Home » Columns » Get Familiar » Get Familiar: 14KT

Get Familiar: 14KT

Written by Jake Greene. Published: Thursday, January 13, 2011.

Name: 14KT

Hometown: Ypsilanti, Michigan

Label/Affiliations: Unsigned, but A-Side Worldwide/Athletic Mic League/Lab Techs ALL DAY.

Age: 30

Discography: The Golden Hour [Sdtrk] LP, 2008. Nowalataz LP, 2009. For all other 14KT, releases: http://www.podomatic.com/profile/karatgoldradio

How did you get started making music?

I started out singing in the church choir, being introduced to harmonies and melodies. Then I tried to picked up some instruments (Piano/Upright Bass/Violin). Then I started listening and getting into Hip-hop music around 87’-88’. I fell in love with Hip-Hop around 93’-94’ and started writing rhymes. As a result, I began to naturally make music when I linked up with Athletic Mic League around 94’95’. Been writing rhymes and making beats ever since.

Is there any possibility of a reunion with Athletic Mic League or Mayer Hawthorne/DJ Haircut?

Affirmative. Athletic Mic League is currently working on another album. Also, myself and Mayer Hawthorne have off and on been working on a New Wave project as well.

What do you want people to take away from your music?

Inspiration. The message. I want to them to learn something or be inspired in someway. I like to use concepts in my music to get messages across that I feel I need to convey. I just hope that at the end of my career, people realize i’m here as a witness for God and carrying out my purpose to inspire.

If you could go back and do something over again in your life, would you? And, what would it be?

There are a few things I wish I could do over in my life, but music-wise I wish I wasn’t such a rebellious kid when I was young and kept playing instruments instead of quitting. I would [have] probably been playing the upright bass for 17-18 years now. I could have maybe been a GREAT musician by now.

What music memories stick out to you?

The never-ending Athletic Mic League jokes and stories we’ve had in our experience of making music. The first and last time I met J Dilla in Detroit in 2004 at the DEMF. One time performing on stage in Detroit with emcee Invincible, looking to my left seeing Marcus Belgrave on Trumpet, Karriem Riggins on the drums behind me, the legendary Carl Craig and Amp Fiddler on keys/synth. That was crazy to me. Oh! And, recently playing beats in front of a packed crowd with DJ Premier and Just Blaze listening and judging at the Red Bull Big Tune. That was wild!

What did Red Bull Big Tune do for your career?

Big Tune was truly a huge promotional platform that helped get my name out there more. Plus, I was able to network and meet cats such as Ghostface, Just Blaze, Alchemist, DJ Primier, J Moore, Jake One, and Vitamin D. I also learned a lot of new production tools from the other producers in the competition and built relationships with them. I appreciate Red Bull for coming out to Detroit and allowing producers from my area to be able to share their music with the world, because Michigan doesn’t get many of opportunities like that.

Is there any artist you met that was a big deal for you?

Being that J Dilla was my favorite producer and a huge inspiration on me, when I got to meet him finally in person, that was a big deal to me. I never thought I would meet him and when it actually happened, it gave me a lot of confidence and hope in myself.

What’s next for 14KT?

Currently working on the next solo instrumental project. Working on a project with an emcee named Othello of Lightheaded. Athletic Mic League’s next album and a few other projects in the works. I plan on doing more DJ/Beat set performances and working hard in 2011. Beats Beats Beats….aiming to be on everyone’s top 5 producers list.

Category: Get Familiar