Kamaiyah discusses her latest release and insight into the industry.
Oakland, California’s Kamaiyah is a force to be reckoned with. The Bay Area rapper came to prominence in 2017 as one of ten artists included in XXL’s 2017 Freshman Class. Since then Kamiyah’s come a long way, currently promoting her third project of the year, despite being in quarantine. Kamaiyah’s latest project, No Explanations is a departure from the classic Kamaiyah that people have grown accustomed to. Kamaiyah shows her range and versatility on this project as she tackles beats and topics her fans aren’t used to. In addition to pushing boundaries, Kamaiyah also secured two prominent features for the project: Mozzy & Jackboy.
Kamaiyah discusses her new project as well as what it feels like to be a woman in the music industry. She discusses double standards and how she’s not going to change to fit into a box. Kamaiyah believes that while all artists don’t have to like each other, respect and acknowledgment is needed for progress and growth. The determined rapper is as passionate about equality in the industry as she is about her music. Check out the full interview below for more.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us about your new single & video for “Still I Rise” Featuring Jackboy?
Kamaiyah: “Still I Rise” is me basically saying no matter what I’ve been through, I’ma always rise to occasion and I’ma keep pushing, you can’t hold me back.
The Knockturnal: How does it feel to be gearing up to release your 3rd project this year? And to be the only woman who’s done so?
Kamaiyah: It’s kind of interesting because everybody shuts down the whole last quarter thing is kind of weird for me.
The Knockturnal: How did COVID affect your creative process? If at all?
Kamaiyah: It was damn near the same. It’s kind of hard to get me off my rocker and because I’ma do me regardless. There’s nothing anyone can say to stop me from rising to the occasion.
The Knockturnal: Can you tell us about how much work went to into No Explanations?
Kamaiyah: It’s been done for hella long and it was just waiting for the marketing side. No Explanations is pretty self-explanatory. I’m done explaining myself to people. I wanted to make a project that was more realistic to where I’m at in life. There’s no pressure to put out a party project because half the world is inside and can’t afford to go out.
The Knockturnal: Talk about Mozzy as the only other feature in your project?
Kamaiyah: Me and Mozzy been knowing each other for a long time, we had another feature that didn’t get to come to fruition because I parted ways with my last situation and I always wanted to do another record with him so it just made it happen for this project. Mozzy’s pretty hard to work with. He sent that shit back right after doing his verse.
The Knockturnal: Favorite tracks off No Explanation?
Kamaiyah: Favorite records are “Art of War,” “Bend Da Corner” and “Momma Said” with Mozzy because fans are getting to see a whole new side of me.
The Knockturnal: How important do you think it is for women to uplift other women in this industry?
Kamaiyah: A lot of people don’t like each other, not me personally, but I think the best thing we can do – if you work at an office you should go to work, do your job and be respectful. You got to respect each other’s artistry to the degree that you respect somebody’s hustle. I respect the fact that you’re out here dominating in a male-oriented industry, but all that buddy buddy shit I feel like that be unrealistic…and they pretend because everybody tell them they have to but they don’t got to do that. You can see energy, energy don’t lie. Everybody don’t gotta like each other, just respect each other, that’s what I would say to another female coming up.
The Knockturnal: Can everyone simultaneously succeed or is music inherently competitive?
Kamaiyah: I feel like everyone can win, but there’s this perception where people feel like you can’t because -if you don’t have the right people around you, they’ll make you feel like there can be only one female doing this or one male doing that. That’s what they tell you to create this energy that shouldn’t exist in music. People try to box in female rappers if you don’t sell sex. Not everyone’s gonna do that, that’s the dope part about music. Every male’s not talking about trapping but are you gonna tell him he’s not a good artist? No! With females its like unless you’re showing your coochie crack you’re not respected and that shouldn’t be a thing. It’s a double standard.
