K-OS Talks Canadian Hip-Hop, Bob Marley

Canadian MC/vocalist K-OS recently discussed his future musical ventures, while elaborating on the state of the Canadian hip-hop scene and expressing his connection to reggae legend Bob Marley. K-OS said although he hasn’t begun work on his next studio album, he is developing song ideas and playing around with remixes. The Trinidad-born rapper also pledged […]

Canadian MC/vocalist

K-OS recently discussed his future musical ventures, while elaborating on the

state of the Canadian hip-hop scene and expressing his connection to reggae

legend Bob Marley.

K-OS said although he hasn’t begun work on his next studio album, he is developing

song ideas and playing around with remixes.

The Trinidad-born rapper also pledged that his upcoming records will not rehash

the same type of music.

"Right now I’m making a lot of beats and sizing up ideas for songs, but

I haven’t actually been in the studio," K-OS told AllHipHop.com. "[But]

if I did a whole album of songs that sounded the same, I think I wouldn’t know

what to do with myself. I’d go insane."

Comparing Canadian hip-hop to that of the States, K-OS said the consistency

of the U.S. music industry leaves much to be desired.

The rapper praised certain Canadian hip-hop artists for recognizing their identity

as non-Americans.

"I don’t think the [music] industry in America is so hard to get into by

accident. I think they’re very particular about what shapes the culture and

the fashion of that country," said K-OS. "Unfortunately, you have

to jump through a lot of hoops to get heard in America, so it’s very political."

Regarding his own infiltration into the U.S. music scene, K-OS expressed his

dissatisfaction with the selection of music videos available and stated that

his story lines in videos are typically unconventional.

"The way I’m coming across in my videos doesn’t really fit into the American

diaspora of what the Black identity is," said K-OS. "[In videos] Black

people are never [presented as] human beings, they’re never characters. They’re

never just people who are evolving, and I think my videos show me as that character."

Akin to his mentor Bob Marley, who pioneered reggae in America and internationally,

K-OS said his rebellion is a personal movement.

The rapper’s sophomore

release Joyful Rebellion consequently explores this theme through hip-hop,

rock, and reggae elements.

"The real rebellion is choosing to think for yourself. That’s what Bob

Marley did," said K-OS. "And in him evolving and being this kid from

Jamaica [who] took the music so far, he helped a whole people evolve because

he was representing them in a way."