Qonducive Queries #3 : “KAST discusses Alice In WonderLand , Dr. Sebi , and Earthing Shoes ”
The LOWDOWNLORD is a student who has learned how to learn, absorbing influences from a myriad of inspirations and attracted affinities.
Qlarion Qall Presents: “Qonducive Queries”, a Question-based ARTiQle serving as an arQhaeologiQal dig into the SubjeQt’s affinities, outlooQs, and Qreative intelleQt.
Image by: XiiThe7even
We want to thank this Artist and Shaman for taking time out of his busy schedule to answer questions and comfortably shuttle wisdom. KAST is a Lethal Medic, a master of healing the body, soul, and mind but an unforgiving warrior when vanquishing principalities and powers seeking to ensnare the masses. Who is to say he wouldn’t help them as well if the situation were different; but like the wise Queen Angelou said, “When people show you who they are believe them the first time. They know themselves better than you do.” - Destroy or be destroyed. We have seen many instances where the Oligarchs act upon their insidious agendas to sedate higher levels of consciousness…America eats its young in several ways. Kast and his TRiiiBE seek to show them how to get off the plate and command their fate. Leading by example and imparting convalescence rooted in love and preservation of self. KAST answered the Qall and we conducted a mind-expanding discussion. Artists and enthusiasts alike can glean and gather invaluable jewels from his immemorial shrewdness.
“The spectacle is the nightmare of imprisoned modern society which ultimately expresses nothing more than its desire to sleep. The spectacle is the guardian of sleep.”― Guy Debord
Photo : Guy Debord
Who is KAST?
JERSEY NATIVE BORN IN HOBOKEN RAISED IN UNIONCITY STARTED CATCHING TAGS IN HUDSON COUNTY SINCE THE 6TH GRADE AT AN EARLY AGE FROM BEING INTO GRAFFITI MAGAZINES & THE INFAMOUS MARC ECHOS GETTIN UP FOR PS2 I USED TO ROCK WITH MY COUSIN NENE AT AN EARLY AGE & IT MOTIVATED ME TO DEVELOP A NAME, STYLE & HIT THE STREETS WITH PAINT
At what moment did you have the epiphany that you were born to pursue a creative career…or embark on your artistic exodus? ( I’m interested in the rap side of it but you're a multidimensional innovator and I’m sure your mediums have led into one another )
I WAS INTRIGUED WITH PUTTING WORDS TOGETHER & MAKING IT SOUND DOPE SO I GOT INTO WRITING RHYMES AT AROUND 16 & GOT NICE FAST, WASN’T TOO HARD TO START WRITING ABOUT CONCEPTS FROM THE HORRORS OF THE WORLD & COMING UP WITH GOOD SOLUTIONS & A MESSAGE IN THE MUSIC SINCE I WAS INTO KNOWLEDGE OF SELF & DOCUMENTARIES OF FORBIDDEN INFORMATION THEY KEEP US FROM OR DIDNT TEACH US IN SCHOOL
BUMPED INTO SOME OLDER HOMIES THAT I LEARNED ALOT FROM
THE HOMIES LEARN GRIZ & JAY
AT TIMES WE HIT THE CITY PAINT & HIT HIPHOP SHOWS I WOULD SEE THESE DUDES GO CRATE DIGGIN & THEY WOULD PUT ME ONTO GEMS RARE DOPE MUSIC PEOPLE MY AGE WASNT HIP TOO OR EVEN KNEW ABOUT NOT TO SOON AFTER I LINKED & BUILT WITH MY HOMIE KI WHICH IS LEARNS BROTHER & HE FORMED 7TRIIIBES & WE STARTED MAKING MUSIC DEEP IN THE STUDIO AT ABOVES HOUSE ON 9ST WITH THE BROS LIVE HIGHER ERIC THE RED P FLIPPA SIVA BEHEARD MR1.7
Photo: 7TRiiiBES Logo
& NOT TO SOON AFTER BEHEARD & I CAME TOGETHER N FORMED LOWDOWNLORDS
Photo: LOWDOWNLORDS Logo
Photo: KAST & 070 BeHeard
I WAS INTO BOMBING AT FIRST CATCHING TAGS & JUST BEING THE BOOMBOX KID WITH THE BEATS & THE SKATEBOARD
YOU CAN SEE MY TAGS TODAY STILL ROCKIN IN CERTAIN PARTS OF HUDSON COUNTY & MANY PARTS OF NYC & MY MUSIC IS ON YOUTUBE & MANY OTHER PLATFORMS
AS WELL AS GRAFF VIDEOS IVE PUT TOGETHER MYSELF WITH MY OWN MUSIC IN THE BACKGROUND & MANY COLLABS WITH DIFFERENT ARTIST
What is your perspective on the importance of art to society?
