Kenan Bell
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An MC and an academic, Kenan Bell is a Montessori English teacher and aspiring hip-hop luminary. He consorts with the likes of De La Soul, Aceyalone, RJD2, performed an ambitious rap over a Smiths track on his eclectic Good News: Mixtape, and is about to release his breakthrough debut album Until the Future on March 30. Somewhere between Tulsa, Oklahoma and Fayetteville, Arkansas Mr. Bell (as he is known to his students) took the time to answer some questions about the life of a gentleman and scholar.
"Throw your hands in the air and wave 'em around like you don't got no cares, lying to yourself don't get you no where, now that's a double negative so don't go there." It's neat hearing the English teacher side of you come out on the track "Chlo." I'm interested in both the parallels and perpendicular cross sections of both your respective academic and hip-hop careers. What are these connections to your hip-hip persona and your academic?
Frankly, the person I am on stage is the same dude I was in the classroom. The platforms are quite similar aside for the obvious differences. My students were receptive to my lessons because I presented them in a different fashion than most. I feel that my musical presentation is one that reflects the same principles. I have the same desires for the audience as I do my kids.
My goal isn't necessarily to teach or preach, but I want to lead by example and express my beliefs articulately. While I was still teaching everyday eight to five and playing shows every now and then, it did present a challenge. Performing at one a.m. on a school night and having all that adrenaline pumping through me made it tough to get a good night's rest and the children definitely do not allow me to be tired at any time. I appreciated the growth that the lifestyle gave me, but I'm glad to no longer have to hustle back home after touring to set up my classroom for Open House.
Hearing and seeing your performance of "Good Day" with Illinois is impressive and shows the infinite realm of possibilities that can be achieved with a great band capable of crafting together soundscapes while you provide great conscious rhymes. Are you seeking out to challenge others in the game to step it up?
It is not my mission to encourage others to do anything other than be themselves. This is how I believe my music should be represented. Initially, I just wanted that wall of sound behind me so I would be confident enough to deliver my message. I wrote and produced the music with my team envisioning putting it on display with a live band. The recordings have both programmed and live instrumentation as well, which comes naturally given my vast array of influences. I hope people will be inspired by my honesty to do what feels right regardless of what's popular or trendy. As far as my lyrics are concerned, YES! RAPPERS PLEASE STEP YOUR GAME UP OR STEP ASIDE!!
I also like that line in "Good Day" about "I write pages I don't text." What is your perspective on the creative process when words and expressions are transmitted via mobile devices, social networking mediums, user generated content wiki sites and the diminishing arts of visceral pen and paper idea-drafting?
I am a product of our culture just like the next (wo)man, but being at the mercy of technology is a scary thought. I remember my previous writing sessions would consist of me starting a bunch of rhymes and never finishing them, only to ball up and throw the papers away in disgust. Now, I can use my mobile device to jot down ideas throughout the day and reflect on new experiences in ways that they write themselves. The personal one-on-one interaction is a dying idea as kiosks and robots take over our lives. Communication and language has a tremendous impact on social development and progression so I'm very cautious and very conscious how I choose to use my words. Being a Spelling teacher, I have obvious issue with abbreviated text talk in a formal literary environment but I understand its purpose is similar to a stenographer writing shorthand. I figure you have to adjust with the changing times and I've run outta space in most of my Mead Composition Books. Save the trees!
Are you anti-sampling? What are the pros and cons to live band back-up versus playback samples at gigs?
I love the art of sampling! I came from the School of Fruity Loops and Jason, a member of my production team and I honed our skills on a demo version of the program. We used to sample anything and everything from Elton John to Lamont Dozier. The roots of rap are in other musics and if not for sampling, I may not have been exposed to as many different genres at such a young age. There is enough room in hip-hop for everyone to put their own spin on it and essentially that is what this art form is about. Hip-hop is FOREVER.
How do you approach which sounds you want to have as a
tapestries on your tracks?
It can be extremely costly touring with musicians, but for me the
alternative is not an option. Jason and I have done a few shows with
just tracks, me MCing and him on keys and its gone over pretty well.
People are kinda bored with the old routine rap show where there's 20
dudes on stage, all with mics and white towels and one DJ hidden in the
back pretending to mix on his laptop. It can be replicated in a
classic format and be appropriate and well received, but I feel a void
even when I'm just missing a guitar player.
