We recently connected with Dat Kyd and have shared our conversation below.
Dat, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
My upcoming album “reflections”.
Reflections” is a conceptual body of work that captures Dat Kyd’s evolution over a ten-year span, from adolescence to adulthood. The album explores every dimension of the word “reflection”—from self-examination and mirrored identity to repeated patterns and the transformation of experience into art. Through his lyrics, Dat Kyd documents an internal battle of identity, acknowledging the duality within himself—known to some as El-Issa and to others as Ishmael. These contrasting identities represent different perspectives, emotions, and stages of growth, creating a narrative centered on fragmentation and eventual self-integration. Rather than presenting growth as a polished outcome, “Reflections” reveals the ongoing process of pulling oneself together, offering an unfiltered look at personal evolution, awareness, and the complexity of becoming whole.
I wrote this album while being evicted twice, moving back in with my parents, I got engaged, lost relationships, and gained inner understanding
Dat, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I started out listening to an huge array of music since I was 4 years old. I studied golden era hiphop, house music, 80’s r&b/pop , and jazz music. I started making beats with my brother (haas Almahdi) at 14 years old. We used mpc’s and a synthesizer to make many beats.
At 18 I started rapping at 18 to help build up my producer build up his catalog. One of my main beliefs was, “if people heard your work, you would be famous by now. I released my first album “power and respect” (2018) along with two other ep’s. My growth was slow. By 2020 I landed myself on multiple compilation mixtapes, and leveraged them for more exposure. Recently this year I signed a partnership with (entourage management), today I serve as rapper, producer, and writer.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
As a artist from Connecticut one of our biggest problems is à lack of support in the state, everywhere I traveled, I’ve met a&r’s, label managers, and a list of artist who all told me my music is great and I can go far with it. The problem is nobody knows what my state is when I tell them. My goal is to build and get a strong platform and fans base and bring it back home.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
The hardest part is not be your hardest critic. It’s hard at times to chase something nobody else understands. You can always confide in your loved ones. You have to adapt to expecting love from strangers more than familiars. Regular life will continue to happen around your artistry. As an example I’ve lost many jobs, apartments, and relationships, which mentally makes you want to quit. At 28 years old for me everyone I know tells me I can do this, so I don’t get the “ don’t quit your day job” quotes thrown at me but on the inside you feel like there’s a time clock on your growth.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dat_kyd?igsh=aXlraDU3cTFnaTRm&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/RDJVaQQ_xM8?si=PgRy-etKg5so9yYX
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/Atx6IxL6PhP4rKkibZ
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kyd/1455442609
Image Credits
NewVegasfilm