DELISA: Connecticut-born producer, Kenny Beats has been everywhere in 2019.
Known for his hard-hitting 808’s and range of collaborators, Beats has established himself
as one of hip hop’s elite producers.
DELISA: While attending Berklee College of Music, Kenny started to make a name for himself
in the Boston hip-hop scene.
DELISA: Before graduating college, he managed to land some pretty lucky placements with
MC’s like Smoke DZA, ScHoolboy Q and Ab-Soul.
KENNY: I was like dude I have two beats on my phone. Would you just listen?
Ab was like yea bro whatever.
The first beat was Schoolboy Q 'Party,' the second was 'Hunnid Stax,' Ab Soul, Q, Mac Miller.
And the third was Smoke DZA and Ab Soul 'Diamonds.'
That was off selling Ab some weed and playing him some beats.
DELISA: But just as things started to pick up steam for the producer, he joined the EDM
world as one half of the duo, LOUDPVCK.
KENNY: Someone put me on to the DJ world and they were like like bro
there’s this mix up of rap and dance music, if you get involved with this 6 months later
I had an agent and a manager and I was going places I never thought I would be.
DELISA: But in November 2017, the EDM duo split and Beats found his way back to the
music he started with.
KENNY:And after a couple of years of that, I realized that what I came up off is what
I’m always going to be the most passionate about which is rap music, hip-hop music and
R&B music.
DELISA: Though dance music and hip-hop are different arenas, his years touring the EDM
scene helped his creative process in the studio, something he told Genius.
KENNY: I think a lot of producers are making music that gets performed live and gets played
at festivals and if you don’t have some kind of insight into how music is played for
people and how crowds react to things, it’s even harder for you to be in the studio and
kind of guess that stuff.
DELISA: Now back in hip-hop, Kenny made it a point to approach music differently, transitioning
from, as he calls it, a beatmaker to a producer.
DELISA: Instead of just aiming to make a hit, he focused on forging a relationship with
artists to bring out their best.
After a studio session, TDE’s Isaiah Rashad commented on this process, saying quote,
DELISA: Kenny Beats is a coach in a producer’s disguise.
DELISA: The New Englander grinded in 2018, tackling a myriad of projects that would define
his career.
DELISA: He was instrumental in shaping Rico Nasty’s singular sound thanks to the menacing
anthem “Smack A Bitch” and later, “Countin Up.”
DELISA: In May, Atlanta’s Key!
& Beats came together for "777," a project that became a standout for each of them.
DELISA: Key!, the voice behind Kenny’s’ infectious producer tag, settled into his
own on the EP, making it one of his most cohesive pieces to-date.
Kenny spoke on the album’s significance saying quote,
DELISA: I will say that there’s nothing more important to me than "777."
It just meant a lot to both of us.
I feel like KEY! was speaking for me on a lot of songs.
KENNY: I just started listening to it.
I can’t explain to you the feeling I had.
I was just like oh my god, this is gonna be important, this is gonna be a song that means
a lot to a lot of people.
DELISA: With his producer tag cemented and a number of impressive collaborations under
his belt, Kenny kept busy, working with Vince Staples, ALLBLACK, Freddie Gibbs, and 03 Greedo,
just to name a few.
DELISA: He rounded out the year with 10k.
Caash’s, “Aloha” and nabbed him a Billboard Hot 100 placement with Ski Mask The Slump
God’s, “Foot Fungus.”
KENNY: I just want 'Foot Fungus' to give you that vibe that it’s okay to go off and be
weird and get sweaty and be out of my mind for this next two minutes and then whatever
comes on after that, we’ll deal with it when it comes.
DELISA: So far, 2019 has been just as busy for the producer, from securing a spot on
J.Cole and Dreamville’s "Revenge of the Dreamers III" to teaming up with Rico Nasty
for their critically acclaimed joint project, ‘Anger Management.’
DELISA: But what seems to be his most exciting creation yet?
His YouTube series, ‘The Cave,’ where he brings frequent collaborators into the
studio for a quick beat and a freestyle.
KENNY: I’m gon make a beat in 10 minutes.
VINCE: You wasting time, too?
KENNY: I’m not wasting time you gotta tell me what you want.
I want something toxic.
You want something toxic.
VINCE: 808’s, no heartbreak at all.
Black on everything crime, even animals.
Kenny: The Cave wasn’t something I ever really
wanted to start, honestly, it was more my friends just being like “if there was a
camera last night, imagine” or like “omg if we just filmed 10 minutes of this, people
would love to see that”
DELISA: The series has sparked a slew of social media memes, from Vince Staples’ catchy
police hook to the most notable episode with Zack Fox.
Zack: RIP Betty White, she ain’t dead but for when she die ‘ cause I know it’s coming
up.
Bitch you better praise God or Imma shoot and that’s on God, I ain’t playin bout
my lord and savior, I’m on my job.
DELISA: After the snippet blew up on Twitter and Tik Tok, the official track was released
as a single and the pair stopped by Genius to give us a breakdown.
ZACK: His most successful song.
It’s ruining my career slowly just because this song is bigger than all the serious shit I’m working on.
DELISA: Though the track was funny, it showed the producer’s range and what he’s really
good at - giving an artist exactly what they want.
Kenny: I try to just harness whatever’s going on there that’s making you live and
getting the best performance out of you and give you that but elevated.
DELISA: Eyes are on the producer now more than ever, and as he continues to work with
a range of sounds and a variety of people, there’s sure to be more to come from Kenny
Beats.
Kenny: I’m always so worried that people think I only do one thing.
So I make sure as soon as I get in with someone, well what are you working on, how can I help
with this thing you’re doing or this thing, I’m always there to serve the artist.
DELISA: I’m Delisa with Genius News bringing you the meaning and the knowledge behind the music.