August Keys on Staying True to Self, Life in St. Croix & Why Hip Hop's Next Hot Spot is The 713 (Houston)
Today, we catch up with August Keys: a multi-hyphenate artist with a sound and style all his own. Born in Houston but raised on the Caribbean island of St. Croix, August Keys is a songwriter and rapper with an ultra smooth melodic singing voice. With a deft mix of Hip Hop storytelling, radio-friendly hooks and forward-thinking production, his music is an effortless fusion of genres, equally inspired by Jazz, Funk, R&B, and Neo-Soul.
Channeling his deepest thoughts and feelings into his music, August Keys continues to pave his own lane with a fresh, humble spirit and effortless style. Tap into his exclusive HOL interview below where you'll get to experience August's dynamic personality and youthful wisdom, in addition to mad MADD knowledge bombs. Now and only on Hype Off Life!
How was it for you spending your time in between Houston your home island of St. Croix?
It's an experience I never take for granted! Although, constantly being moved between two completely different cultures did leave me feeling lost about my own cultural identity for a very long time. In the islands, you're the majority, period. Everybody knows everybody. It's a culture that makes you want to be accountable for your own actions. If you were to ever mess up, everyone will know, and everyone will know who your family is and play the blame game. NOBODY wants to let their family down like that.
In the states, you go from majority to minority. It was an adjustment having to learn to deal with the prejudices that accompany our melanin in the mainland. You don't experience gas station clerks eyeballing you for just walking into their shop down there. That being said, the combination of intuition gained from both cultures really sparks a lot of immigrants from the Caribbean to have a level of discipline that is unmatched from our island side, while having an undying spirit full of perseverance from our state side. It really does make you feel like a different breed.
What’s the music scene like out there in Houston?
The music scene is something I like to call, "Houston's best-kept secret." Houston is the city full of underdogs. Other metropolitan music powerhouses tend to overlook us if our name isn't Beyonce or Travis Scott, and if you're a screw artist, you got labeled a carbon copy of Slim Thug or Bun B. But recently, the newer generation of artists here have been bolstering with new sounds, energy, and a familial spirit that got lost in the competition of the game in the past few decades.
Every single artist rising out the streets of the 713 has this understanding of "we're going to take over the top as one city, and the world won't be ready for us." I've strongly felt this way since Hurricane Harvey hit. I feel like that helped us come together as a Hip Hop community again instead of cliquing up and tearing each other apart. Tobe Nwigwe is a perfect example of this new music scene spirit emerging. The rest of the world isn't ready for what we'll dish out 2019 onwards.
Who were some of your favorite artists to listen to while growing up?
So, embarrassing "Baby August" story: in second grade, my school hosted a hero's day parade where we got to dress up as what we wanted to be when we grew up, and we needed a book to accompany our costume. Everyone came in police uniforms, firefighter outfits, etc. Then you have this little Bob Marley sounding boy holding a Michael Jackson autobiography and a bedazzled oven mitt (sorry mom!) dressed in his Billie Jean outfit. His energy as an entertainer was INFECTIOUS!
I used to stay up at night trying to learn all his dances and scats with the Jackson 5 well past my curfew. His humanitarian spirit is also something I've always greatly admired, always thinking about those who didn't have as much as him. Outside of MJ, I grew up listening to a lot of Jazz thanks to my grandfather. I also had an unmatched fascination for numerous Hip Hop and R&B artists. Alicia Keys, Tupac, Biggie, Outkast, Ne-Yo, Chris Brown, T-Pain, Maxwell, Boyz II Men, Mariah Carey, Al Green, The Temptations, Whitney Houston, Bun B, K Dot, J Cole, my boy Donald Glover, and a LOT of Kanye. Like, College Dropout Kanye. Just to name a few.
Who are you listening to these days?
These days, my taste is still pretty diverse. A lot of the artists today also heavily influence my approach in my sound. Masego and Tobe Nwigwe are my favorite two artists out right now. In addition to them, I've been really feeling tracks from Gallant, Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, Mac Miller (RIP), a lot of Nipsey (RIP), Khalid, Daniel Caesar, Childish Gambino, H.E.R. (GABI IS WIFEY), and DEFINITELY Chance the Rapper. I get a lot of Chance comparisons, and it's honestly because him and Masego are my two biggest inspirations within this side of the 2000s. My homies always like to say "if it were possible for Uncle Sego and Chano from 79th to have a Love Child, he would be August from the 713."
"Music is a universal language. It unites the masses."
- August Keys
When did you know music had a hold on you?
That would be on June 14, 1996. That's probably around when I was conceived. All jokes aside though, there's not a second I remember not being in love with music. As someone who is synesthetic (which means my mind reacts to certain sounds by generating certain colors in my sight), music always made me feel different before I knew that kind of phenomenon wasn't a normal experience everyone had listening to it.