Not only does it provide more visual stimulation to have the full band, but the entertainment value goes up with each piece. I have a rotating roster of musicians that will play on any given night though we've maintained a nucleus consisting of myself, Jason and our bassist Matt for almost all the shows in the past two years. There has been times in California where we've had double digits on stage and it's been successful and other times my vocals have gotten lost in translation so my live show will always be evolving even though I'd like to continue to have multiple musicians to help make it liver. I got the best band in the world and we never practice. But that's gonna change when I get home from tour.
The chemistry that is Jason Burkhart, Jon Siebels, and Kenan Bell is something that I can't quite explain. Our production process is so special and unique that all I want to do is be in the studio. By surrounding yourself with people whose ears you respect and trust, the writing process becomes painless. Sometimes we will listen to old records and borrow beats for a sonic foundation and begin layering sounds starting with a Moog part or a 12 string guitar. Then we may add a programmed MPC drum loop or Roland-909 samples into the mix and some Rhodes or B3 organ chords. After that maybe a live bass line to mirror the synthesized progression and a live drum kit, complete with shakers and tambourines as well as a percussive loop Jason may program in Ableton to fill out the rhythm section.
Other instrumentals have started with us banging on glass bottles, choir stands and metal lamp shades in the studio and recording those sounds to build the beat around. So it definitely varies, but its a magical experience.
What are some of the difficulties between juggling life as a hip-hop inventor/iconoclast and still being a role model for your students?
Iconoclast?!?! Wow, that's deep yo. I hope my students understand the sacrifice involved in following and pursuing your dreams and remaining true to yourself. It was tough to juggle the early mornings with the late nights, but they made it easy on me by always being so receptive to my lessons and generally energetic about learning. They understand me as a person and respect my values. Students have questioned the honesty in my music as they wonder why I speak so truthfully and accurately about my life.
I've also had kids blatantly ask me about my sex life and
they've been disappointed by my efforts, or lackthereof. I'm not the
biggest party animal and don't really drink or smoke cigarettes so once
again I'm ultimately trying to lead by example. But I've taught my kids
to be their own role models and also to be responsible for their own
success or failure and to be accountable for their actions.
Your buddies De La Soul have been enjoying a weekend residency here at
the up-scale Yoshi's jazz club in San Francisco. Are you guys in on a
collective movement for upping the ante of expression in the rap world?
De La is responsible for me being me, myself and I. Any part that I've played in the movement that they started 25 years ago is simply because of them being themselves and not being afraid to express their perspective, even if it meant going against the grain. Having toured with the brothers, we forged a solid bond based on these principles that I will never forget. If I'm even being mentioned in the same sentence as such pioneering visionaries, I must be doing something right. Big ups to Mase, Pos, and Dave and my dude Bill Ray too.
People described De La Soul's performance last Friday night as having a real professorial element as they schooled a caviar eating audience about hip-hop. Could a new trend of MCees as teachers be the answer to California's current woes in the education sector?
I don't know how the Governator would feel about a bunch of rappers schooling our State on similes, but it could work with the right clientele. I'd head up that team if the opportunity presented itself. It goes without saying that something's gotta change. MCs in the classroom would definitely be refreshing and revamping the curriculum could breathe new life into the educational system.
The "Untitled" track at the end of Until the Future is bathed in a glow of harpsichord synthesizers and Thom Yorke-y vocals that stands out from the rest of the album. What is the story on this progressive spiritual number?
"Untitled" is one of my favorite tracks on UTF. I love all the music, but there is a reason it is last on the album and untitled. The guest vocalist is Chris Richards (Deadly Syndrome, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic
Zeros) and Nick Johns is playing the B3. I like how the song has a
crescendo feeling as it culminates my first full length, but it's that
progressive feeling that sets the right tone for the next record. If I look at my music chronologically, I want it to play out like the perfect day, from glorious sunrise to magnificent sunset. It was the last song recorded for UTF and it's pretty symbolic. The intro guitar lick on the first song ''Like
This" reminds me of a early morning spent cruising PCH in a T-top
Camero and I believe "Untitled" embodies the emotion of the burnt
orange California sun descending from a purple and blue sky horizon,
only to take a dip into the deep, blue Pacific Ocean. Nice Life.
A nice life indeed! Until the Future hits the stores March 30th on Sonata Cantata Records. Kenan Bell is currently on a national tour with RJD2 in promotion of his debut album.
Posted on March 01, 2010
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