KidShyne is an exciting LA rapper who was just named one of 5 best upcoming artists by HWING.

In this interview spotlight, we chat with KidShyne about influences, his latest project, navigating the modern music industry and more.

Full Q&A along with links and streams below.

Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

Growing up in a small town right outside of Philly, there really wasn’t much to do but party, go to school, work, and rap. My friends and I were just always drawn to the rap culture since we were young, probably about 13 years old. We would always ride around the neighborhood on our scooters/bikes with a speaker playing instrumentals from Youtube and free styling to them. I remember not really being into rap that much until I started smoking weed and really sat down and listened to hip hop. I realized it was more than just a beat. I started to understand the lyrics on a much deeper level, and it just amazed me. Ever since then I was intrigued and it sparked the inspiration in me to make music and write.

What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?

A unique series of events led me into a journey with music. I just got intrigued with hip hop when I started to smoke weed and really sat down and started to listening to lyrics. I fell in love with the way you can curate your own sound through flow and delivery. It’s actually quite amazing. When I was about 9 years old, I would always make little songs on a keyboard I had and wrote my own songs. I guess this is the same thing but big boy stuff now haha. I like to push my music to the public because I want to share my love for music and it’s really amazing to deliver something that you made out of thin air to draw emotions and inspire people.

Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?

I curate my own sound through inspiration from other artist. Some of those artist being Mac Miller, G-Eazy, and Travis Scott. I always go through a phase of favorite artist as I grow, but those are the artists who’s had the biggest impact on my rap style and delivery.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?

Basically, I’m trying to set my foot through the door professionally and let the world know that I’m here and here to stay, not just another soundcloud rapper. I plan to creatively approach the game and make bangers for the people to listen to. I just plan on making feel good music that anybody can vibe too, not just hip hop heads.

What was the last song you listened to?

Wiz Khalifa – Doubt Fire

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

Vinyl, just because it wasn’t much of a thing in my generation. Us millennials were just at the end of the vinyl period. It just sends a very nostalgic sound to your ears and you appreciate the music that much more. Besides that, the whole Spotify and Soundcloud online music streaming thing is pretty tight, can’t lie.

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

What about SoundCloud?! I definitely prefer SoundCloud over all of these because it’s a platform for underground/independent artists to be heard. I love discovering new sounds, and SoundCloud has a whole bunch of undiscovered talent where rappers are on a whole new wave the world has never even seen yet.

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?

Standing out and reaching to new fans. With an abundance of online music due to how easy it is to make songs now a days, everybody is hopping on the wave, especially the hip hop wave. Thankfully, I have an amazing team of PR working for me and we just got started so i’m very excited to see where my music takes me within the next year. I have a very good feeling about the future and my career as an artist

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?

You can visit my splashpage/website at www.kidshyne.com . That website has links to all of my social media, including my soundcloud. I am available on Twitter and Instagram @itskidshyne . You can discover all of my music on my Soundcloud, www.soundcloud.com/kidshyne . And lastly, you can find me on Spotify and iTunes, just search “KidShyne”

Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?

Not much, just very excited to see where my music takes my fans and I within the next year. The team and I have been working very hard so i’m sure our hard work will pay off! Thank you Middle Tennessee Music!!