Kap G

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Past, present and future, there’s no denying it, Atlanta is ripe with musical talent. Outkast, T.I., Jeezy, the region produces more superstars than Perky and Leslie Plumee supply Duke with goofy, white big men. Today’s rap fans are addicted to that trap sound and Atlanta is the best plug in the game. If you’re fiending for some new fire, stop scratching your neck like Tyrone Biggums because Atlanta has a new star on the rise. Welcome, Kap G.

Growing up in a Mexican-American household nestled in a primarily Black area gave George Ramirez AKA Kap G a unique life vantage point that is infused in every fiber of his DNA. He can give you the recipe for one of his mom’s favorite Mexican dishes and he can impart knowledge on the dankest soul food thanks to his homies. And while food is great, his polyculture background is best manifested through his music.

This culture blending layers his rhymes in a way that most artists simply can’t. On his 2014 hit “La Policia”, he speaks to the topical issue of racial profiling; an issue that, unfortunately, most minorities are all too accustomed to. Kap is able to present a more empathetic, well-rounded and informed perspective due to his dual racial background and he really connects on this song. Citing a specific instance of victimization through an unfair police search, Kap expresses his justified frustrations with the legal system with lines like, “Think I push work now he bringing out the canine/They trying to lock us up, always riding on our block”. The record also received the remix treatment courtesy of industry veterans, T.I. and David Banner. He was even given the distinct opportunity of discussing the track and overall gripe with the system on CNN with Don Lemmon. (My man was looking fly rockin’ the cowboy hat on set.)

Kap is poised to explode and his peers are taking notice. Fabolous blessed Kap with a feature on banger, “Cocaina Shawty", and fellow Atlanta rapper, Young Thug, hopped on a verse on “Don’t Need Em” off Kap’s March Gangsta Grillz project, El Southside. Higher status for sure gets you great features, but it also grants you access to chill with dope people. Probably Kap’s favorite person that he’s met throughout his music career is grillz master, Paul Wall. I guess Paul just keeps it real and has a heavy hand with the lean—what’s not to love? But the most impressive co-sign he’s received is from one of music’s most beautiful minds (no, not that guy), the Neptunes founder, the Ice Creams fashonista, that Arby’s hat wearing mo’fucka, Pharrell Williams.

In a world of uncertainty, one thing is as true as the sky is blue: Pharrell knows music. After hearing Kap-G a couple years back, he knew that the 21-year old would be an asset to his label, i am OTHER. After signing the Atlanta product, Pharrell has provided the kid with his signature production on multiple tracks, including “Southside” and “Cocaina Shawty". But the most impactful thing to me was hearing the gratitude in Kap’s voice while discussing what it’s like collaborating with a legend. He’s not stupid. He knows this is an incredible opportunity that only the cream of the crop are privy to and Kap is leveraging his ambition to maximize this experience.

Kap is using his resources to record on the regular and is heavily pushing content that will make you want to wild out and, in my case, dance like a seizure victim. His most popular song, “Girlfriend”, embodies this notion. The simple yet catchy hook discusses Kap’s ability to effortlessly pull a “it’s Mr. steal yo girl” with bars like “I just smoked a blunt with your girlfriend/I think that I'm done with your girlfriend”. He dropped a dope video for the joint and just looks like he’s having the time of his life. In the words of Chance, “I’M JUST HAVING FUN WITH IT!”

Life is pretty surreal right now for Kap G. He is a man on a mission and is pouring his blood, sweat and tears into his craft in effort to cement his status. Through touring locally and nationally, consistently recording and producing music videos, Kap’s ensuring that he’s here to stay. It looks like Atlanta’s future is as bright as its past with artists like Kap G on the rise. Hey Atlanta, keep ‘em coming.

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