DMV native Kinrose releases his highly anticipated debut EP Easygrowing, solidifying the poet turned rapper’s place as the next vibey, left-of-center emcee.
The spring themed, eclectic 5-track offering gives listener’s episodic insights into the rapper’s life, as the 24-year-old paints vivid scenes of what it was like entering adulthood in Maryland, a vibrant, melting pot of culture and one of the most exciting up-and-coming hip-hop scenes in the country.
Springtime is analogous with growth and renewal, and throughout the EP Kinrose explores the importance of tending to the soul just as you would your garden, allowing yourself the creative freedom needed to prosper as an individual while navigating all life throws your way.
Themes of working to survive and fear of death are staples throughout the offering, these darker topics juxtaposed by his rich sounding blend of animated vocals and sticky, yet humble wordplay. Kinrose’s commanding sense of melody and the EP’s quirky production invites listeners in to experience the dynamic and diverse sounds of DMV hip-hop that has put the area on the map over past decades.
What’s your story as an artist?
I’m still early into debuting my music, so I hope my story as an artist is fluid with time. Right now, I keep coming back to writing music because it’s a space to process parts of life like love, labor, death, purpose, and all the things that are easier to write about than to converse about.
What inspired your EP Easygrowing?
I wanted to communicate renewal the best way I know how. Each song touches on an experience that prompts growth in us all — boredom, determination, fear, loneliness. Cycling through these emotions day to day feels like a universal human experience that I wanted to tap into.
Do you get inspired by other art forms?
I’m surrounded by other art forms like literature, movies, and TV that inspire me. I’m also a graphic designer and UX/UI designer, so I’m always thinking about things from a visual perspective.
Any funny anecdotes from the time you were recording or writing this?
Yeah, I watch too much basketball because this thing is compact with NBA references.
What’s your favorite place or environment to write?
I religiously write songs on walks with my dog. I don’t know why it is that everything comes to me then.
What’s a record that shaped your creativity?
Cilvia Demo
Who is an artist or band you look up to today?
Little Simz
What excites you the most about what you do?
My music feels like evidence of my growth; I can look back at what I’ve made in the past and use it to pave the way for what I want to do in the future. I’m also just excited for the collaborative aspect of music and thankful that I get to make it with my friends.
What is your view on genres and music styles since you mix a lot of them in your music?
I don’t really think about genres while making music, but once i’m ready to put it out into the world i’m always reminded of how they can be limiting and how algorithms can be restrictive for an artist’s development. I hope I can keep challenging myself sonically to the point where people aren’t surprised when I teeter across different styles. Tierra Whack does that beautifully I think.
What does music and art mean to you?
It’s hard to sum up. I think it’s an intrinsic human need and a therapeutic tool to make sense of the world around us, or create new worlds when this one doesn’t suit us.
