We caught up with the brilliant and insightful KMA (KidMasterArchitect) a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, KMA thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

Neither of my parents listened to rap music, before I was old enough to have my own phone the only time I could listen to rap music was on the car ride home. Or sometimes when I would hangout with my cousins at their place. I learned how to rap from other rap artists that were dropping hits on the radio when I was growing up as kid. That little 15 to 20 minutes was all I had to tune in and try to remember the words to songs I didnt know anything about. The first rap album I purchased with my own money was Thank Me Later by Drake and even then I had to sneak and buy it. When I was old enough to start paying for my own studio sessions thats where I spent most of my weekends in my late teens and early twenties. Recording, recording, recording, recording, and more recording, in different studios from closests to the some of the most well known studios in my city. Probably asking way more questions than I should have, but I always wanted to know about all aspects of the business I was getting into when I decided to do this professionally.

To speed up my learning process? I feel like I couldve stayed in the studio even more often than I did. Thats where I learned the most and gained the most comfortability. I was always open to learning parts of the process from other people that played a part in the business. Some good skills I can think of at this point are resillence, confidence, trust, and faith. I’ve had to lean on these skills the most throughout my time as a creative. One of my biggest obastacles has alwasy been myself, I’ve had to focus on staying out of my own way when it comes to my success and progession throughout music. Another big obstacle for me was knowing exactly what I wanted out of this life and these moves I’m making, knowing what it meant to me. Getting a better grip on that stopped me from doing what everyone else wanted me to do or what they thought would be the best thing for me. Nobody can tell you whats best for you other than yourself. Nobody else is there with you for every second to see how things play out.

KMA, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an american rap artist. Born and raised in Denver Colorado, now based in Los Angeles. I got into music from hearing hits on the radio when I was growing up. hearing my parents play and sing along to their favorite music. The emotion that they shared with the artist in the good times and the bad times. Though my main Genre is hiphop I pull my inspiration from all kinds of music. Being opened minded is what has allowed me to dip into some of the subgenres within hiphop. Im not the first one to do this as a rap artist. Groups like Outkast, artist like Drake, travis scott; they made their way in the door by creating these sub genres.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My mission is to be able to live my greatest life by earning a living off of my talents. By being succesful in this I want to show other people that they can do the same thing, and it doesnt have to be rapping or something that makes you famous. However, it should be something that you enjoy doing as its going to be a difficult path regardles of which one you pick.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I can share plenty of stories, but ultimately though I’ve been knocked down several times chasing my dreams. It’s my ability to get back up and keep pushing from where I tripped up at thats allowed to come as far as I have. I had to be ok with failing, I still have to be able to takes risks after things dont work out. Somewhere within that cycle of falling down and getting up is where I found what it takes, thats where I figured out why I’m doing what I’m doing.

Contact Info:

• Website: Kidmasterarchitect.net
• Instagram: @_k.ma
• Twitter: @Kidmaster_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbC6lDEnTNiTup2r8Y50KnQ

Image Credits
Jane Kim