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ART TO SOCIETY IS GOLDEN & HEAVILY NEEDED
ITS MOSTLY WHAT FREES PEOPLE FROM THIS MATRIX & MANY OTHER PROBLEMS IN LIFE & HELP THEM FIND THEY WAY ON THEIR OWN PATH
THEIRS ALOT OF DESTRUCTIVE MUSIC THAT ENCOURAGES SEPERATAION & WAR BUT THEIRS ALSO GOOD MUSIC THAT MAKES PEOPLE MOVE DANCE & THINK INSTEAD OF CRIPPLE THE MIND
"Art is a form of love. Art is the ultimate gift. Art heals life." — Robert Genn
Track: “Free Your Mind” By KAST ( You can find this song on the “AMERIKKKA’S MOST SLEPT ON” project)
How do you “Enter the Dojo” or sharpen your crafts? (Whether it be exercises or mindsets you adopt during the gestation periods in your creative processes and conceptual endeavors.)
WHEN I ENTER THE LAB, I LOVE TO LOOK FOR BEATS & GO THROUGH A COUPLE UNTIL I BUMP INTO THE ONE THAT I FEEL HITS GOOD TO WRITE TOO
AFTER THAT , THOUGHTS START CLICKIN N COMIN TO ME , SOMETIMES I LIKE TO SKIM THROUGH A DICTIONARY OR THESAURUS TO MAYBE GET AN IDEA & NOT USE THE SAME WORD PLAY & EXPAND MY VOCABULARY
Would you say that your style has changed since your first track or writing experience? We would love to know from a lyrical(subject matter) and cadence-related place. Feel free to throw in additional jewels from your journey up to this point.
MY STYLE DEFINITELY HAS CHANGED SINCE MY FIRST TRACK , AFTER I GOT IN THE STUDIO ON 9ST , MY HOMIE ABOVE HELPED ME OUT WITH HOW TO STRUCTURE A RECORD PROPERLY & EVEN WRITE A GOOD 16 , AFTER I LEARNED THE PATTERNS I KINDA STRUCTURED MY STYLE WITH A BIT MORE ORGANIZATION FROM MY FIRST PROJECT WHICH WAS MORE ABSTRACT
Photo : ABOVE
Photo : OTHER SIDE OF THE BROKEN LENSE Cover Art
Track: “MAGIC SPELLS” By KAST
Walk us through the writing process for your “NoseDiive” verse, it is a seminal moment in Hip Hop, and we would love to get your insight on its meanings and motivations.
MY BOY LEARN PUT ME ON TO MR MUTHAFUCKIN EXQUIRE
WE USED TO BUMP MAD EXQUIRE BACK IN THE DAYS , & EVENTUALLY MY HOMIE BEHEARD REACHED OUT TO DO A TRACK CALLED “STRAWBERRY MANSIONS”
WE ALL GOT CLOSE LIKE FAMILY NOT TO SOON AFTER HE ASKED FOR A VERSE ON NOSEDIVE BEAT , EX SENT ME THE TRACK I HEARD HIS 2 VERSES & WAS MIND BLOWN SO I THOUGHT I GOTTA WRITE SOME GOLD FOR THIS MAN & NOT WASTE A WORD , WITHIN THE SAME WEEK I WROTE IT RECORDED IT
& SENT IT
THE MESSAGE IN NOSEDIVE WAS TO RAISE AWARENESS ON UNCOMFORTABLE SUBJECT MATTER THEY TRY TO MAKE THE PUBLIC OBLIVIOUS ABOUT & DONT WANT ARTIST SPEAKING ON , THANKS TO EXQUIRE CAMERA MAN SAKOLSKY HE DID A GREAT JOB SHOOTING
Favourite Character from the Godfather Trilogy?
MICHAEL CORLEONE
What environment is most beneficial to your workflow and final products/creations?
