Alternative Hip Hop from KJ!

KJ! is a hip hop artist who lives life with an exclamation point. For him, the punctuation in his alias symbolises doing everything to the fullest, an ethos that filters through to his sound and his flair for the dramatic shines through in every note. He’s an artist who crafts stories that connect deeply with his audience, making them feel seen and understood.

Influenced by artists such as Kanye West, Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, Andre 3000 and Kendrick Lamar among others, KJ! is shaping his own unique brand of modern hip hop. Hailing from Utah, KJ! proudly wears the identity of a ‘Utah rapper,’ but he aspires to gain recognition not only on a regional and national level but also on a global scale.

His debut project, the collection of tracks called 801s Demos, was the first step in his musical journey and he’s since been dropping singles from the release in the build up to his upcoming album. Lifted from 801s Demos, “Cold War” is the opening tracks and holds a special place in KJ!’s heart as his personal favourite.

In this track, KJ! delivers an alternative hip hop cut driven by infectious rhythm and bright melodies. The song opens with a laid-back vibe, featuring vibrant instrumental plucks and hushed vocalisations. As the grooving beat kicks in, driven by a pulsing bass synth, KJ!’s mellow flows enter creating an upbeat and captivating soundscape.

With its swung rhythm, colourful synth tones, pop-inspired songwriting and KJ!’s compelling vocals, “Cold War” provides a superb taste of this exciting artist’s unique sound. KJ! shares that this track emerged during a period when he felt creatively challenged.

He was struggling to create art in the way he envisioned. However, his personal experiences and relationship struggles found their way into the songwriting process. Despite the initial challenges, “Cold War” came together quickly and in a way that KJ! was genuinely pleased with. It’s a highly original and entirely enjoyable track that sees KJ! take the first steps on his exciting sonic journey.

Listen to Cold War below

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