Even as his rolodex of collaborators grew larger to include more mainstream stars like Roddy Ricch and Joji, he says, “The idea of doing a DJ Khaled album was just never something that appealed to me.” Though he’s received co-artist billing on projects by Pablo Juan, 03 Greedo, and KEY!, internet favorites who bring a singular strangeness to regional street rap, he never had an individual statement he felt warranted his own solo LP treatment. My biggest way of trying to help people is by trying to demystify so that they can succeed at the same level I am.”Īnother sign of Kenny’s self-awareness is that he’s never wanted to hog the spotlight. My biggest way of giving back is teaching. “I feel like I have to continually work and earn my spot no matter what. “I don’t think that I’m someone who deserves a place in music, and especially not in Black music,” he says. There’s definitely a sense of polish to Kenny, but it seems like an organic manifestation of his naturally upbeat personality, as opposed to a crafted persona. In conversation, Kenny radiates a warmth and geniality that one can easily picture energizing artists in a studio session. He stands well over six feet tall and his arms are covered in distinctive tattoos, including a recent one referencing Louie. In these divisive times, the 31-year-old producer, born Kenneth Charles Blume III, has become a rare point of consensus, making great music with Gen Z heartthrobs (Joji, Dominic Fike, Omar Apollo), rap critical darlings (Vince Staples, Freddie Gibbs, Rico Nasty), and an increasing number of rock and pop acts (IDLES, FKA Twigs, Benee). Kenny’s effectiveness spreading the highly-caffeinated beverage to music’s trendsetters speaks to his uniquely high approval rating. Smino started drinking it and matching his outfits with it and shit. Kehlani put it on her rider, I was in a Schoolboy Q session and the teaser for his album had my yerba can in it. But Kenny has loved the stuff for years, and began turning his musician friends onto it during sessions. No one used yerba in any studio ever,” he says about the energy-boosting herbal tea. “Right now, it seems not as crazy, but in 2018, that was mountain-biking fuel. But the music star also moonlights as the world’s most effective salesperson for yerba mate. He’s an in-demand, cross-genre producer, a gifted multi-instrumentalist, and as of a few weeks ago, a critically-acclaimed solo artist with a debut album Louie that’s a complex tribute to his father.
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