Kevin Kartier has been putting on for his area for years. The blog era was generous to him, and his peers have always respected him. His work in music has been consistent for almost 10 years now. He and his partner Tevaar Smith have done all they can to make it out and create a bridge from the Gulf Coast to the rest of the music industry. After putting together multiple playlists and entertainment seminars, Kevin’s mission to do it for the ‘Sip is nowhere near finished. His latest project, ‘Vibes & Vices,’ shows his growth as an emcee. With 8 tracks and features from Smoke DZA & fellow Mississippian Josh Waters, you have a project full of heart. Clocking in just a little under 30 minutes, Kevin leaves his fans with just enough to know that he’s ready for the big time. The Sony/Orchard distributed project has experienced a lot of playlisting support on DSPs and solid placements on various outlets. Not too shabby for a rapper from the 3rd coast!

Check out our interesting Q & A here!

Q: What does your area mean to you?

Kevin K: Being from Mississippi and specifically the Gulf Coast means a lot to me. I used to look at it like
it was a negative or it worked against me being from Mississippi but I realized it directly led to me
becoming who I am today. Being from Mississippi means being resilient, hard-working, and creative.
We’re used to doing the most with the least down here. That pride is directly what led to the creation of
Mississippi Mudd.

Q: As partners from an area with much music business infrastructure, who inspired you all?

Kevin K: When I was younger, I was really motivated by Jay-Z’s early story. He started as an
artist that nobody really wanted to sign, so he got with his boys and created a label. They built the
company around Jay and were able to lay the foundation for an empire. Jay was 28 when
Reasonable Doubt dropped, but he also knew it was a chess game, not checkers, and I think
that attitude helped guide him to where he is now. That kind of long-term thinking inspires me.

Q: What do you want fans to know about your upcoming project, Vibes & Vices?

Kevin K: Vibes & Vices is my official debut album and is a long time coming. As they say, an
artist’s debut album is the summation of their life and times up to that point. I think I’ve always
been technically, mechanically a good rapper, but this project really shows my growth and
depths as a real songwriter and performer. These are all songs that allow me to talk about the more
personal subject matter but are also timeless and are relatable to the listener. I’ve really been
able to “let go” more as a songwriter, and I think it shows. These words, thoughts, and feelings
have allowed me to go to another level performance-wise too.

Q: What made you all start doing your Mississippi Mudd playlist?

Kevin K: It all relates back to being from Mississippi and feeling like there was a distinct lack of
resources and outlets as compared to other areas. And instead of running away from it, Tevaar
(my manager) and I decided to face it head-on and begin the process of creating those needed
platforms and opportunities. Mississippi Mudd was born directly from that desire to help
Mississippi grows and connects all the dope creatives in the state.

Q: Can you talk about how difficult or easy it has been to continue to work during the pandemic?

Kevin K: I’ve been fortunate to have been able to stay busy during the pandemic. I actually have a
degree in film, so it’s been a wild time trying to freelance and stay active. Still, I was fortunate
enough to link up with a local videographer, and that was a great way to keep working and in
a way that I can still kind of have a say in what happens. Plus, I took the time during the pandemic
to really work on Vibes and Vices and keep myself back into the mode of a recording artist and
writing/recording. I’ve been able to work with different producers and engineers, too, which has
been a blessing.

Q: You have features with Smoke DZA, Cyhi, and many others! Who is your dream collaborator in
the future?

Kevin K: Yea, I’ve been able to work with some pretty dope artists, and I don’t take that for granted.
In the future, as far as other artists, I’d like to get one with Curren$y as he is a legend and
someone I’ve personally been a fan of for years.

Q: What are your goals for the rest of the year?

Kevin K: My biggest goal is to rollout Vibes & Vices and shares with the world these
songs and videos that represent a milestone and where I am in my life right now.

Being able to share all of the hard work and creative energy that was put into this
record from not just me but all the producers, engineers, and other artists. It
really was a labor of love, and I hope the listener gets that feeling whenever they
hear any of the music.

Peep his new album Vibes & Vices today!