July 2014 – Scoremore Shows

When I stumbled upon the music video for Kevin Abstract’s track “DRUGS” a few weeks ago I honestly had no idea what I was getting myself into. The aggressive synth infused beat and distorted rapping on top of it was weird at first. The video itself showed a few kids around my age setting up shop in a long aisle in a local Walmart. The concept was pretty simple, a single camera angle throughout with different cuts of the crew messing around and some glitch effect sprinkled in and out. Once the chorus hit everything came together. After another hard verse over the beginning beat and second take of the chorus, the track immediately switched gears into a completely different ambiance. The vocals on the second part of the track over this spaced out Kid Cudiesque beat were infectious. When the track finished I didn’t even know if I liked it on first listen. I soon realized after humming both choruses for days on end what this was all about. This “rapper” from the coastal city of Corpus Christi, Texas knew how to flat out make music. Only 17 years old (he turns 18 tomorrow), I realized why it didn’t make sense at first. In a time when you can find just about anything on the internet, it’s hard to stand out. What I found in Kevin Abstracts music is something that not only stands out, but stands out for all the right reasons. This dude is blending genres all over the place, crafting tracks that leave the biggest OCD listener frustratingly trying to figure out how to label the album in iTunes. After listening to the album MTV1987 front to back more than once today, it’s apparent that Kevin Abstracts goal is to just make damn good music. He definitely struck gold with that. Check out the conversation I had with Kevin on the next page, and if you haven’t already, stream the album below and download HERE.

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Drew Osherow: Who are you as a person and an artist?

Kevin Abstract: I am lost. I feel comfortable at the moment though.

D.O.: How’d you get your name?

K.A.: I knew this awesome kid back in middle school. Kevin Ruiz. He was so cool I stole his name and I asked my friend to describe my music at the time and he said ‘abstract’. It stuck.

D.O.: When did you start getting serious with music?

K.A.: Middle school.

D.O.: What do you want people to take out of your upcoming release MTV1987?

K.A.: I just want kids to turn the record on whenever they feel they need to hear it. It will last.

D.O.: How long have you spent working on this album?

K.A.: Not a crazy amount of time, a few months. That’s perfectly fine though. It’s all about the moment. The right moments.

D.O.: Tell the people what you are representing with the album name and the cover.

K.A.: MTV1987 represents this new generation of kids. Kids obsessed with the internet. Kids who spend way too much time on Youtube, tumblr, etc.

D.O.: You have the most creative artist website I’ve ever seen, where did the inspiration behind that come from and how did that come into place?

K.A.: Thank you. NOAH + Shia Labeouf inspired everything. One of my best friends was able to snap on the site. Love you Rob.

D.O.: For the people who don’t know, what is ASF and how did yall all meet?

K.A.: ASF stands for AliveSinceForever. It’s a boy band I am apart of. We all met on Kanyetothe back in 2010.

D.O.: I’m on KTT and I understand that a lot of the members are as well, are you on there as well?

K.A.: I have an account, yeah.

D.O.: What’s the funniest/most memorable thread you’ve seen on the website? (Mine is the make an album cover using paint/snapchat, or represent an album using spongebob)

K.A.: I remember how lit the Goblin thread was. Everyone was waiting for the leak.

D.O.: Obviously HK Covers has been doing your art, he’s basically a god on KTT, how did that come about?

K.A.: I don’t know really. HK is one of my best friends at the moment and it’s crazy because at one point in time I thought he hated me. He’s really good and I can’t see myself working with anyone else.

D.O.: I understand you’re from Corpus Christi, my mom is actually from there… where do you live now and when did you move?

K.A.: Oh, that’s tight. I lived in Corpus from 1st grade up until 8th grade. I am who I am right now because of that city and I will never forget it. I moved to The Woodlands, Texas in 8th grade. Then middle of 10th grade I moved to Lithia Springs, Georgia.

D.O.: What’s it like putting out such different music in a city known for such a specific sound right now?

K.A.: I don’t know, I’m an internet kid.

D.O.: I saw in one of your other interviews that you plan on moving to Austin, when do you plan on doing that?

K.A.: Around August I’ll make the move. I want to get to LA eventually.

D.O.: How has the Internet shaped your life and the way you make and push out your music?

K.A.: The internet raised me. I was illegally downloading music in the 4th grade. Internet fucked me up, I love it though.

D.O.: Let’s talk about the album for a sec, is there a specific sound you are pushing with it, or is it sort of all over the place?

K.A.: Rome and I came up with an awesome sound. It’s just a mesh of all of our inspirations. It’s fucking 2014 Michael Jackson with twitter.

D.O.: You’re only 17 years old, what’s it been like investing so much time and energy into something as big as this?

K.A.: It’s been awesome and I am so excited.

D.O.: I feel like a lot of kids around our age don’t realize how much they can do right now with resources like technology and the internet, they think they have to wait to until they’re adults or have a degree to start doing something they want to do for the rest of their lives, what do you have to say about that? Do you have any advice for kids who have big aspirations but don’t know where to start?

K.A.: Oh yeah, I agree. I think the thing is there is so much to do & every kid is lost. So many ways you can become ‘successful’ by using the web. And kids know this, they def do. There are just so many fucking options. My advice would be to just zone out on one thing at a time and give it your all.

