Interview: Highkey Random Peels Back the Layers of His Music, Fatherhood and Life

Seeing Highkey Random perform live is like watching the sky at 4th of July. He’s an explosion of color, bounce and movement. His music is similar to his stage presence- it makes you want to throw yourself into the middle of the mosh pit. But behind the explosive high energy, HKR’s music explores the complexities of reality, of betrayal and love, the loss of love and the finding of self afterwards. It’s like riding a high, a good feeling wave that hides a a wealth of depth beneath the surface.

Highkey is no different from his music. When I sat down with him, he brought a blunt to share between us. Full of good energy and with a perpetual half smile, we talked about his life and his music and the difficult balance of pursuing his passion with being a father.

KBX
What really inspired you to get into music and to start rapping?

HKR
To be honest, I was a dancer before. I used to Krump and Jerkin (SP), I was dancing and all that. But I didn’t wanna dance to other people’s music…So that’s why I first started making music, was so that I could dance to it. And after a while, it became my voice because, you know, I don’t really have a voice. I’m not really able to talk or articulate myself the right way in front of a lot of people…so my music is really my voice. I think four years ago is when I really started to lock down and take it serious.

KBX
Where there any rappers in particular that made you want to start rapping You know, when you heard their style, it made you want to do you?

HKR
Not really any rappers. I grew up with a lotta old school music but when I really started gravitating to music, it was during the boy band era, like 90’s to early 2000s. It was more that it inspired me because it made me want to dance. Seeing them dance and all that to their own music, it made me wanna dance and that’s what really inspired me to start making my own music.

KBX
To be real, I don’t think I’ve gotten that answer before in an interview with a rapper. We don’t hear about rappers and dancing, at all. And it’s dope, because it’s more like you’re a multi-disciplinary artist than just strictly a rapper.

HKR
I guess but I don’t really showcase all my talents.

KBX
What other talents do you have?

HKR
I dance. I make music. I used to edit my own videos, shoot my own videos. I also know how to direct and all that. But right now, I’m focused on one thing and music is really getting me to the door right now. If I can use my music to get through it, then I can really start to focus on all the other things that I do.

KBX
You just had your second child this year- congratulations! How do you balance a burgeoning rap career with being a father?

HKR
I’m gonna be honest with you- it’s not as easy as people think. As much as I want to be with my kids all the time, right now I can’t and that’s hard .If I’m not around, I gotta Facetime them. I have to go to studio sessions, shows… I’m at a point where I have to solidify my spot as an artist and make a name for myself… But I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if it wasn’t for my kids… the best example I can show my kids right now is to chase your dreams. This is me chasing it. Having my kids has been my greatest motivation and it’s difficult because I want to be around them 24/7, they bring me up. Right now I’m going through all the pain and work that they’re not going to have to go through once I really solidify my foundation…so that my kids’ kids’ kids don’t have to go through what I’ve been through.

KBX
You have a video coming out, right? For “Paris”?

HKR
Yeah for “Paris” and I don’t wanna give you a date. Cause I’m random. If you’ve noticed, when I drop sh*t, usually I’m mad random about it…. And I have another project coming before the end of the month.

KBX
Damn you have a whole project and a video dropping in the next month? You don’t hafta give away anything if it’s supposed to be random.

HKR
(laughs) Nah, I’ll give away everything right now. The project that’s coming out is called “Love Parade”.This project is pretty much everything I’ve been through, everything that you experience when you’re in love. From loving somebody, to not fucking with that person, to really needing that person to just needing yourself. I put all of that into this tape. It’s called “Love Parade” because you’re gonna go through it on every song…I put literally everything in this tape, relationships, friendships…the tape, when you listen to it, you’ll understand exactly why it’s called “Love Parade”.

KBX
What’s the sound of the project like? What can we expect?

HKR
It probably has a more collective, cohesive sound but that wasn’t what I was going for when I made the tape. I was really just making whatever came to me. It’s more so uppity beats because I try to stay away from low shit. I say really meaningful, heavy shit in my lyrics and having it to soft shit doesn’t have the effect I want it to, it’ll have you depressed. I want to hype it up. I want you to be up, even though it’s some real shit. I want people to be uplifted, I want people’s souls and hearts to really get touched. I want you to be able to bounce to it and then listen to the lyrics and say, “I feel where you’re coming from, that hit home”.