The rap and hip-hop industry has undergone several changes in the past decade. If you’re an old-school hip-hop fan, you’ll know the days of conscious lyrical rap have been replaced by newer, more melodic rap. However, if you’re familiar with Joseph Rey Morales, better known by his stage name Kakazi, you’ll see that he’s a throwback to an older rap style.
Inspired by Eminem, Kakazi didn’t start rapping until sixteen. However, music always ran in the family. His cousin AJ is part of “Bajo Silencio,” – a Spanish rock band out of Laredo, Texas. His brother, “Richie the Rhymer,” is also an aspiring MC.
Kakazi also stumbled onto his stage name accidentally. He initially began his musical journey under a slightly different moniker, Kawasaki. Unfortunately, people would regularly confuse him with the world-famous motorcycle brand. Joseph Morales knew he had to distinguish himself if he wanted hip-hop fans to discover his music in this rapidly evolving digital age. After all, a Google search for Kawasaki would more likely show motorcycle results than his music. So, one day the musical genius was freestyling when he said Kakazi by accident, and as soon as this name popped up, he knew he had found the perfect stage name.
Finding your lane as a rapper isn’t easy, and Kakazi underwent the same struggles as he tried to find his voice. For that, he had to distinguish himself from other rappers in the industry, which meant discovering his strong suit. Kakazi always had an affinity for lyrical rapping. He enjoyed listening to MCs who would spit double and triple entendre and have complex rhyme schemes because they encapsulated the true meaning of rap for him. After all, rap’s foundation lies in rhythm and poetry, and it’s easy for rappers to sometimes forget about it.
Discovering his voice meant embarking on a journey of self-reflection and self-improvement. Kakazi had to be introspective and learn where his true passions were. It also required him to spend countless hours honing his craft. Hence, Kakazi spent time fine-tuning his method for writing lyrics and constructing bars. He noticed he had a problem. He struggled to stay on track and have deeper meanings to his lyrics. However, fixing this issue would require changing his mindset. In addition, it would also require more life experience to convey his message through music adequately.
Moreover, life as a rapper is also challenging because live performances are quite different from regular musicians. Various artists perform on stage with their bandmates next to them, but rappers are a different breed. Most MCs only have a microphone to accompany them on stage.
Performing in front of a crowd doesn’t always come easy to most musicians. Even talented mainstream artists like The Weeknd had to overcome stage fright. While Kakazi’s situation wasn’t so bad, he had to learn to become more comfortable in front of a crowd and not let it hamper his performance. In addition, Kakazi also had to learn some valuable lessons the hard way. For instance, he had to realize that all artists receive criticism. It might seem like a foreign concept since most artists toil away in solitude until they release their art to the world, but public reception can significantly impact their psyche and art. Kakazi needed time to learn how to filter out criticism and stay true to his craft.
Years of honing his craft and self-improving have led Kakazi to where he is today. His latest album, A New Beginning, is set to release soon on all major streaming platforms. Kakazi considers it his best and most personal work to date.