Travius Keandric Richardson, known professionally as Travius Keandric, is an American rapper, registered nurse, activist, and entrepreneur. Emerging from the Alabama Hip-Hop scene in the mid-2010s, Keandric released his first independent album, Black Belt Island, to significant local success in 2021. “Black Belt Island” details the historical rural black belt area that hasn’t had a leader for black culture since the infamous civil rights movement. Keandric brings a voice to an area that’s been ignored post-civil rights movement. Travius Keandric tells heartfelt stories that take one’s mind through deep introspect, contrasted with dynamic addictive hooks and beats by longtime producer David L.
Alabama’s Travius Keandric brings a diverse array of sounds that echo passion, hustle, culture, strength, motivation, remorse, imperfectness- and sculpts them into prices that are guided by the foundations laid down by the fathers of Hip Hop & civil rights activists. He blends his rural background of Marion, AL, and the Black Belt to create a sonic sound that is equal parts raw and futuristic.
Travius Keandric initially started out watching his grandfather lead a blues band in the late 90s while playing various instruments, which initially sparked his musical interest. After searching for help for various years to begin his recording process, in 2009 he was finally given the chance by a longtime friend to record his first song out of a storage house studio during his freshman year of high school. During that time, he decided to become a manager of his longtime friend’s music career to learn the business side of things while silently working to perfect his very own musical craft. After graduating as a registered nurse from the University of Alabama, he relinquished all management duties to solely invest in his own music career. It wasn’t long before the world knew of the name Travius Keandric, including iconic Hip-Hop legend Kendrick Lamar. He gained the attention of Kendrick Lamar during a backstage meet & greet in Atlanta, GA when Kendrick noticed Travius’s jacket was covered with all of his notable lyrics. Kendrick acknowledged Keandric’s kind gesture while being reminded by Keandric that they will meet again. Along with Kendrick Lamar, various other iconic Hip-Hop acts have taken notice of Travius Keandric including Big Krit, Ab-Soul & David Banner.
As seen through his entrepreneurial motives/spirit, it’s no surprise that Nipsey Hussle is one of Keandric’s biggest influences in music and life itself. After launching his first clothing design named after his historical hometown of Marion, AL (home of legendary civil rights activists Coretta Scott King & Jimmie Lee Jackson), he quickly garnished the attention of the owner of Blaamazon (a new black-owned marketplace in Atlanta, GA). Travius’s “Marion ” clothing instantly became the signature clothing of Blaamazon’s first physical store. Co-signed by historical rap icon Master P, Blaamazon is set to take its own course in economical history.
So what’s next for Travius Keandric? 2022 looks set to be a historical year for the legendary independent Alabama rap icon. As he prepares to launch new singles in the upcoming months of 2021 while expanding his clothing brand, we can only keep an ear to the ground for more information.
Be sure to follow Travius Keandric for his upcoming releases.