The
Song:
Not many people get the opportunity to introduce themselves through a song, but that's just what Kyle Rapps does with his new single, "Me," from his upcoming EP, Re-Edutainment. The NJ-born, NY-based rapper's concept album, which showcases his personal spin on Boogie Down Production's Edutainment, and Kyle's saucy personality and clever lyricism is accented throughout by guest MC's KRS-One, Joell Ortiz, and U-N-I, along with producer Kev Brown, who brings his own unique take to the same samples used on the BDP original.
His first two singles, "Rent Remix" and "Hard Knock Children," dealt with high rent rates and childhood memories, but Kyle wants you to get to know the real him with his single "Me." Listening to the new single feels like you just fell into a conversation with Kyle at a party; he even starts out the second verse with, "Nice to meet ya, the name's Kyle Rapps/ I got a Bill Gates grant and a Today Show feature." "Writing this one made me think about the things I have accomplished in my life that I never thought possible," says Kyle. "From staying clean, winning a Microsoft grant, and doing what I love for a living, to dealing with deep personal loss and overcoming setbacks. This track is just telling you who I am as a person... a high energy, flavorful joint that gives you a peek in to my crazy diverse world." Kev Brown is half responsible for that flavor, bringing in the whammy pedal and some trumpets for the funky instrumental.
Kyle, a poet as well as a rapper, cites his slam poetry group, Mayhem Poets, as one of the main inspirations for the track. "From youth detention centers, to public schools, to bar mitzvahs, doing slam poetry has made me appreciate the opportunity to express myself on all levels." According to Kyle, a poignant message lies beneath Kev Brown's stellar production and Rapps' lighthearted verses in "Me": "Have the awareness to learn who you are and the courage to be that no matter what."
Kyle Rapps' debut EP, Re-Edutainment, will be available for purchase on March 29th.
Download "Me" here:
http://media.audibletreats.com/Kyle_Rapps-Me.mp3
The Background:
With his roots firmly planted in concept driven hip-hop, Kyle Rapps exhibits witty and youthful yet insightful and catchy music. Under the moniker Black Skeptik, Kyle Rapps formed the acclaimed underground hip-hop group, Thought Breakers, who saw success opening up for such acts as Wyclef Jean, Fat Joe, Talib Kweli and Dead Prez, in addition to independently selling over 10,000 copies of their album, Episode One. More recently he released "Rent" ft KRS-One and "Frankenstein Saves Hip Hop (prod. Blockhead & video feat. Crazy Legs of The Rock Steady Crew)" under the same name. Solidifying a more positive out look on things, he changed his name to Kyle Rapps and release a third single, "Love, Love" (Featuring KRS-One and Homeboy Sandman), which reached #1 on the college radio hip-hop charts. Now, Rapps, eager to show people the benefits of combining hip-hop with education, is set to release his debut EP, RE-Edutainment in March, 2011.
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