When I was 2, I was fortunate to have my grandfather take notice of my love for music early on, and he always pushed and encouraged me to never let my passion go, and always wake up thinking, "what can I do today to further advance my craft?" Music is a universal language. It unites the masses. I couldn't imagine life without it. I couldn't imagine who I'd be without it. It's my heartbeat.
Your music is very dynamic, complementing your storytelling and vocals well. How do you make your beat selections?
Tying back to synesthesia, I produce my instrumentals the same way every time. In order to tell a story, you need to establish the background. The environment, per say. So, I always try to envision where I want my story to take place. Once I have an idea of the setting, I then think to myself, "what kind of instrumentation can achieve the colors I need to paint my picture?"
For example, If I wanted to create a sound that gives a "sunset-type vibe", acoustic guitars tend to sit in a very "yellow" range for me, while high pitched synths are very "purple", so I'd ideally start with finding a balance of the two. Once that part is established, I compose a drum line or a string of 808s to accompany the cadences of my singing and rapping flows. Just like that, I have painted a story seen (literally) through my eyes in hopes that you, the listener, can experience every emotion of that story the same way. From instruments down to the vocals.
“Indie,” your latest single is doing pretty well. What’s the main message you want people to take away from the song?
OWN. YOUR. ARTISTRY. Own your vision. Own your sound. Own your image. Own your best. Own your worst. Own you. We are blessed enough to grow up in a world where we can manifest our innermost thoughts and feelings into songs without needing to leave the comfort of your own bedroom. That makes it all the more important to be able to cater your sound to you, first and foremost.
"Indie" is not necessarily a song about rebellion, but about celebration. As someone who has battled with self-confidence issues and depression, one of the hardest, but most rewarding life lessons I've ever experienced was learning to love myself. So what if I didn't sound like my favorite singer? So what if my bars aren't bangin' like my homie next door? So what if I don't act islander enough for my family? So what if I'm not hood enough for all the OGs I grew up with in the hood when I first moved here.
I'm not trying to be the next anybody. I'm trying to be the first AUGUST. And I want everyone to feel that same kind of pride and joy within themselves because they have EVERY REASON to. There's only one YOU on this planet. Be the best you that you can be, and don't ever let anyone take that away from you.
"Every single artist rising out the streets of the 713 has this understanding of "we're going to take over the top as one city, and the world won't be ready for us.""
- August Keys
Working on anything new we should keep an eye out for?
Absolutely! "Indie" is only the beginning. Back in 2015 before my time being homeless, I started an album. I had to put it on hold for obvious reasons, but it allowed me to continue writing my life narrative and give everyone the best possible piece of August that they possibly could ever get in an album.
By year's end, the Keys Fam will have that album ready to fire in their library. I'll do everything in my power to make sure of it. Speaking of "Indie", I also got the chance to fly out to LA and record a music video for the track! Keep in touch with me on my Instagram and Twitter accounts @AugustKeysMusic for updates! Lil' ol' August from the 713 will be hitting you all with a summer full of content. I can't wait for everyone to see it all come to life!
Every artist and influencer has a tribe that they lead. Who is in your’s and where are you taking them?
The Keys family runs deep, for sure. I've always been regarded as someone who is beyond their years in wisdom among my peers, and have been blessed enough to be a big brother figure for many aspiring creators in my years growing up and beyond. My lil' bros always keep me motivated to keep on pushing forward as a voice for underground Houston artists of my generation, and very frequently chime in on my projects. My own big bros, Dustin and Africa (yes, he goes by Africa), show up to every single one of my performances to help integrate the crowd into the Keys family with their energy.
My actual blood cousin, T'Shommie is one of the dopest dancers I've ever seen come out of MO city and helps me build my stage presence. My lil' bros NG.IM.Brandon, C-Saad, and DJ Genetax collab with me on beats, and I mentor the three of them in their production when called upon. My OG Bros Antho and Lex mentor me on how to embrace the screw culture of Houston within my new sound. My bandmates, the JamPAC bring the ENERGY to every outing and have inspired me with their level of musicianship to keep on growing. Their manager, Henry Moseley (MONEY MO!) allows me to stay rooted in my old-school upbringings and mentors me on live performances as well. My barber Lloyd hits me up with the fresh chops and much-needed wisdom to push myself further as a man in society.
My immediate family have welcomed me back in their home with open arms and support me every step of the way. And last, but certainly not least, my BPM family builds me to be the best possible ME so we can push our vision forward in ways unimaginable. My mentor and manager Cruize, VJ, Steph, Jay Stylez, Bootsy and so many others, man. They welcomed me into their family like I was a little brother they've known for years and helped nurture my artistry to new heights in a matter of months.
I'm in awe just being in the same breath as BPM. The list goes on and on. It takes an entire village to raise a king, and I will walk my path every day for them and every new member that joins the family, pass or fail. As someone who is very spiritual, I personally believe God has placed all of these people in my life for a reason, and I will never take them for granted. When I eat, ALL THE FAMO EATS. PERIODT. Only way is up from here!
