KAYER
Interviewed by: Kristin

KAYER: What’s up everybody? I’ll start by saying props and respect to Indie Street Latino, Angela, Kristin and all the Artists.

KRISTIN: So where did the name “Kayer – El Extranjero” come from?

KAYER: Kayer is an old neighborhood name. I grew up writing Graffitti, I would spell it a lot of different ways, even write it backwards. People know me by this name I guess you can say I got stuck with it. El Extranjero is my latest album title, the name evolved from living in Centro America, I always tell emcees and people when I’m rapping your listen to the foreigner the illest Extranjero on the mic. I always figured there aren’t many white dudes that rap tight and can switch their tongue and start serving you in Spanish.

KRISTIN: You started rapping at the age of 11 and started producing and recording at age 15, how did that come about & where did you record?

KAYER: I was born and grew up in the intercity Baltimore Md. Hip-Hop was like little league where I lived. I was the youngest of the pack and my older cousins got me in to it. We would listen to Boogie Down Productions, Native Tongues, Ultra Magnetic Mc’s, all those classics. I could make a list. Man, we would break-dance and write graffiti. Everyone could kick a rap back then it was all about battles. I never thought about taking rap serious until when I moved to the west coast at age 14, 1994. I got real inspired through my new experiences. I started my first album when I was 15 recording with producer 8:35 and Forgotten Dialect. We put out the project “Kayer and Dj Void” a couple years later.

KRISTIN: You were in 2 groups in the 90’s, “Forgotten Dialect” and “Criaturas Sin Casa”, what kind of music were you doing in those groups?

KAYER: Forgotten Dialect is a group of poets. We use to make hard Hip-Hop/Rap (conscious lyrics).Criaturas sin Casa was our Spanglish Hip-Hop/Rap combined with Latin music and Reggae.

KRISTIN: Having lived all over the US growing up, you then decided at the age of 18 to move to Central America, what motivated you to do that?

KAYER: I had always wanted travel. I started working when I was 12 and grew up without a family. By the age of 18 the only thing I had going for me was graffiti, Rap, a bunch of odd jobs, and a ton of friends in jail. Music was the only thing positive for me here. I left because I was loosing my mind hearing people talk the same shit everyday. I could have gone anywhere, but after working and living with Latinos my whole life, I had to see all these places my friends talked about. After all they inspired me and taught me a second language right.

KRISTIN: Was it all that you expected? Were you welcomed in all places?

KAYER: Yeah it fits my style. I like humble living. I took buses from DF Mexico to Panama City over a period of almost a year. I have friends all over the place down there. I stayed in Guatemala for a long time before I met my friends in Costa Rica. Those people still take care of me.

KRISTIN: Where is your favorite place that you have lived?

KAYER: It’s been about five years I lived with same families in Costa Rica. My friend hooked me up with a piece of land. I built a little house in 2001. One day I will go to build my spot and live with wifey. Our village is called “La Florida de Barú” Perez Zeledon.

KRISTIN: What nationality are you?

KAYER: Irish, Russian, and Native American

KRISTIN: So what can listeners expect when they hear your music?

KAYER: I got a lot different styles but I never fall off beat. My production changes a lot from Latin to hard Hip-Hop. Its quality, nothing fake.

KRISTIN: Where can people go online to hear some of your music?

KAYER: www.kayer.net OR www.cdbaby.com/cd/kayer

KRISTIN: What can we expect from Kayer in 2006?

KAYER: I’ll be dropping an album featuring other artist this time. I got a couple songs with “Spoon of Iodine” from the Old School Project Blowed. It’s also in the works to do a track with Adam A+ from Souls of Mischief. Theirs others as well, but you’ll have to wait to see who shows. I think this Album will help me out a lot. It will be in English and Spanish. I always do shows here in the bay. By summer I should be doing some touring promoting my albums and performing.

Shout-outs------from Kayer:
Big fat props go to KRS one, Nas, Rakim, Kool Keith, Freestyle Fellowship and Hieroglyphics. These lyricists still inspire me on a daily basis. Shout out to my wife Ruthie, my engineer soundman Cosigner, Dj Icewater, Spoon, Torombolo, Authors of Madness Krew, Radio Nopal, Amoeba Music and anyone helping me make this happen.
Peace!!!!!!!!!