BillyTheKid
Seattle, WA | Established. Jan 01, 2004 | SELF
Seattle, WA | SELF
Solo Hip Hop Spoken Word
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"Billythekid trackmeet"
Back know in 2012 I won a trackmeet contest between four other artist. A trackmeet contest is between 5 artist. Each artist upload a song they've created for the contest.a pool of bloggers and viewer vote. My song won for song of the month. You can find it on the blog - 206up
We welcome a fresh new voice on the scene--a passionate Seattleite with a sound that is shaking up the town. BillytheKiD has been creating rhymes and music since his middle school days, and has a powerful new album coming out. This is his sophomore effort, but there is nothing sophomoric about it.
"My first album's focus was good times and partying, celebrating Seattle, its people, and its leading lights such as its artists and sports figures. This new release focuses more on socially conscious lyrics. Many of the issues that have been happening in our society over the last few years have affected me deeply, and that was bound to come out in my work."
Thoughtful and easygoing, Billy is a habitue of Seattle's hip Capitol Hill, magnet and playground for Seattle's young, but his roots are really in his childhood neighborhood of Holly Park. For inspiration he looks to his city and community, and also reaches deep back to his upbringing, remaining true to his local origins. His family--particularly his mother and two brothers--loom large in his writing and performance.
Among his influences he cites such varied icons as Michael Jackson, Janis Joplin, and the stars of the Seattle grunge scene. His more philosophical and literary side is inspired by such figures as Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Marcus Garvey, and Langston Hughes. He is a student of black history, particularly the Black Panthers, and of the social justice movements of the '60s and '70s. Peace, unity, and anti-violence are his lodestars.
His style is largely poetry-based and poetry-inspired, and he hopes his work can be inspirational and educational as well as entertaining. Fan favorites include "Let's Go Seattle," which is a tribute to his hometown; "Seattle Times Sleeper," which addresses poverty and homelessness; and "For My People," which is about his personal vows of mental and financial commitment to family and friends.
His new album strives to be an educational experience steeped in the realness of daily life. Billy has a style that is direct, plain, to the point, and might make some people uncomfortable. He wants to start conversations about issues. A track to listen for from his upcoming release will be "Diamonds are Basic" which is about the traps of money and materialism.
He has performed at Hollywood's legendary Whisky a Go Go, Seattle's Neumos and Rendezvous, as well as myriad other clubs and venues. His shows are exciting and energetic--they invariably turn into huge parties. It's a high energy event, with everyone jumping and throwing their hands up.
On his new release a superleague of extremely talented artists join forces with him, uniting to create a blazing sound: Lynn Chen on vocals and violin, who shines on "Star;" rappers Donte Peace and The Franchize; rapper and producer GMK who sits in on "2 Cool," and singer Jasper T.
Billy Gibbs