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ABOUT KABY:
Tennessee artist Kaby (pronounced KAY-bee) defies expectations. Born and raised in Nashville, Kaby was influenced by New York heavyweights Ghostface Killah, Pete Rock and Detroit legend J. Dilla as much as Southern titans Juicy J and DJ Paul. He finds inspiration from a wide variety of sources, so his sound is not easily defined as merely boom-bap, Southern, or any one thing. Kaby doesn't wear his influences like a costume, but like a tapestry made up of different textures and colors. Both musically and visually, Kaby has a style all his own.
He started making and selling his own mixtapes at 17, and as he grew older, music remained his singular focus. From freestyling at open mics to performing at college shows, Kaby continued to refine his sound. Thankfully, the city's music community was an open-minded group that gave him space to be creative. "Nashville's hip-hop scene is almost like a trial run. You get leeway with things that you wouldn't be able to do in other places," Kaby says. The city reciprocates that love anointing him with Nashville Scene's Best Hip-Hop Album for his 2013 effort H.E.R.E.
His new album Era of the Try Hardis a culmination of those years of hard work and inspiration from his many influences. He, along with longtime collaborator Nathan Zensen, and Mike Ewing --- who have produced for everybody from the Maybach Music Group to the legendary Gladys Knight --- and several talented session musicians, worked on the album for two years. Era of the Try Hardis a fully-formed statement about Kaby as a man and artist. The songs reflect his persona: making sharp turns from rapid-fire flows, melodic anthems, brazen lyrics and vulnerable themes. The result is Kaby's best work ever. "At the end of the day, I want to contribute to the culture. Not to extract."
Photo Credit: Nix
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