Artist description Contact for booking 1-615-473-2197

Music Style Hip-Hop Spirituality

Musical Influences Grip, Hazakim, CrossMovement, Gospel Ganstaz, Run-DMC, Rakim

Similar Artists Nata

Artist History Biography Introducing Kaijee “Hip-Hop is an art form, a way of expressing one’s inner self. A true Hip-Hop Artist will express him/herself as well as address how they deal with life’s cruel situations. This is the motto that Hip-Hop artist KAIJEE learned to express himself by. Growing up, EXXOCIAL, a.k.a. Kenneth Garner or a.k.a. KAIJEE, studied the art of Hip-Hop, and the powerful influence it has in today’s culture. He listened to all time great rappers such as Rakim, Run-DMC, Sugar Hill Gang, and The Soul Sonic Force. In 1986 he decided to start rhyming. He sat under a secular R&B group called Magnitude in Cincinnati, Ohio who schooled him on different styles of music, writing and performing. After a period of time he developed his own style that eventually brought him to the elite circle of Cincinnati based Hip-Hop artist. In 1987, KAIJEE hooked up with Aaron Powell, one on the city’s best underground producers and formed a group called I.B.M. (Intelligent Black Men). Over the next few years, this grouped rocked the Cincinnati are gaining a great deal of popularity. I remember when we would be in Clifton on the weekends, we would let people hear our stuff out the car, and sometimes people offered to pay $15 to $20 for a copy, because we had about 20 songs on a tape. Despite the obvious success these guy’s were headed for, KAIJEE felt a pull on his heart he really had not felt since he was 14yrs old. He desired much more from his music career. He felt something was missing beyond that big record deal, so he decided to go solo. Explaining this to his producer and long time friend it was completely understood; even though his friend felt he was not ready for such a change the parting was not a bad one. Upon leaving the group he noticed that the old group name EXXOCIAL tied into where he was headed spiritually. EXXOCIAL means not like the rest of society. Aaron didn’t want to use the name anymore because it had a group name. So KAIJEE took the name since God has called us to be ye separate from the world as in 2Cor. 6:17. He also felt it was time to go because situations were getting thick around him.” Basically, if I hadn’t left when I did, I would be dead or in jail.” These days he goes by KAIJEE, because EXXOCIAL represents a group name for where he was at that time. In 1993 he started using his talents to reach the audience of the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but not in the traditional sense. “ He wanted his music to be a bridge for people to get introduced to the wonderful God that he serve’s. Not everyone listened to traditional, Kaijee didn’t, but it took Gospel Hip-Hop to help him get more focused. “The music spoke my language”. As one of his Pastors stated after returning from China on a mission trip. “I thought I would go into their country and change them like magic, but I had to adapt to their culture and learn their language to speak to them”. When you reject someone’s culture, you reject them. As The Apostle Paul said, “I become all things to all men that I may win some.” Eventually God blessed him and hooked him up with local producers David”Da Monsta” Lynch & Ellis Dews of Paydews Productions, Tyrone Hawkins of Infrared Productions and CollageMuzik of 4 Way Music Productions. These talented producers have worked with such artist as D.O.C., Bootsy Collins, Mood and Nicole Mullen, Lil Roc, and Nissi Walls-Allen formerly of the group Anointed. In addition they have composed numerous jingles used by several syndicated radio shows and businesses. Together these five began to create musical masterpieces for the whole world to enjoy. After listening to the music you would have to agree, KAIJEE definitely doesn’t sound like anyone else. With most artists you can tell the style of the producer and the way the artist rhymes. But with KAIJEE, each song seems to take on a separate identity of it’s own, therefore leaving every song to be a hit single. Check out a lyric from a song called “We Keep It Bouncin”. “This ain’t no test, don’t you know that you’ve been blessed, you think you Superman bouncing bullets of your chest, you must’ve lost your mind people think you ludicrous, this is an A.P.B. a spiritual S.O.S.” KAIJEE’s unique style, he calls “Hip-Hop Spirituality”, has given him a busy show schedule at various churches, youth rallies, concerts and many secular venues. In 1998 & 1999 he averaged around 40 shows a year, but in 2000 he decided to cut down on the number of shows to focus on finishing his solo project. During his busy schedule, he has had the opportunity to share the stage with such great artist as G.R.I.T.S., Knowdaverbs, Nui-Joi, A-1 Swift, Helen Baylor, Hezekiah Walker, Tim Bowman, Nuwine, Lil” Raskul, L.G. Wise, D.C.P., Antonius, Prime Minister, Cross Movement, Raiderz of the Lost, KIIS, Hazakim, D.J.Pain and a long list of others. Performing with such great people will only bring out the best in you, and cause you too see what it’s really like back stage. And why off stage ministry is so important. Currently Kaijee is receiving regular rotation on a number on independent radio stations in the Mid-West. Kaijee is also promoting to attain more nation wide airplay, as well as promotional appearances. His c.d. “The Opening Act” is currently available on www.mp3.com/kaijee. Kaijee/4 Way Entertainment P.O. Box 111780 Nashville, TN 37222 1-615-473-2197 kaijee@msn.com Website http://www.mp3.com/kaijee Discography 2003 Kaijee "The Opening Act"- 4 Way Entertainment 2003 Nissi Walls-Allen "Pray"-Independent-feat rapper on song "Stronger", former member of Anointed.

