Kansas City rapper Krizz Kaliko can normally be found sharing the stage with fellow K.C. rapper Tech N9ne, killing it with his rapid fire raps. Since emerging with Tech’s label, Strange Music, Inc., he’s proven himself to be an irreplaceable member of the Strange Music family and a beloved artist beheld by countless fans.
But it’s not just his rhyming skills that have attracted attention. He’s also an incredible singer with an astonishing vocal range, which he brilliantly showcases on his new R&B/pop album, GO.
The 16-track effort is complete departure from his usual style, and has the listener wanting to dance and cry at the same time. The album evolved out of one of Krizz’s most difficult periods in life, when he suffered bouts of manic depression and suicidal thoughts. With influences ranging from soul to rock and vocal stylings reminiscent of Michael Jackson or early Justin Timberlake, GO reflects his eclectic love affair with music.
In a press release, Krizz describes himself as an "overweight dude with mental health issues" who is a visible carrier of the skin-lightening disorder vitiligo. Thankfully, that hasn’t stopped him from delivering some of his best work to date.
"I'm an unlikely pop star—that’s reserved for conventionally beautiful people, but there's something about me that people gravitate towards. My music overshadows my appearance. My fans love me for the battles I've been through and many have told me my music has prevented them from committing suicide. I named my first R&B album GO to propel me out of the funk I've been in for the past year. I've had to press on through so much crap in my life that the concept of moving forward—to go—has been a mantra that has saved me from killing myself. I also named it GO because we took it there, musically; we went the distance."
One of the most powerful ballads on the album, "Stop The World," chronicles his battles with suicidal thoughts and reveals more about the man behind the moniker. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any bangers on the album. “Orangutan (ft. Tech N9ne, Rittz, CES Cru, JL and Wrekonize) bumps with energetic verses and an uptempo beat while the single, “Talk Up On It,” has an undeniably infectious groove.
With so many different styles bursting from GO, it’s clear Krizz has had these ideas running around in his head for quite some time. It seems he finally got the courage to lay it all out on the line.
"I wanted to do music that was totally different than all of the music I've done on my previous albums and with Tech N9ne,” Krizz explains. "I actually sing and write: Rap/Hip Hop, R&B, Rock, Pop, Country, EDM, Reggae, and any other genre of music that I experiment with. GO is the album of my life."
The video for “Stop the World” can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqu1xWchSog&feature=youtu.be
Check back with RAPstation soon for a full interview with Krizz Kaliko.
