Interview: Chicago Based Rap Artist Kai Akili Discusses His Debut EP "Off the Grid"
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“Off the Grid” is typically used to describe someone who has detached from their native surroundings. It’s mainly a play on words, as Chicago’s navigation system is set up like a grid.”
Congratulations on the release of your debut EP "Off the Grid"; tell us about your creative process for its development and how you connected with Malik Ismail who provided its production.
Thanks a lot. It took a lot to get to this point. The process started back in 2016. Malik and I were friends who had known each other during high school. By the time I got to college, I had just started rapping. He had a song in mind for me that he planned to use on another project he was working on. After hearing the song and sitting with it for a while, it led us to create an entire project ourselves. Me being in school at the time inspired a lot of the narrative aspects.
What does the title "Off the Grid" mean to you and what does it represent for the EP's four songs?
"Off the Grid” is typically used to describe someone who has detached from their native surroundings. It's mainly a play on words, as Chicago's navigation system is set up like a grid.
In this sense, I left Chicago to go to school in New Orleans to develop myself as an artist. I literally went off the grid to find myself, ultimately realizing that I can't run from me or my problems by relocating.
Were there songs that you recorded for the EP that did not make the final cut? If so, why did you decide to not include them?
Yes, actually. The song that inspired us to do the project didn't even make it to the final. There's a plan for it all, though.
This project as well as future drops from within Black Tide Entertainment are going to fall under several new live and digital experiences with a main theme of Afro-Futurism. You can expect "Off the Grid" to evolve throughout the year. I'm looking forward to showing you all more later this summer.
With the "Off the Grid" EP now released, what are some of your goals musically for the rest of 2021?
I love playing the piano and composing pieces. A lot of people aren't aware of my musical background, so I plan to lean on that a bit more to open the door for more live performances.
I'm starting a mini-series called "Kai's Korner" where I cover a few of my favorite songs, and I may include of few of the homies, too. Look out for that soon!
Tell us about your company Black Tide Entertainment; why did you create it and what are your goals for it?
Black Tide Entertainment is a fine arts and entertainment management company. It started as a student organization at Dillard University in 2015, hosting open mics on campus for local talent.
As of today it exists as a platform-building creative collective in both Chicago and New Orleans. We've curated experiences such as artist showcases, brunches, community drives, and social awareness exhibits behind the idea that art can be used as a form of therapy.
We have a lot more in store as these next few months get underway, so stay tuned with the team to stay up to date!