Born as Ivory Brown and now operating under the name Ivory Keyes, this artist has lived a life that could easily be the plot of a gritty urban drama. His journey from the instability of his parents’ turbulent relationship to the harsh reality of being raised by his grandparents is attests to his pure resilience, strength and determination.
Ivory’s story is one of stark contrasts and survival. As the son of a teenage mother addicted to heroin and crack cocaine and a drug-dealing father who was often in and out of jail, Ivory’s early years were scarred by chaos and instability. Sent to live with his maternal grandparents at the age of four, he found a semblance of stability but at the cost of being alienated and abused by his extended family.
These experiences, combined with the bullying he faced at school, led to a breaking point where Ivory decided to channel his suppressed emotions into music. Despite facing significant adversity from an early age, including dealing with family envy and abuse, Ivory has turned his rocky past into a positive and creative endeavour.
Now using music to artistically express himself, he makes his official entrance and brings us his new single titled “Natural Born Killa.” Linking up with producer Nottz Raw, the pair have crafted an epic alternative hip hop anthem. Over the thumping baselines and beats of Nottz Raw, Ivory Keyes’ gritty, emotive lyrics and expresses vocal style creates a track that’s at once enjoyable and thought-provoking.
The single’s title, “Natural Born Killa,” distils Ivory’s defiant stance against the odds that have been stacked against him since birth. Brought in by the stutter of a guitar line, Ivory’s powerful voice enters, joined by the laid back crash of drums.
With overlapping vocal layers delivered with razor-sharp delivery, Ivory Keyes serves up a grooving jam that showcases Ivory’s songwriting talent and broad range of his vocal panache as well as the creativity and production skill of Nottz Raw. Making a compelling artistic statement and explosive creative arrival, 2024 is sure to be a breakout year for this thrilling and talented new artist on the rise.
Listen to Natural Born Killa below
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