Entertainment
The Unstoppable Khemist: From Spoken Word Poetry to Rap Legend
You Think You know Khemist? You Might Change Your Mind After You Read This.
In today’s society, artists struggle quite ever to bring their music before the eyes and ears they have to prosper in their careers. An artist’s work is usually lost in noise with the sheer number of songs posted to Spotify or other streaming services every day . Not only does it hamper the event of a replacement artist’s career, but albeit you breach the barrier of entrance, it’s increasingly hard to stay on the circuit.
Who Is Khemist?
Most of you might know Khemist as an artist from Philly’s Logan Valley, Philadelphia-bred songwriter, MC, poet and prolific musician, Khemist is an award-winning, critically-acclaimed artist and bonafide lyrical force to be reckoned with. Khemist’s eclectic body of work reflects his bittersweet upbringing amidst the blighted streets of the hardscrabble city, yet defies falling into stereotypical music categorizations.
Influenced by greats, such as Sonia Sanchez, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Black Ice, Mums Da Schemer, Nas, Toni Morrison, Robert Browning, Nikki Giovanni and Octavia Butler, Khemist’s layered lyrics speak of survival and self-reliance, loss and longing, with a razor-sharp delivery that resonates with his legions fans, including Lauryn Hill, Black Thought, Bilal, and Pharoahe Monch.
Ironically, it was years of not speaking during his childhood — from fifth to eighth grade — that Khemist credits with leading him to a career as a journeyman lyricist. While at the playground, Khemist came across an injured bleeding man facing certain death. An older man told Khemist to keep his mouth shut about the shocking scene he just witnessed — and that is exactly what he did. In an instant, Khemist was robbed of his innocence by a death he never actually saw, but could not UN-see. Coupled with the trauma of the subsequent loss of friends to senseless crime and the American carceral system, Khemist became desensitized to violence, yet determined to serve as a voice for the voiceless.
A former workshop leader for the Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement, Khemist cut his teeth writing poetry, listening to “The Come Up Show with DJ Cosmic Kev,” watching HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and battling on rap DVDs. Later, he would be honored, to finally be featured on Def Poetry.
Recording with leading producer Anwar Marshall, Khemist graduated from spoken word poetry and marathon freestyle rap to picking up a guitar at age 22. His willingness to embrace this new challenge and discomfort facilitated substantial artistic growth and liberated him to become more than an emcee. Pairing lyrical prowess with diligent musicianship, he developed a sound that reflects his encyclopedic-like knowledge of Black American musical folkways, as well as the vast, ambitious nature of his progressive sounds. It is this music that he believes to be the most important of his life.
Like Khemist, this is not just rap.
Khemist first made waves on the Puzzle Pieces mixtape. He followed with Death 2 Wack Rappers, hosted by Black Thought, and the Khemist x Aktive mixtape, featuring DJ Aktive. Khemist’s spoken word project, Lornda & Poems, is a heartfelt ode to his grandmother. Virginia radio fixture and Pusha T affiliate, DJ Rick Geez, joined Khemist on Scrap Metal. Written and recorded in one day, all in a Day’s Work, dials up the lyrical showmanship of Philadelphia rap lore. Khemist later connected with Zaytona on Wolves.
In 2019, Khemist caught the attention of music heads and fans all over with his music video, “I Been on a Budget”, as well as his live performance videos. A year later, he gained an even broader audience when he appeared on NPR Music as a guest performer with saxophonist, Teodross Avery, and received a Lennon Award for Songwriting for his song, upright.
After countless hours logged in the studio, Khemist’s forthcoming Khemtrails EP and impending full-length studio album are the culmination of his previous releases. He has moved into a new realm with his music on his upcoming EP, Khemtrails (Black Baby Digital). His “most honest music” to date and one where he “took ownership over each component of the music,” Khemist says that with Khemtrails he is living in his purpose.
Follow Khemist on instagram here
Stream Khemist’s latest EP, Khemtrails (Black Baby Digital), released on June 19, 2020 in honor of Juneteenth. For new music releases and tour dates, follow Khemist on social media, at @khemist_LV, or go to https://linktr.ee/Khemist.
Latest video release “Ruha Benjamin” inspired by the book Race After Technology by Ruha Benjamin
Artist Spotlight
Marsha Bartenetti reinvents in her own style “New York Minute”
Marsha Bartenetti’s latest release, “New York Minute,” written by Don Henley, Danny Kortchmar, and Jai Winding, offers emotional depth, turning a timeless look at life’s fragility into a reflective, cinematic journey. Stephan Oberhoff’s arrangement perfectly frames Bartenetti’s voice, and Kevin Bate’s expressive cello adds a warm resonance that makes the track feel like a movie.
The way each instrument sounds makes it feel planned, which lets the listener stay in the fleeting moments the song so beautifully describes. Bartenetti’s singing is the best part of the song. She shows an openness that feels real, as if she has lost something and still fully embraces love and presence with complete honesty. Her choice of words and small changes in tone make the lyrics feel even closer.
“New York Minute,” is a new version that pays tribute to the original while showcasing Bartenetti’s own style. The movie-like instruments and heartfelt vocals make the song feel both personal and universal. It makes us think about how hard it is to let go and hold on.
Artist Spotlight
“Yonkers” – Song by Tyler, the Creator
15 years ago, Tyler, the Creator released “Yonkers.” The song would go on to shape a generation of hip-hop fans and make him one of the most talked-about artists in modern music. Tyler’s work on “Yonkers,” which came out of the Los Angeles group Odd Future, was a brave mix of raw lyrics, dark humor, and simple production that made him stand out from other artists right away.
“Yonkers,” which is just over three minutes long, seems simple but has a big effect. The song’s production is based on a spooky bassline, simple piano chords, and simple drums. This puts Tyler’s voice and story front and center. His flow is slow and threatening, and it sends out a stream of verses that balance shock value with deep thoughts on themes like being alone, rebelling, and thinking about oneself. This song has a modern twist on the gritty, confrontational style of hip-hop that was popular in the early 2010s.
The music video for “Yonkers” became a cultural phenomenon all by itself. In the black-and-white video, Tyler looks straight into the camera while doing something that surprised both fans and critics. Tyler became known as an artist who isn’t afraid to push boundaries when the song’s raw lyrics and stark images quickly went viral. The video’s viral success brought Odd Future national attention and helped Tyler get more work, including his albums Goblin (2011) and Wolf (2013), which were both well-received by critics.
People who didn’t like “Yonkers” thought it was a new take on hip-hop. People in the genre often liked flashy production and collaborations, but Tyler’s solo song showed that minimalism can be just as interesting, if not more so, when it has strong lyrics. Young people who wanted realness and change connected with the song’s unapologetic tone, and its influence can still be heard in music today. Many contemporary artists assert that Tyler’s early compositions, particularly “Yonkers,” significantly influenced their lyrical writing and visual storytelling techniques.
“Yonkers” was a big moment in Tyler, the Creator’s career. It was a bold statement from a single artist who wanted to change the rules of hip-hop, and it captured the spirit of early Odd Future, a group that thrived on chaos, creativity, and free expression. More than ten years later, the song is still a touchstone for fans and a turning point in the growth of alternative rap. Its creepy beat, controversial lyrics, and viral music video are still seen as examples of a time when hip-hop was pushing its limits and welcoming a new generation of voices that were willing to question the way things were.
“Yonkers” is a cultural artifact, a snapshot of the time that shaped Tyler, the Creator’s unique artistic style, and a reminder of how powerful bold, unapologetic music can be.
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