"IAR" Interview: FKi

"Fu*kin Kick It!"  That's a philosophy and lifestyle that the rising duo from Atlanta fully embraces and is an indicative theme in their music.  FKi is comprised of 1st Down and Raye Rich, longtime friends that are now building a novel and revolutionary sound in hip-hop.  FKi's music consist of every intricate aspect of what makes the rap game great, moreover, the implementation of contra-distinct methods outside of hip-hop, is what's distinguishing their sound from the rest.  The ATL tandem applies a mixture or rap, dubstep, club music, techno, and even a hint of funk, which has proven to be the recipe for innovation.  The buoyant ego and party swag of FKi ceases to detract from their lyrical and producing abilities.  Even though their songs are fairly consistant with one, centric theme, the individual lyricism and production value of Raye and 1st offers a greater and byzantine feel to their music.  Engineering club bangers, that can often drown out an artists message, has not hindered them from conserving lyrical integrity that in club music, is typically nebulous.  They can SPIT, and in doing so, begets them as a rising super-group.  It's A Rap had the fotunate opportunity of interviewing FKi and with a new  mixtape, (Transformers N The Hood) growing catalogue, and a rapidly expanding fan-base, "Fu*ckin Kick It" is making major power moves and demonstrating that the collective is considerably greater than the individual.


IAR: How did you two link up to make music together?
FKi: Raye Rich: "Jay-Z vs. Nas Argument!  I just moved from GA to NY and had an argument with a random kid who happened to be 1st Down in our World History class.  To make sh*t even weirder, we ended up living in the same neighborhood.  It was all history from there."


IAR: What inspired the name FKi?
FKi:  1st: "Honestly, nothing inspired the name, it's just exactly what we do.  "Fu*kin Kick It."  We just do the same sh*t we've been doing since we were young.  The chicks just look better now and we can afford good weed."


IAR: When did you get your start in hip-hop?
FKi: Raye Rich: "1st momma's basement!"
         1st: "I've been making beats in my mom's basement since 7th grade.  We used to record to tape decks and have to do all our songs in one take.  Truthfully though, sh*t got serious when we went to Full Sail University in Orlando.  Fu*k Sally Mae by the way.


IAR: What qualities do you bring individually, to operate as a group?
FKi: Raye Rich: "I'm more the wild ni**a in the group."
         1st: ".............the hoe-magnet."


IAR: Can you categorize your sound?
FKi: "No, we are influenced by so many types of music that when it comes time to make our own, it's a blend of so much sh*t."


IAR: Musical influences?
FKi: "Daft Punk, Timbaland, The Neptunes, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Parliament Funkadelic."


IAR: Artists/producers you want to work with?
FKi: "Skrillex, Fiest, Daft Punk, Chris Brown, and anyone fresh and young that is looking to get it going."


IAR: Future projects and what's next for FKi?
FKi: "We just released our mixtape "Transformers N The Hood" that we did with Diplo Heroes X Villains, & Mayhem.  You can download that at Clubtapes.com.  Also, more videos off of that project to be dropped.  Also, we're building out the show to support the tape.  We really want it to be something special, a fun, raw experience.  So check for us coming to a club, dorm room, and rave near you soon.  Also more production work from us.  We have records with Lil Twist and Shanell of Young Money, Neon Hitch, our homie Iggy Azalea, and more dropping before the summer.  We really going hard with this Zooly movement.  We the new A!  Remember we said that when you hear the radio in the next few months!"


Follow on Twitter:
@fkimusic
@FKi1stdown
@FKiRayeRich