Klow Is Kickin’ in the Door: Interview
Acworth, GA rapper Klow takes his listeners on a journey of hopeful beginnings and unpacks past trauma on his debut project FACES. Disguised by lyrics about women, drugs, and a lavish lifestyle, FACES is the coming of age story of Klow. He basks into his vices over dense drums, heavy 808s, and lighthearted claps, and within these musical elements Klow finds comfort in distinguishing his wants and needs on his journey to the top.
What stood out to me about FACES, in addition to the abstract cover art, was Klow’s ability to mix the sounds of the south and north so perfectly that it feels faultless. With the majority of the project produced by his childhood friend, Yuxi Guru, Klow is given the creative space to make the beats work for him. On “Open the Door,” Klow demonstrates his ability to ride the beat and switch flows. This song proves his willingness as an artist to approach every beat differently. As Klow was leaving work, I had a chance to chop it up with the 22 year old about music and life.
Our conversation, lightly edited for content and clarity, follows below.
How did you get the name Klow?
“It's sorta a nickname. I’m Nigerian, so my full name is Kaelo Amanambu, but no one was going to say that long ass name, so they just call me Klow. At first, I was not going to use it as my rapper name, but it was simple and it stuck.”
Being a first generation, how do your parents feel about your music?
“They know I make music but they don’t pay attention to it too much. You know Nigerian parents are all about school and shit.”
What made you want to rap and when did you start making music?
“I’ve always been into the arts, whether it be poetry or music. I started around 16 or 17. I remember when I was young and 50 Cent dropped Get Rich or Die Tryin. I saw my older cousin rapping to “Many Men” and me being like “Yo I wanna rap like that.” I even memorized that verse. That’s why I have a lot of New York influences in my style. Biggie is my favorite rapper of all time.”
Being a fan of Biggie, someone who’s known for freestyling, what’s your writing and recording process like?
“I know for the new age of rappers, writing is like an old age thing, everyone likes to punch in. But, for me, personally, I write and it feels as if it’s the best way for me to get my point across. It feels more genuine.”
Why the title FACES?
“Just in the past couple of years, I lost three of my closest homies and throughout the years, a nigga had to put on different faces… Whether it’s fake happiness or just putting up a lot of fronts. That album signifies my different approaches to life. Whether it's some hype shit or some thought provoking smoke shit.”
On “Open the Door,” you rap about wanting the chance to experience a more lavish life. What doors are you trying to open with your music?
“I see music as my main avenue to reach other things. Whether it’s entrepreneurship or philanthropy. Niggas are tired of being broke and I’m ready for a new life.”
How do you find your beats?
“Most of my beats were produced by my homeboy, Yuxi Guru. I’ve known Yuxi since the 4th grade. I do reach out to some local producers around town from time to time as well.”
On “Overthinking,” you’re rapping about being overwhelmed. What else are you overthinking about?
“Man, I have anxiety, so I overthink a lot. Around that time I was having issues with my girl, trouble with the law and also was putting my parents through shit. I was raised in a bad spot, so any little thing could get you fucked up. It was just a testament to where my head space was at.”
How did ATL influence your sound?
“This is my home. The trap sound has been engraved in me since I was a kid, but it’s definitely the New York sound that motivates me as well. I’ve been inspired by music from up north but also my Mom played a lot of music in the house, from Mary J Blige to ABBA & my Dad was playing reggae. And I also have two sisters at home listening to TLC. I'm getting different looks from every way, it's not just ATL.”
What’s next?
“I’m thinking about dropping a deluxe for FACES and keep pushing out more of my visuals.”
I always like to see what other creatives are listening to, so what were the last three last albums you listened to?
Edgewood- Trouble
My Turn - Lil Baby
Wunna - Gunna
With a deluxe project on the way, Klow is definitely an artist you should follow and give a listen to his lyrical contributions.
