Well known from the popular "Kickin It In the City" Youtube videos, Arcieri Keness, writer/artist/sneaker fanatic, was recently interviewed by Team SD's own Ralph Lorne.
Check it out after the jump!
AK: As creative as my name may look, it's simply the first and the last name that was given to me. I'm sorry there's no cool story, I'm Arcieri Keness and I just happen to rap. Though some of my close friends call me other names and nick names that make me laugh.
Do you remember the moment you feel in love with hip-hop or just music in general?
AK: Man, I didn't even know what HIP-HOP was until about 1991, because the first kind of music I was into was rock music. My uncle Hassan use to play Guns N Roses, Metallica and a bunch of other bands. So, all I knew was how to head bash to music when we danced in grade school. [laughs] Yet that I think is the reason why I can listen to Pink Floyd to Andre 3000 and vibe to 'em. You gotta feel music and just listen to not what your brain says is cool but what your heart loves.
You've written a book entitled GODSPEED. Give us a snippet of what's written on the pages.
AK: I don't really want to leak any of the content to be fair to those that purchased it. Honestly, the content that drips from the pages are just words from my soul. The book is really dark and personal. When I wrote a lot of the book, I was going through endings of relationships. I wrote a lot of it while sitting in front of my computer with all the lights out listening to Des'ree - "Kissing You", Bjork - "Venus as a boy", Duran Duran - "Save a prayer" and I would play those and a few other songs over and over to set my mood. Then I would just zone out and write until I was empty. What a lot of people don't know is I dislike handwriting ideas or anything I think. Handwriting takes too long and sometimes I lose thoughts because I can't write it fast enough. So, therefore I type everything up.
Has it always been a goal to write a book, or did something move you create and publish your work?
AK: I never in life expected to write a book at this young of an age. I thought I'd be in my 30's or something. [laughs] Well, my girlfriend was snooping through some of my papers, but she said she was cleaning up or something along those lines. [smiles] She read some of my work and told me I should write a book. I look through all my poems and I started getting in touch with publishing companies and publish America just fell in love with my work. I've been going through the process of getting my book publish since Oct 2008 and it finally was done Feb 2009. There's a lot of people who kept me driven to make it all happen, I just started having doubts along the way. I'm just blessed to have written a book and I'm officially an author now. Yeah, let's pop some champagne!
Your first mixtape "Terrorist Do Coke" was pieced together very well and has a solid following. What can we expect from you next musically?
AK: Now this is a good question. I love talking about music as much as I love talking about video games. I'm actually working on two different things at the time. I'm working on one album, it's not a mixtape but an album. This time around I'm just writing about whatever the I'm feeling without a subject in mind. I'm in a crazy world and a strange place in my life right now. So, where I'm at I can't really explain it, but I can feel it and express it easily. I think this album is going to make people fall in love with music all over again, that's right I'm going insane. [laughs]
Do you think "Terrorist Do Coke" receive all the credit it deserved?
AK: I kind of get a rotten feeling about my mixtape not being huge sometimes. Still I'm not angry, I'm happy for the people who even took time out to download it and listen. The content is quality and I used some familiar beats to help people grown into me a tad bit better. The only thing I'm pissed about it I had a few hundred downloads and the person who uploaded my mixtape for me killed the link. I just recently re-uploaded it... no biggie. I really want to bring good stuff to the table and I need the support of the people. For those who don't have the mixtape, I hope you download it and put a friend on too. Boy! People who like TDC are going to love me for this next one, watch!
What's your take on the state of hip-hop? Do you believe the deserving artist get their due credit? Any names or parties you're opposed to?
AK: I'm at a point where I can't even turn on the radio to listen to music anymore. Sometimes I ride in the car and just listen to the sounds of the road or some symphony music on this local Baltimore station 91.5. The music on the radio just shows we're moving backwards and people don't make classic songs anymore just club hits. Then they vanish and there's a new John taking their place doing the same thing. Yo, I miss the days when I was like 12 listening to Wu-Tang, Mobb Deep, Nas, Ice Cube, Snoop. You just knew then when you got an album, you could play it from beginning to end and it was going to put a grin on your face track to track, dude. I miss that about music.
Will your next musical work be more of what's inside of you, or will it be about what's going on publicly? What will the tone of the overall body of work be?
AK: This time around I'm at a new stage. Like how you play a video game and get to the next level which is all complex, you have to change up how you play now. I'm going into it with no plans and no expectations this go around. By the end of the album I want you to just think to yourself "I wish there was more." You're going to hear the love in my flow now, I love and hate the place I'm in, it's not a bad thing. [laughs] I just know the heat it on.
People always wonder what goes through an artist's mind when they're working and writing. What's your mindset?
AK: I do the same thing every time I write. I put on my headphones and close my eyes for a few minutes and I get a visual. I can see what I write and I just let me fingers flow. I close my eyes and see something different every time and that normally ends up being a song. I also do this other thing but let me explain it first. I have a folder (TOP SECRET SPY STUFF) on my Macbook with things I want and cool things I'm going to buy. These are usually things that make me smile. I put the images up so I can see them when I write and it just adds to my writing.
Can you share with us some of your short, medium, and long-term goals?
AK: I try not to plan too far ahead but I do dream as in what if, ya know. I'm going to claim this right here and right now. When I'm famous my money isn't just for me, it's for the people who fill my heart. The money that I gain will help feed so many people and me of course. I want everyone who's in my circle to be able to say they've been able to live and I want to share my blessings. What can I honestly do with millions of dollar? Yeah, I can by a yacht, a plane and a mansion but what good will any of that do me? I will never own any of those things in my life, I have no want or need for it. With that said... my only goal is to live as righteously as I can.
How can people get their hands on a copy of your book and your "Terrorist Do Coke" mixtape?
AK: You might have clean out your bank account and give all your money to me to get a copy. Nah, you can simply go to www.arcierikeness.blogspot.com and download it, it's FREE and easy to get.
Lastly, what drives you? What keeps you going, positive, and motivated?
AK: Other artist keep me driven and creative. I may see a piece by Dalek or hear a new song from Dom Kennedy and want to write something. I think as an artist we need each other to remain fresh and new, because without each other we wouldn't challenge ourselves as much artistically. My love for art keeps into it and wanting to see what else I can come up with, it's all fun for me. Throughout my career... pay attention, I'm going to show you a lot [nods] just watch!
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