I COULD BE ANYWHERE AS LONG AS THEIRS EQUIPMENT, GOOD BEATS & GOOD ATMOSPHERE . ID SAY MOSTLY A NORMAL BASEMENT LAB WITH GRAFFITI ON THE WALLS
Photo: Kast & Statik Selektah
If you were a pair of shoes what would they be?
IF I WAS A SHOE ID BE A GROUNDING/ EARTHING PAIR OF SHOES
Which producer do you have the best chemistry with?
A PRODUCER IVE WORKED WITH THAT IVE HAD THE BEST CHEMISTRY WITH IS MY HOMIE ABOVE
Photo : ABOVE
Which movie could you watch every day/at anytime and still find data, entertainment, and inspiration?
ALICE IN WONDERLAND
What is the inspiration behind your favourite and least favourite track you've created?
MY LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS ARE IN THE ARCHIVES & PROBABLY WONT EVER BE RELEASED I JUST LISTEN TO THEM SOMETIMES TO SEE HOW FAR I GREW WITH MY STYLE & WORD PLAY , NOW A DAYS ALMOST EVERY TRACK I CREATE I LIKE UNLESS ITS NOT MIXED MASTERED PROPERLY
Who is the most Promethean artist you recognize in this century and one before ours?
THEIR ARE MANY BUT TO CHOOSE ONE ILL GO WITH BLU & EXILE & BEFORE US ID HAVE TO SAY MADLIB EVEN THOUGH HE STILL HERE
Photo: BLU & EXILE
Photo: MADLIB
How do you rank your full-length projects from “Strongest” to “Weakest”?
THINK THEIR BOTH STRONG JUST 2 DIFFERENT STYLES
BUT AMERIKKKAS MOST SLEPT ON IS MORE MODERN & RECENT
Photo: AMERIKKKA’S MOST SLEPT ON Cover Art
If you had to go on a mission in a random universe to take out a building "raid" style which team of five anime or movie characters would you take to back you up (you could even mix them up and use both movies and anime)
JOHN WICK
CHUCK NORRIS
BRUCE LEE
JIM CARREY THE MASK
EXODIA
How regularly are you slapped in the face by the diamond-forged palms of imposter syndrome?
OVERCOME NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
“Negative thoughts are not protecting you. They are making you smaller.” —Robert Kiyosaki
Photo: Kast & 070 Shake
Do you prefer Aztec art or Egyptian art? Why do you like the one you chose and which of these images do you prefer?
BOTH ARE BEAUTIFUL IN THEIR OWN STYLE
KEMETIC ART AKA EGYPTIAN I PREFER
IT INTERESTS ME MORE
What was your best psychedelic trip and what did you come away with? You could also flip the question to your worst trip if you want to.
IVE HAD ALOT OF GOOD TRIPS & TIMES BUT I DONT FORGET THE BAD TRIPS SINCE THEIR RARE & INTENSE
I WAS SITTING ON VENICE BEACH WITH MY BOY BEHEARD WE POPPED AN ACID TAB & I JUST REMEMBER FEELING CRAZY & EVERYONE WAS LOOKIN AT ME
Could you describe the internet with one word?
COMPLEX
Which album do you listen to without skipping? - Think you could name ten of your favourite songs off top?
THE PHARCYDE LOGCABINCALIFORNIA
How do you handle feedback from other artists and casual spectators?
HANDLE FEEDBACK WELL I USUALLY ASK TO SEE FOR TRUTHS IN FAULTS THEY SEE ON MY ART SO I CAN EXCEL WHERE I NEED TO
“I like constructive criticism from smart people.” —Prince
Who do you want your audience to be when you develop your concepts/creations?
I WANT MY AUDIENCE TO BE BETTER VERSIONS OF THEMSELVES
“There's nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place.”― Banksy
9When can we expect the Collab tape with Ki Bohiti you guys have a twin energy that has a strong impact on the listener a truly scintillating dynamic.
I HAVE A MIXTAPE OUT WITH KI NAMED RHYMES FROM THE CRYPT ON SOUNDCLOUD & WE HAVE MANY SONGS IN THE ARCHIVES TOGETHER, NOT SURE WHEN WE WILL MAKE ANOTHER PROJECT BUT IT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE
Photo: KI BOHITI & KAST
Which colours do you see having an intergalactic battle due to their rivalry on a canvas or in a palette? (Mine are black and white )
BLUE & GREEN
What's your favourite fruit and do you remember the moment when you came to the realization?
