricist at heart.
What single or project are you currently pushing?
I’m currently pushing my first single “Do My Thing” from my upcoming album “The Id, Ego & Superego”, which comes out on October 31st, Halloween.
What is the philosophy by which you live by?
My philosopy is set morals, love and be true to yourself. Dream beyond what you see and stay optimistic. Nobody has your back like you have your back.
Which artists have inspired you?
Some artists who have inspired my include: Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Common, Mos Def, Wu-Tang, Redman, Notorious BIG, Lupe Fiasco.
Who does your production?
For the current album “The Id, Ego & Superego” dropping Halloween, I’ve worked with four producers by the names of “Melo Dramatic”, “Monster MoDune”, “Don Perinion” a.k.a DonBeats, and “Kid Dyno”.
What is your opinion of the current state of the music industry?
From a business perspective I believe that music is extremely powerful, profitable and growing with potential prospects and by that I mean new artists and new music. From a artist perspective pertaining to hip hop, I believe hip hop is slowly but surely working its way back to lyricism and competition in positive fashion which will show substance in those artist who are apart of this movement.
If you can change one thing about the music industry what would it be and why?
I would just change how radio determines which artist and songs are played on the radio because the radio is on a cycle of repetition with songs now a days, and fans should have more power to reach out and have what songs they want by any artist played on the radio.
Are there any singers that you would like to collaborate with in the future?
Jill Scott, Sade, Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, The Floacist, Wale, Ella Varner, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Jay Z, Brandon Boyd from Incubus
What is your favorite movie and favorite book?
My favorite movie is “House of a1000 corpses” and my favorite book is “The Great Gatsby”
What are some major misconceptions that you think people have of you?
They think they know me based off of zodiac sign right off the back and become very judgmental. A lot of times people think because I’m from Chicago I have a Do Or Die, Psycho Drama or Twista flow but Chicago is filled with a lot of unique talent and I’m apart of that ratio.
What is your favorite part of your live show?
The emotional and energetic connection with the fans is my favorite part.
How has it evolved?
I use to practice what i would do and say at my shows during and between songs but I’ve found that majority of the time each crowd is different so I like to improv and react off of whatever comes to mind and how I’m feeling but it has to be relevant with the vibe I feel from the crowd.
What is your album going to be like?
What is your website? My album is going to reflect the significance of Kenn Retro the brand and who I am. Smooth tho Vibrant. Simplicity is implemented in the LP so it will make you feel good, bob your head, dance and want to sing along, but most importantly it will make you think, compare and relate because its relatable. My website is www.kennretro.com
Any final words for the people:
I want to thank my team behind me my Video Director and creative lead TIMBOT, and my Manager Sabrina Rosa aka Breeze D.Rilest; the folks behind Quantum Tekniq Productions. Look out for the album on iTunes, amazon and other purchasing sites, etc. “The Id, Ego & Superego” drops October 31st this Halloween. Right now you can check out the first single off the album “Do My Thing”, its universal so I know everyone will feel it. Also to the ladies out there look forward to the second single dropping later this year “Holding It Down” featuring Gabriela Francesca. All access to music, photos, videos, news, media, touring, booking and contact information will be located on my website www.kennretro.com lastly I want to thank my fans out there thats been supporting me and continuing to do so I love all you.
