Ask any kid what he wants to be when he grows up and he’s likely to tell you he wants to play basketball like LeBron James or rap like Drake—seldom do we do meet the young men who, years later, are working on making that dream a reality. Down in the heart of the Tar Heel state we found Keyuntae Ward, (AKA Killa Key) a native of Enfield, North Carolina, working on his first solo project: Four:23 No Way Out. A member of the local, award-winning group Drama Squad, Ward has worked diligently toward putting this project into motion and is excited about his time to shine.
At a young age Ward expressed his passion for music after falling in love with Hip-Hop and following artists like the Hot Boys and Lil Wayne. Ward appreciated their delivery and could relate to life stories and lyrics that described his environment and elements of childhood. Noticed for delivering his verses with charisma and confidence, Ward joined a group called the DRAMA (Da Realeast And Most Anticipated) Squad in 2006 and combined talents with other members: Q-Duece, Killa Kel, Dreadful Dre, J-Smash, J-Play, and K.Rich. Having grown up together, each of these men had experienced similar struggles and hardships and felt closer than kin. Bonded by music, they’ve made themselves known in and around North Carolina as acclaimed artists.
Referred to as “The Lyricist”, Ward is an alumnus of North Carolina State University (NCSU) where he graduated in 2011 with a degree in Communications-Media. Ward credits his ability to express two worlds of music with his experience at NCSU. Around campus Ward’s crafty flow won him a literary award at the annual Sankofa Awards Ceremony hosted by the African American Cultural Center at NCSU.
In Ward’s first solo project after 11 years in the industry, he will bring these college experiences to the table, specifically highlighting the bond he joined in undergrad with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. “FOUR:23 No Way Out” is a dedication to his line. “I wanted to do something that had never been done musically and dedicate a whole mixtape to my line brothers,” said Ward. “Each song is personal and prevalent to the kind of people we all are,” Ward continued. In spite of it being a dedication to his line brothers and the bond, Ward touched on issues that will remain to true to him as an artist. He, therefore, brings “street sense” to some of the more pragmatic topics many people dare to not speak of. Ward notes that while he is the first member of DRAMA Squad to do solo work he feels none of the assumed pressures; making good music is natural, he feels.
While promoting his own person acclaims, work with DRAMA Squad will not go unrecognized. Recently the group released the single “Go Down” -one that’s demanding radio play on stations such as K97.5 FM, SOUL 92.1, and 95.5, to name a few. “We make good music for the world to listen to and love,” said Ward of himself and his group. “With this project, I wanted to incorporate my college education as well as streetness. I feel as if I have done a great job, as always.”
Download the mixtape here!
http://killakey.bandcamp.com/album/four-23-no-way-out
What Do You Think?
-Brian Riddick
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