So now he operates within the new class of rappers (refusing to tell anyone his age, mind you), wisdom gained from ten years of work and a major label signing, but still with the vigor of someone who's never released a debut album. He is excited, eager and proud.
Today, Kyleon has as much buzz as he's ever had.
Photo by Marco Torres
Kirko Bangz has gone from YouTube to a major label record contract.
Photo by Marco Torres
Fat Tony, three-time winner of the Houston Press Best Underground Rapper award, tinges alt rap with Houstonisms. And Hennessy, apparently.
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"Houston has influenced everything in rap music," says Kyleon. "We can't do what we did, but others can. People are looking to see what Houston is going to do next. They're gonna try and take that too."
"When it's my time, I'll be ready."
V. 2011. 4.
"It fired me up," he says. "I can't even tell you."
It's after 5 p.m. on a Saturday. Kirko Bangz is answering interview questions on a cell phone. And he is a little irritated.
As there are with any artist, particularly new artists, particularly new artists from a city that is so closely identified with a specific music identity, there are common criticisms about Bangz. They range from the playful (Maybe the girl from "What Yo' Name Iz" would tell him what her name was if he stopped calling her bitch) to the dismissive (He's like a Drake knockoff). He sidesteps most of them. But one touches his bones:
He doesn't sound like he's from Houston.
An example: There's a famous SwishaHouse freestyle track from the late nineties called "Drank in My Cup." The very first comment on the YouTube page for the video: "I'm ashamed that Kirko Bangz showed up when I looked this up."
This is a common denigration levied against all but a few of the new underclassmen.
It's a delicate topic; there are just too many implications. If THIS is new then THAT is old, and old is bad, so basically what you're saying is fuck DJ Screw?!, is how a lot of those conversations unfairly unravel. But it's one any (all) new Houston artists will have to stare down.
"It's a challenge," says Bangz. "I want people to respect what we got going on; not just new, but Houston, in general."
On his left bicep is a tattoo of the Houston Astros star. On his left forearm is a tattoo of Pimp C and Big Moe overlooking the city's skyline, with "Houston" written underneath in cursive in case there's any confusion. Underneath his left ear is a tattoo of the old Houston Oilers logo.
"When I did 'What Yo' Name Iz' I had a lot of people telling me that it wasn't Houston. So when we did the new single, we were in the room, I said we weren't leaving until people could hear it and know where I was from. I mean, it's called 'Drank In My Cup.'"
"Then, when we were getting ready to do the video, they said, 'We don't want it to be a typical Houston video'," says Bangz. "I was like, 'What the fuck do you mean, a typical Houston video?' It's cool to be from Houston."
"Ridin'" was the single that broke Chamillionaire nationally. He's acknowledged countless times that the theme for it was taken from UGK's revolutionary 1996 album Ridin' Dirty.
"Ridin'" didn't attempt to mimic the sound, the gorgeous country rap of Ridin' Dirty; that's an impossible feat. It took elements from it, paid homage and tried to advance it.
Despite its being almost entirely about sex, "Drank in My Cup" is similar, if not altogether the same, in theory:
Address the history. Then try to make it.
"If I do it, or if anybody does it...," says Bangz. He pauses to consider the appropriate, measured response to Houston potentially popping again.
"We're about to kill that shit."