MANGOS & WHEN I WAS YOUNG
What's the name of the last book you read and its author? - Do you have a preferred genre in literature?
DR SEBI GUIDE ON HOW TO CURE NERVE PAIN
Which changes in life would indicate that you are finally gaining success?
SELF DISCIPLINE & KEEPING MYSELF IN CHECK WITH RESPONSIBILITIES
When is your next project dropping?
NEXT PROJECT WILL BE DROPPING IN 2025
Who would win in a fight...bear or a gorilla? and why?
GORILLA , IT HAS MORE ADVANTAGE
The antidotes in his meditation are converted to word sound power with adroit flare and a murky but mysterious voice. An instrument reminiscent of a specter protecting the homes of its descendants. This lyricist is consummate in his use of the english language but the symbology in his spellcasting can be linked to his adventures tattooing the skin of his city with aerosols and other implements. Marking his territory with his comrades is part of his creative lore. Giving credence to his illusive disposition as an assassin who is seen when he wants to be. His training ground of outsmarting CCTV, Police, and “Model Citizens” hardens and bolsters the guile of the high-stakes artists.
“Imagine a city where graffiti wasn't illegal, a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big business. Imagine a city like that and stop leaning against the wall - it's wet.” ― Banksy
I believe that Kast and his cabal have already achieved the Utopia Banksy is fantasising about in the quote above…
Using different forms of deception — including masks, lookouts, and lightning-esque wrist movements to bestow the tribal markings of their codes and individuality upon the cityscape. These Aqueous dendroglyphs intrigue me due to the solidarity of those who participate in their manifestation. The LOWDOWNLORD is a student who has learned how to learn, absorbing influences from a myriad of inspirations and attracted affinities. From skateboarding to healing — writing potent word paintings to educating the community. This Maven has the demeanor of a whispered Myth with the magnetic field of a screaming God, he commands all six senses when you experience his craft and his discography is as vitreous and analeptic as the emerald tablet.
Many have fallen short with the maintenance of their nexus to the Primordial motherboard. Entertainers, healers, artisans and to thought leaders. There is an infectious prioritising of the surface level ephemera known as the 3D; vapidly turning a blind eye to the crux of our “Matter”—the etheric underpinnings—the operator of the carbon vehicle—the apogee of the Alpha Spectrum. KAST is fully aware of both sides and walks in a harmonious rhythm; A synchronised poise of 360 of self. A lifestyle that must be nurtured at all times. Discipline of this nature separates Men and Numen.
Photo: KAST by Jack Desa
“Poetry is a double-edged sword that sheds more light than blood” — GiiibbZ Of Fizix
The medicine man is an ancient archetype/vocation essential to all iterations of community. Someone who speaks to the cells of the body with the language of the spirit. Using intention and communication with the “All” to mitigate infirmities through natural remedies provided by the earth for those suffering on its surface. Everything we need was here before we were born, nothing is wasted.
Transformation is a powerful concept…sometimes difficult to explain or frame. Even more difficult to achieve without the proper outlook or impetus, especially when occurring for a beneficial reason. “Transcendental Transformation” is a feat afforded by those who prioritise the innovation of their character. Those who exemplify herd immunity; The beacons who illuminate the malaise with their unique perspectives. Combating the odious presence of the zombified hive mind being nourished by our people. Like his brother Ki, KAST has also mastered the chrysalides of his progression as an Artist, Activist, Healer, and Teacher. This celestial elegance ensures his legacy and we at the Qall support the moves being made by this esoteric army.
His mastery of aquatic cadence is akin to marine empires and shifts any space he contributes to. The endless lexicon is the explored territories of this Thalassocracy. With beats often opalescent with a scuzzy filter being ridden into war like elephants - wielding a prehistoric essence like the buried skeletons after Hanibal’s skirmish against the scourge of Romulus. Using health and wellness to destroy the psychological strongholds of the masses—Concocting elixirs of worded wisdom that are suffused by this city-dwelling Shaman. Kast’s ominous whispers cause seismic activity and every rune chosen carries Sisyphean weight. These earth-shattering odes are the demolition and rebuilding of new sceneries through efficacious rhyme schemes. Sceneries that are both immaterial and physical.
Aṣẹ
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Stream or Purchase: "ObjectPermanessst" & "NothiiingNest" by MasterDeadBiiird
