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KayJay was born Keidron Johnson and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. His friends and family know him as Kay-Jay. He was graced with the name from a former football coach, and his love for the game of football allowed him to play through college and the Indoor Football League. It was his first love. His second love came by way of hip hop and rap music that inspired him throughout his early years into adulthood. He was always rooted in music because his father was a DJ and his mother used to sing to him. He’d often recited rap lines with his cousin, and that was when he acquired a taste for the rugged and lyrical hip hop music that was created on the east coast. Early on, his favorite artists were Nas and Method Method Man. Lambo Xtra hooks up with Kay Jay to discuss his inspirations, future projections and aspirations.
Tell us about yourself and what your music journey has been like
I’m from Fort Wayne, Indiana USA grew up playing sports and was practically born into music as my father was a DJ in the mid 80’s-the mid 90’s. My mother used to sing everywhere she went and it was just meant for me to do music as my dreams playing in the NFL didn’t fall through. I’m a CEO first rapper 2nd. Meaning I’m the older guy trying to make sure that we set our artist up for success in the industry. It all started when my brother L Mudd came to me about the vision of being involved in the music industry over 10 years ago. We were young and didn’t know what we know now. So the timing wasn’t right back then but the game is wipe open right now and we want in.
Tell us what inspired your last collaboration “Alarm” with THA KING?
My grandmother was living her last few days and me knowing that, I was writing through my pain wanting to do something special and dedicate it to her and my cousin who passed away back in 2014. That wasn’t the song that we planned on releasing first but it grew on us and we decided that this would be the perfect song to get L&M Records started. While I was in the studio about to record the hook, I told Ar’Jaye to go in and create one because my voice just wasn’t sounding right for it. Ar’Jaye is a genius with his creativity and song writing. He’s the new aged ODB/DMX. He did the hook on the fly and was about to go back in to change it and me and Q was like, “nah leave it how it is!” This song was made to be authentic and the video shows a live view of how I made the song.
What advice do you have for other upcoming artistes looking up to you?
The advice that I would give to upcoming artists would be… Not to change who they are and not to let anyone tell them that they can’t be a rapper or whatever they decide to pursue in life. As long as your hearts into whatever you want to do… do it and keep practicing to be great. Even Jordan was told that he couldn’t play basketball. Another thing is if you are trying to promote products whether is be in your video or just your normal lifestyle…reach out to the Company. Go get yourself a etrade account and invest into it and show them that you have the capability to help them grow even bigger so that you will also position yourself into one of the “Top Dogs” in the Company. This is what a lot of artists didn’t do back in the days or even now. Me and Mudd bought into Kona Gold and forced a conversation by shooting a commercial just off of good faith that they would see that they weren’t the only ones seeing Kona Golds future. We took it to another level which is the urban community. Remember nothing in the World moves without us! So why not put your hands in the pot too?
What do you wish you could change in your musical journey thus far?
If there was one thing that I could change through my musical journey… it would be to have started when I was in highschool. I would’ve had the relationships with everyone that’s in the industry and radio personalities young. Time is the only thing in life that you can’t get back and I feel like with me being younger, I wouldn’t know the things that I know now. So in all honesty, I’d rather be the me I am now instead of the younger version. I would’ve missed out on certain opportunities because I would’ve overlooked so many things. An example would be with the Kona Gold. I don’t think that being 18 or even in our mid 20’s that we would’ve thought about doing more investing rather than spending. When you’re young most don’t think when they have it. It’s when they don’t and they start to understand the key to life.
Kay-Jay what new project should we be expecting from you?
I’m currently working on 3 more singles. I plan on releasing a EP in the near future. The song that we are high on is called “Infamous.” It’s produced by one of the most underrated producers ever. Araabmuzik is most definitely the next Dre, Daz, Swizz, etc. We have been doing business with him since we started this about 10 years ago.
Even though I enjoy making music, I want our artists to shine and win. Ar’Jaye is most definitely one of the greatest unheard artist ever!!! Once you hear him, you will fall in love with his music. Ronnie Moe is from North Carolina. With his Southern voice blended with the Midwest/East Coast flow, Ronnie Moe gonna keep the crowd jumpin’. He has the swag and flow as if he lived in the Midwest.
We are here to make history not only for Fort Cane, but Indiana and the rest of the world, says the rapper.Kay Jay seems to really have a lot planned out for the subsequent future and his visions do not carry him alone but also bears the images of others, ensuring everyone within the circle moves at the same pace. The young rapper has shown great prospects.