“It was crazy! I love this venue; I went to a couple shows here last year. To do a show at Tattoo is like a dream come true,” explains rapper Kaydee excitedly.
The Mississauga, Ontario born artist, whose real name is Kwesi Williams, is reminiscing about the days he would go to Tattoo to watch shows, not knowing in a few years he would be on stage there too.
Though he may be unknown to most people right now, Kaydee is aiming to change that. And if he keeps performing like he did during a showcase at this year’s Canadian Music Week (CMW), people are surely about to know his name.
“A lot of guys try to go on stage and act cool, I just have as much fun as I can and do what I got to do.”
Kaydee’s CMW set is unlike most rap performances you’d see from a young emcee; where some are timid and still figuring out how to capture a crowd, Kaydee is a natural.
He isn’t just rapping to songs you’d hear in the club, he takes the audience on a musical journey of up-tempo to mid-tempo songs. Maybe it’s the inspiration he says he gets from some of rap’s classic artists like Biggie, Nas, Tupac that has made him into a well-rounded performer and emcee.
“I don’t try to emulate their styles, but that’s what inspires me, because that’s when I feel like rap was at its illest!” explains Kaydee. “So I just try to take it back to that feeling and that era.”
After putting out the mixtape, 90’s Baby, in 2013, and the 21-track project entitled, The Transition, in 2014, Kaydee has been hard at work in the studio and touring with the Flatbush Zombies. He has a single out now “Mission Statement” and remains focused on putting out new music and doing shows.
During his set he is joined on stage by fellow Toronto emcee John River and a few background singers, which isn’t something many rappers do anymore. While still an up and coming artist, Kaydee seems to understand what it takes to create an experience for audiences, which is surely something that will have him in the game for a long time.
“Whenever I have a show, my game plan is to give it everything I’ve got!” says Kaydee. “A lot of guys try to go on stage and act cool, I just have as much fun as I can and do what I got to do.”
Photos By. Isa Ransome
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