Sacramento artist Kiii drops a short film to support the soundtrack for his new album “Reap What You Sow” and speaks on the album being based on an enslaved person escaping oppression & finding freedom. (Artist Submitted)
Thizzler: Where are you from? How was your upbringing?
Kiii: I’m from Sacramento, CA. It wasn’t the worst, but I have my fair share of trauma- on many levels. I’d say earning my B.A from UCLA was the most complex challenge for me due to my unstable upbringing. I was never even supposed to be admitted, statistically speaking. Every day I touched that campus, I defied numbers and systems. Since then, that’s how I’ve lived my life. I’ve seen the worst of Sacramento, and I’ve seen the beauty in it- how I’ve gotten so resilient. I love where I come from and who I’ve become; this wouldn’t be possible without God, my family’s support, and those who have constantly rooted for me.
Thizzler: How did you begin making music?
Kiii: My father was a producer/artist, My stepfather was a studio engineer from the bay area working for Digital Underground, and my mother is a philanthropist; I was put in a position to tell my story and owned it at a young age (3). I would be in studio sessions as a kid, emulating what I saw, and decided to take my career seriously at age 16 after building a computer/studio. In the crates, I have over 25 works. I started making beats at nine and have been an independent artist since then. I knew since age 16 I wanted to establish a record label and secure a degree to separate myself from the status quo – leading me to a full ride at UC Berkeley, admission to Howard University, and many other state colleges.
Thizzler: How did you get your rap name?
Kiii: Kiii is a triple entendre for Kilo, Key, and Chi (Qi). Each ‘i’ has a meaning. I got plenty of keys in life, like an Ankh, and distribute kilos of Lifeforce (Chi). There’s beauty in the number 3, so my name is quite intentional and fully represents who I am. There’s a science to my name.
Thizzler: How would you describe your musical style?
Kiii: My family is my primary influence on music. Then on a musician tip from Sacramento I’d say T-Nutty, AK The Teflon Don, Brotha Lynch. In the Bay Area, it’s E-40, Digital Underground, Mac Dre, Mistah Fab and Jacka. Since my step pops was an engineer, I started early. I was also in Middle School when the Hyphy Movement began so I witnessed the inception of our culture’s peak. In California, my top influences are Tupac, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, & Snoop Dogg. With my peers, it’s Dreamville, TDE/PGLang, Freddie Gibbs, Griselda, & Pusha T. On an executive level, it’s Berry Gordy (Motown), Top Dawg, Dame Dash, & Jay Z.
Thizzler: Tell me about “Reap What You Sow”
Kiii: This album, in its entirety, is based on an enslaved person escaping oppression & finding freedom. Handcuffs are the new slavery, police brutality is the new noose, education gaps are the no-reading rule, Multiple African tribes in a boat who can’t speak to each other is modern gang violence, and house/field nigga concept is the division we see today. I say Reap What You Sow to those who have guided me to freedom, including my people, and I say Reap What You Sow to those who’ve worked to oppress my culture. I’m much more vulnerable about who I am, my challenges, and expressive about my various emotional states. Producers range from Andre Lor, Sypooda, 174 Beats, & Ghowste (many more). The album is mixed by my in-house engineer Komari Bailey. It’s a psychedelic trap genre; the only feature is O Finess, from Colorado. He’s currently a part of Musalini’s Pharaoh Music Group; he fit very well on the album. It took me three years to make, and it’s documenting the previous ten years of my rap career since beginning school at UCLA. Now that my degree and foundation have been established, I have time to give this my all. The Short Film is about the “Reap What You Sow” album. It’s a two-song short film focusing on the consequences of gang violence, drug addiction, mental health, slavery, government corruption, & drug dealing. Rappers these days want to show you guns, drugs, and compete by death; I’m showing in the Film that these things come with REAL life consequences.
Thizzler: How is it different than previous drops?
Kiii: I’ve put three years into this project and have spent ten years in my journey aiming to make something like this. The first album was me establishing my sound; the following EPs were made to keep myself qualitatively consistent while I developed “Reap What You Sow.”
Thizzler: What message do you want fans to walk away with after listening to “Reap What You Sow”?
Kiii: The tracks “Masters,” “Clark Ln,” and “Sow” really tell you about who I am more than any interview can. This album is about modern slavery, being a slave to society, opinions, social media, money, institutions etc.; & I am not exempt. I face my wars head-on daily and tell you how human I am. It’s easy to talk a good game on wax about how powerful one is, but I have learned to find empowerment in my vulnerability for once. I hope this album symbolizes liberation to anyone despite their walk of life and our differences-including those who rival me. I’ll let the music do the rest.
Thizzler: What’s next?
Kiii: Expect consistent singles, for now, no projects-just attention to detail, and constant drops post-album—lastly, more life. I need richer experiences before I take another step forward creatively at this level.
Thizzler: Is there anything else you want to say?
Kiii: In the next ten years, I will be one of the greatest emcees ever to grace a mic from Sacramento. Much love to everyone I’ve collaborated with, and honor to those who somehow inspired me in some way from the city. Some say they only compete with themselves, which may be accurate; however, that’s naive, delusional, & unrealistic to me. 98% of rappers from Sacramento sound like clones, we need to step it up as a culture, and if you are the 98%, I’m overlapping you. The other cities in CA have a greater hold on the culture; let’s push the envelope. I’m not talking about who has the most guns, money, popularity, drugs, or the most bodies; I’m saying my pen is untouchable, and I dare anyone to test that theory. Name your current top 5 in Sac & tell them I sent you. However, as competitive as I am, I intend to convey the story of the Black Man in America today from my worldview. My priority is storytelling and connecting with people, then ‘competition’.
