A Conversation with KenTheMan

There’s a lot to love about KenTheMan. For starters, the Houston native is cool as hell-the kind of cool that allowed for us to share laughs about which astrological signs to avoid dating within the first 10 minutes of the interview. She’s also charismatic, with a charm and talent that is bound to inspire anyone who crosses her path or follows her socials. And on her new EP What’s My Name, the rapper is both earnest and intentional, using her lyrics to shift from songs about self-love to the undeniable anthem that is “Rose Gold Stripper Pole” with ease.

KenTheMan has been writing since she was a kid, taking home a school prize for poetry in the third grade. She would continue writing as she got older, penning her 2019 hit “He Be Like” in the car while working as a food delivery driver. The following year she independently released her debut EP 4 Da 304's, a 10-track offering that she asserted was “strictly for the hoes.” The project built upon the legacies of Black women rappers before her who wrapped about their right to sexual pleasure and body autonomy, as well as hit No. 9 on the Apple hip-hop charts and generated more than three million streams within its first 24 hours. It was on from there. with co-sign from artists like Snoop Dogg and Cardi B and a feature on Spotify's renowned Rap Caviar playlist only further cementing that KenTheMan would be here to stay.

Her new EP What’s My Name was released last Friday (October 15) on Asylum Records, making it her first label release and what she describes as her “first listen to a bigger platform.” With that in mind, Ken says she was intentional about the project’s content and wanted to show how diverse she can be in her music: “I’m big on introductions and I felt like with [Asylum] I wanted to shut down any negativity so people can have open ears. I created it to show diversity [in my [lyrics] and give myself that fair opportunity.”

We hopped on Zoom with KenTheMan to talk about What’s My Name, grinding to achieve your dreams, self-care, and more.

by Nadirah Simmons

I saw your tweet about the horns in New York City and how it is very much hectic and very loud! How are you enjoying your time here?
I come here often so I already know what to expect but [people] are so angry here [laughs]! I’m from Texas and we’re known for Southern hospitality.

Yes! How did Texas influence you and your artistry?
I’m not really a fast rapper…I’m more like a groovy [rapper]. I rap hard but it’s not too fast. If anything the pace of my sound would be Southern, Houston native.

Let’s get into this new EP. I love all of the songs, and what really got me is how you set the tone for the project with “Love Yourself.” Talk to me about to motivation behind this track.
I didn’t make this purposely, but it was an undeniable intro. I couldn’t see it fitting it in any other place [on the EP]. I wanted to shut down the conversation of bitches rapping a certain way. Because 4 da Hoes, 4 Da 304’s, the project I released last year was for the hoes, that’s why it’s named [that]. With this one I wanted to give a more cocky, arrogant, feel. I just feel like it was no better time than now to show the many sides of KenTheMan.

Is this the Gemini in you because you said something about two sides and I saw you tweet about it right before we hopped on here! Are you into astrology?
No I just use it to pay attention to who I’m dating [laughs]! But I did just find out my moon and my ascendant! And I was not happy with what mine were because I feel like they are not me!

Whew, and you gotta watch that stuff because when you share that on the internet people try to clock you and read you. The astrology world [online] can be very interesting.
I don’t even have my birthday date on my Twitter. I don’t even post on my Instagram when it’s my actual birthday. I’m the most open/private person you’ll ever meet!

Is that a conscious decision on your part to be that open/private person? Because you’ll see that a lot in the industry, especially with Black women, that a certain level of fame kind of encourages them to pull back [on what they share online].
This era is so strange and people are so weird. They find the smallest things to try to stab you and hurt you for some reason…And it’s stuff that’s not real and not the truth. But somehow it hurts…We don’t want to hear that in our happiness.

Absolutely, and the internet is very much weird.
And it’s recent, I feel like it was never this negative!

Do you feel like what people say on their influences when you decide to put out music or what to rap about?
I feel like nobody influences my music. If anybody does, I just ask my supporters what they like. I listen to supporters because they’re the people who are buying my music, I don’t listen to strangers.

But you’re selling music to people, and if you ignore them how are you going to get paid?

What was your creative process like for What’s My Name versus For Da 304’s?
I feel like it was the same. I feel like my creative process is me going into the studio knowing I wanted to create a project. I feel like people don’t know this about me, but I literally don’t create a lot of music. I hate that about myself, but when I get into project mode, that’s when I create the most music. I’m getting better at that because I want to, I don’t want to be jumbling my projects together when it’s time.

But it works for me. I’m the only artist who doesn’t have 50,000 stashed on their hard drive. If I’m making a song and that shit trash, I’m like “ugh, out of here. This shit trash.” With the process of creating EPs, I stay in [the studio] until I’m done.

You used to DoorDash and Uber! Talk to me a little bit about trying to achieve your dreams and while also making sure you pay the bills?
I was just about to say that. A lot of people try to pursue music and quit their job. But how are you going to pay to create the music? How are you going to pay for your beats? How are you going to pay for studio time? How are you going to pay for your videos? How are you going to pay for your clothes, your makeup, and your hair?

I was a waitress before I did DoorDash and UberEats and I got fired from there because I spoke my mind too much [laughs]! That was the first job that I ever called and tried to kind of beg [to get back]. And I was like “fuck y’all I’m going to be famous anyway.” So I started DoorDashing and UberEatsing, and it benefitted me because I was able to write while I drove.

When I first started rapping, every track that I wrote was written in the car, every time. I was back in my element of comfort and that’s when I wrote “He Be Like,” because I feel like I wrote the best music in the car.

I was in a rich ass neighborhood while I was dropping off food and I was like, “man what the fuck am I doing? I want these houses.” I want to be to rich. I got a child to feed. I got a family I want to be able to see the finer things. That’s what woke me up and I went on BeatStars, I heard that beat [for “He Be Like”], and it just stood out to me.

How do you balance motherhood with your career as an entertainer?
Girl I be buying V Books on one phone, responding back to other stuff on the computer. It’s not as challenging for me as it may be for other people because I have a really big support system with my dad and my brother. [My child] is there right now with my dad and my brother. My dad has been a supporter from day one.

Yes dad!
Yes girl he used to sell my CDs at work! He’s so proud of me girl I’m all over his Facebook. So it’s easy for me to be a mother and a rapper because my dad believes in me and helps take off that extra [load].

Speaking of your support system, I know you were in school for psychology and you originally wanted to be a therapist! Do you still want to do that and what interested you in psychology?
I’ve always felt like I was so in tune with people’s emotions and thoughts. I felt like I was the best advice giver, I’m so positive, I know how to get people out of slumps so easily…But in my career it’s crazy because people say I make them feel better all the time. So I’m doing both of the things I want to do at the same time!

And I’m about to open up my advice column soon because I want to give out advice as a rapper too. The personal stuff too, like a rapper who gives advice. I want to give out that free therapy to my supporters.

Wow yes, I love that. What do you as your own form of self-care?
Laying in my bed watching TV girl! Fuck massages and facials and foot rubs, I like to watch Netflix and know I ain’t got shit to do. I love it.

Listen to What’s My Name here. And stay tuned to The Gumbo this week for her answers to your #AskKenTheMan questions!