ST. LOUIS (Da Hol 9 Records) - On an uncharacteristically cool, brisk day in the middle of a usually scorching hot Midwest summer, Da Hol 9's Kemo is chilling, scarfing down pizza and salad at one of downtown St. Louis' signature restaurant, Calico's. A precursor to the main dish (baked chicken and rice w/gravy, chased by a stiff shot on the rocks), the appetizer symbolizes Kemo's hunger for dominance in the game.
Fresh off the heels of a successful run with rapper-in-crime, DJ Sexy Kool Kaos, Kemo has positioned himself to achieve where, he says, Da Hol 9 did not.
'Da Hol 9 was just three brother's doing our thing,' he said. 'We were the most successful independent act to come outta the Lou.'
Now embarking on a solo career, Kemo laid to rest any perceived spilt of the group.
'We're still the Da Hol 9,' Kemo reiterated, adding Kaos will be featured on his upcoming solo project from Off the Chain Entertainment called Street Incredibility. 'Much love to Kaos, that's my dog.'
With that being said, raps fans be aware because the stout heavy hitter is bringing St. Louis to its knees with his lead single Break it Down. The gritty, grimy rapper slash young entrepreneur has embarked on not only a solo project but a potential prosperous business endeavor as well.
'I'm vice-president for A&R and the way the deal is set up I can win all the way around once the company gets its' return for investing in me as an artist.'
Not one to brag or boast and never one to back down, Kemo's intensity is evident in his response to certain questions.
'Man, vote?' he snarled when asked about the national hip-hop campaign Project Vote. 'For what?' he continued. 'I mean, don't get me wrong, if a person feel that's his right - to vote - then so be it. But me, naw, I'm cool. The President is still going to be getting his strings pulled whether I vote or note.'
'Baseball?' he moaned when asked about St. Louis' favorite summer pastime. 'Naw, dog, I'on like no baseball.'
From there the Murderville (Sherry and Goodfellow Avenues) reared M.C. was amicable and philosophical about his place in the city's rap lore.
'I rap hard,' Kemo said. 'I rap just as hard as I do commercial and I give it to the people straight,' adding his content is not just about his upbringing and environment. 'I've came from that environment with the drug dealers and the pimping and the prostitution, but that is not all I rap about. Allah has blessed me and I've got to take my blessings and make them count.
'Rap music is the new age vocabulary, the way we speak to each other, the way people speak on a massive scale. We put records out to talk to people who don't know, so we have to take advantage of that, instead of trying to make bread off of it. We all have souls and this life ain't our only life.'
After sound scanning a combined 20,000 units with the Da Hol 9, Kemo said the Off the Chain imprint has a chance to top those numbers.
'It's more wide open for independent labels here now than ever before, he said, finishing the conversation by adding 'now I've got the knowledge and exposure to make this music game a profitable business for me.'
St. Louis you better keep your eyes open and your ears to the streets.
Listen Kemo: https://stlhiphop.com/plugs/kemo.mp3
