Albums, HIP-HOP/RAP, Music Reviews, New Fire Music, NJ
K-Proetic Drops Thought Provoking Project, ‘beautifulDystopia’
May
Lyrically equipped with powerful affirmations and other words to live by, K-Proetic uses his voice to spread light and awareness. As he takes a realistic approach to the notepad, the R.E.A.L (Rhymes Equal Actual Life) rap member speaks about self-love, working hard, counting blessings, and opening up the third eye. Likewise, he draws admiration from personal experiences in means of telling others that they aren’t alone.
K-Proetic adds,
“I want to make healing and entertaining music. I want someone to hear my music and feel inspired. To become better versions of themselves, chase their dreams, learn something important, seek God, or have the drive to make the world a better place. I want them to hear this message over the dopest music they ever heard.”
The New Jersey native embarked on his musical journey in 2001 after his cousin and a former group member suggested that he and his brother, O. Live, join them and start a group. At first, the quartet created just song titles, but eventually, they added lyrics and instrumentals. Since then, he’s been putting the pen to the pad nonstop. A year later, the conscious emcee found himself at his uncle’s studio in Orange, New Jersey.
“He played a random beat, hit record, and left the room, and we recorded a 12-minute track. We were taking turns, rapping random verses back to back to back. I still have the CD. Y’all will never hear it, though,” K-Proetic continues.
He’s inspired by Nas and his song “One Mic,” which prompted K-Proetic to take his writing seriously. He’s also inspired by AZ, Common, Lupe Fiasco, Talib Kweli, Lecrae, Black Thought, Eminem, and many others.
K-Proetic’s album beautifulDystopia is a 12-track collective that symbolically pushes you to roll with the punches life tosses our way. Additionally, the themes explore issues within our society and judicial system. Not to mention, he touches on the experiences he had in his neighborhood.
Elaborating on the message, he says
“Even though this world is messed up in many ways, there are beautiful aspects to life that can eradicate the darkness. We live in a world that we perceive to be dark and devilish, but God’s light always shines through.”
Sonically, the album blends jazz, R&B, and boom-bap. He crosses between smooth punchlines and crystallized flows.
K-Proetic thought about the project’s creation in 2016. During that time, he linked up with his producer Moses The Raven, who gave him beats to choose from. As time passed, the elite lyricist formulated a concept, created song titles, and paired them with their respective sound. He also crossed paths with an engineer and studio owner named Push Buttinz. From there, he decided to record his entire album at Push Buttinz’s spot MO Sound Music Group.
One track he recommends to listen to while anyone’s on the road is “Winners Circle.” Two tracks that resonate with him are “Told ‘Em All” and “Walking In My Purpose.”
“Told ‘Em All (feat VAL)” finds K-Proetic expressing what he must do to obtain his dream but how staying on track can be a bit of a challenge at times.
He adds, “I express how I’m trying to keep my promise of becoming a successful rap artist, which is something I think about daily.”
In the first verse, he raps about putting in the necessary work to become a well-established emcee. He admits that, at times, it can be difficult. Still, he pushes through because he sees the bigger picture.
“Told ’em all that I would write these songs, focus hard and write a verse a day/But then again, I might be wrong/I’m slippin’ up, yeah it’s hard to say.”
Elsewhere, he lists what he’s told his loved ones what he’s going to accomplish. Among these rhymes, he expresses certain doubts he has about being a part of the music scene. Nevertheless, K-Proetic knows that hip-hop is his true calling.
“My life’s purpose this music dream/Keep it locked and be the next to watch/And my heart will bleed on every new release.”
To get to fame, he isn’t willing to sell his soul or alter his sound. Instead, K-Proetic opts to be true to his musical styling. Moreso, to who he is. His feature, VAL, uses a soulful register to display the fighting spirit they both possess when reaching for the stars.
“Walking In My Purpose (feat. O. Live)” expresses the dilemma behind working a 9 to 5 and going after your passion. About the song’s music video, he says
“I wanted to display the 9-5 hustle and the frustration that comes with it. I figured it would resonate with so many rising artists.”
First up, K-Proetic expresses how we’ve been programmed to go to college to become successful.
“Go to college, get your degree/That’s what I was taught/Take out loans, the interest piling, and now we got caught.“
Deeper into his verse, he speaks on how most individuals are forced to clock in to pay bills. At the same token, he vocalizes how there needs to be a change within society. Instead of working until we die, we should be able to immerse ourselves in what we love doing the most.
He drops, “Let’s put an end to this sick employee mentality/only focused on salary/all your dreams are a casualty.”
Secondly, he says, “We sacrifice our dreams for security rather happily.”
In the end, he concludes that he’s not giving into what’s expected of us. Instead, he’s taking time to invest in his ideal job.
O. Live explains what he faces when working his full-time job. “8 hours a day, 40 hours a week/Take lunch in the car just to get some sleep/All this time for them, but no time for me.”
Then, he questions the point of working in his profession when theirs no true financial security behind it.
“Am I working for my future or just working for the weekend?/Still living check to check, and I’m just waiting on a raise, but do it even matter, I’m worth more than what I’m paid.”
He also admits the mental toll working a job you despise has. He concludes that he’s taking control of his life and destiny.
Moving forward, K-Proetic will drop videos for various songs like “The Dystopia (Intro),” “Illtown Chronicles,” and “Winner’s Circle,” to name a few.
His advice to upcoming artists is:
“Pursue a career as a rapper if hip hop is really in your heart. If you want to contribute something of value to the culture because you love it, chase that dream relentlessly. Also, Learn. The. Business. The information is right at our fingertips these days. Take the time to get educated on the business behind this genre.”