D.O.: Lets talk about your musical influences for a little bit. Obviously when someone goes to your website and clicks “Itunes” they see the likes of Andre 3000, Frank Ocean, Justin Timberlake, Kanye, King Krule, Nirvana, etc… What do those artists mean to you and how have they shaped the way you make music?

K.A.: They mean the world to me and I wouldn’t be here without them. I hope to help someone as much as those gods have helped me.

D.O.: If you could only listen to 3 albums for the rest of your life what would they be?

K.A.: 808s and Heartbreak, Man on The Moon II, & Channel Orange.

D.O.: What attracted you to making hip hop music? I feel like you’re influenced by a wide spectrum of genres and that’s really dope to know that a rap artist listens to a bunch of other stuff.

K.A.: Will Smith rapped and I thought he was the coolest guy in the world when I was younger, so I rapped too. Hoping I could become Will.

D.O.: Your big song right now “Drugs” is amazing. The transitions from instrumentation and delivery in this track are phenomenal. I really dig tracks like this that have multiple parts with different pace, flow, delivery, etc. This track reminds me of “Pyramids” by Frank Ocean in a way in just the overall structure change and catchiness. What was the process of making this track?

K.A.: Thank you. I woke up, went down stairs, and heard the beginning of the beat on loop. I wrote to it very fast and then Rome and I sat on it for some hours. Came back to it later on and thought of ideas for the chorus. It was literally just us two coming up with ideas. I think Dom was there when I made the decision that I was going to sing Cassie.

D.O.: Speaking of this track… Obviously as a kid who loves to put his friends onto new artists and watch them continue to grow and gain more exposure, when I discovered your music I was convinced that I could put you on to some of my friends. The first person I texted about you happened to already know who you were, it was insane. Check the screenshot out.

K.A.: That’s so awesome to me.

D.O.: I gotta ask you… of all the NBA stars right now that you could’ve referenced in “DRUGS”, why Derrick Rose? Come on man the dudes been injured for like 2 years straight haha.

K.A.: Lol, idk dude it rhymed and made sense.

D.O.: Quick comment, I saw some pictures of one of your recent shows and you were wearing the Kanye West Glow in the Dark Tour shirt with the bear and shutter shades, I happen to have the exact same shirt but it unfortunately doesn’t fit me anymore. Did you see him on that tour? That was my first rap concert I ever went to, I was in 6th grade it was crazy.

K.A.: That’s actually Romil’s shirt. Dude, I was in 6th grade too during the GITDT. I wasn’t able to go to the show though I had to go to Florida. It sucked. I’ve seen like every video ever from the live shows. Incredible.

D.O.: Living in Austin my whole life, I’ve been to a ton of concerts over the years. For me an artists live performance can truly make or break how much I like them. What does your performance mean to you and how much do you put into it? Are you going to do things differently than other artists when you perform?

K.A.: Right now my show is pretty simple. Hoping I can do some shows for MTV, they will be so special. I swear. I die on stage every night though.

D.O.: What was high school like for you? Did you enjoy it did you hate it, what did you take out of it?

K.A.: High school was cool. I hated the area I was living in mainly. I learned a lot about people.

D.O.: What do you like to do besides make music?

K.A.: I like twitter and googlin’ random stuff.

D.O.: If you could think of one thing that no one knows about you that is seriously unique or interesting what would it be?

K.A.: No one knows I am obsessed with white boys.

D.O.: What’s your biggest pet peeve?

K.A.: I hate when people hit me up on twitter saying they want to ‘link’ or ‘work’.

D.O.: If you could travel anywhere in the world to play a show where would you go first, what kind of venue would you want to play, basically describe your perfect show?

K.A.: I wanna play a sold out show in London. Stadium. Tons of kids in the crowd singing every single word. I want to be Miley Cyrus.

D.O.: Is there anything else you’d like to tell the people about you or your album MTV1987?

K.A.: Na, not really. Thanks a ton for this interview though.

The questions for this interview were conducted before the release of the album. Overall, this is one of my favorite releases of the year thus far, and will definitely give Kevin Abstract a ton of exposure. All of the verses, melodies, hooks, were on point. Production was top notch thanks to ASF member Romil, and guest verses from other members were dope as well. The whole creative process from the website to the artwork and final pdf booklet done by HK Covers were what really drew me in. You really can’t confine this project into one simple sound or comparison, you’ll just have to listen to it for yourself. Thanks to the ASF management and Kevin for the interview and wonderful end product, really look forward to hearing more in the future.

Kevin Abstract Website
Album Stream
Download
Kevin Abstract Twitter

Lil Bibby and Kevin Gates link up for the track “We Are Strong” coming from Bibby’s upcoming project Free Crack II. Both artists go back and forth on this track over excellent production. This track samples the legendary song “Love is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar. Check this song out right now it absolutely goes in. Also if you haven’t already, be sure to get your tickets to see Kevin Gates this week as he makes his run through Texas. Tickets are still available for the shows in Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. Links below, get them while you still can it’s going to be a performance for the ages!

7/15 – Houston

7/16 – Austin

7/17 – San Antonio

7/18 – Dallas (SOLD OUT)