Group Members One

Instruments Microphone & Audience

Albums The Opening Act

Press Reviews Beautiful In His Image:Online Magazine/April 2003 issue www.bihi.org Sharon D. Moore New Music Kaijee: THE OPENING ACT by: Sharon D. Moore Kenneth Garner, AKA Kaijee, is a young brother with a lot on his mind and it is all about ministry. At 32, he was raised during, what many of us consider to be, the birth of rap. Inspired by the sounds of Grandmaster Flash, Run-D-MC, and Dr. Dre’, this Cincinnati Ohio native began his hip-hop career as a DJ. At an age when many of us were playing with dolls and riding our bikes, he was learning to mix on the one and two’s and honing his craft (his ministry). Talking with Kaijee was a breath of fresh air. Because He knows who he is in Jesus Christ, who he serves and what his mission is, he is comfortable reminiscing about his start in hip-hop. We discussed the days of "battling", when rap was innocent, fun and just about being heard. We both were raised during the era when block parties would jump off at a moments notice, the hydrants would be open, windows would be crammed with speakers all tuned into the same station (unity? Hmmm…) and everyone was having a great time poppin’ and simply "being". Kaijee gave his life to the Lord at the tender age of twelve, but like many of us, it took a few extra years for him to totally submit to the call on his life. At seventeen, he picked up the mic to express himself and at twenty-two, began to share the word of God via rap. The road has not been easy and we discussed, at great length, the stigmatisms, stereotypes, and ignorance associated with the hip-hop genre. Mr. Garner dropped some serious knowledge on the subject. He believes that hip-hop is a religion (before y’all trip, look up the word in the dictionary: Religion means a specific system of belief or worship, etc. built around God, a code of ethics, a philosophy of life, etc.). He is not saying that he (or anyone else) worships the genre instead of the creator, but rather that the hip-hop culture is an organized philosophy that has the ear and the lips of the street. It is street music – plain and simple. Many people just don’t get it and if it isn’t your cup of tea, then don’t drink it but at the same time don’t hate on those that do. He stated that rap artists are the prophets and pastors of many who would NEVER step foot near a church (except for the occasional funeral or wedding). The true hip-hip "heads", live off of the words that they listen to. Just as Paul stated that he became all things to all men that he may win some, Kaijee believes that he (and other Christian rappers/DJ’s, etc.) are called to plant and water the seeds that conventional churches overlook. After all, there is a prophet for every generation but who is to say what the prophet will look or sound like? Jeremiah and John the Baptist were the wild looking men of the bible and they were treated (then) no different than some of the Christian hip-hop culture is today. The minute some "church folk" hear the words hip-hop, rap or DJ, they turn up their noses and immediately say that it is evil and that God isn’t in it. Kaijee is giving everyone a serious wake-up call! He stated, "nothing is evil in itself" (true dat!). Everything can be perverted and used for evil – even the pulpit… (say Amen or Ouch!). What many, who are unfamiliar with the style of music, miss is the creative symbolism, similes and metaphors used in this type of music. It is poetry pure and simple and if you don’t know how to read between the lines or understand the culture and the slang, you will be totally confused and miss the meaning of the song. Kaijee has heard it all. He has been told that this type of ministry isn’t ministry but more like the devil’s workshop because it sounds like secular music. More specifically, he was told, "if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck". Sadly, many forget that it is God that created music and all gifts. The enemy has perverted and publicized them. We are quick to associate this music with the counterfeiter rather than the Originator and therefore stereotype everything that does not sound like a mass choir or Hosanna music. He has also been confronted with those who feel that the music is wrong because it does not clearly say "God". His reply? " The book of Ruth doesn’t say God all the way through it either and it is still Word". [I want to add the Song of Solomon to that too…] The new generations that he and others speak for just want God —pure and simple. They are not into the politics of religion, the cute religious catch phrases, the man-ordained "uniform" or the doctrines of denominations. While many get caught up in the trappings of a traditional church setting and play the associated games, this new generation chooses to by-pass all of that and sit at the feet of God. Although the ministry is strong, it does not get a lot of "love" from the Christian community. Many "popular" Christian rappers would not appeal to the mass-market of true hip-hop heads. Their message and music have been watered down to pacify a "bubble gum" crowd and their artistry has been castrated and replaced with a bunch of weak, explanatory lyrics that silence the true message. It is Kaijee’s desire that artists surrender to their God-given creativity and hone their artistry rather than just trying to fill the tune with lyrics. A common complaint, about a lot of contemporary Christian music, is that it sounds like the author tried to cram all 66 books, their testimony and the prayer of salvation all into one tune. It sounds messy and makes no sense. They need to focus on the subject of that tune, work that and save the other stuff for additional tunes. That is why secular hip-hop is so popular. Right or wrong, the author sticks to the subject of the song, releases a memorable hook and lays it over a bumpin’ track. You will hear the hook and catch phrases (in secular music) from pulpits just about every Sunday. The very pastors who may not allow Christian rap in their church or preach against the "devil’s music" can be heard saying, "Whoomp there it is", "Y’all gonna make me loose my mind" or simply use the, "Up in here… up in here" part. You will also hear, "It’s getting hot in herre", "Bling-bling", and "Griiiiiiinding", but why don’t we hear them quoting Christian rap lyrics and hooks? Hmmmm… It is not just the church ministry itself. Many Christian or "inspirational" stations reject the hip-hop genre as well. In order to be heard, these street ministers have had to work harder, than some others in the music industry, and have been creative in getting their message out. Hip-hop naturally breeds entrepreneurs with many artists writing, producing, laying the tracks, creating the graphics, burning the CD and marketing their own product – all while working a 9 to 5 to pay for it all! Because they have been closed out of many churches, Christian concerts, religious radio and the like, these street ministers have been opening for secular concerts and displaying their message laden skills in talent shows, underground conventions and on-line (ex: MP3). The good news is that they have been pushed into the secular world (where the message is desperately needed) but the bad news is that their family (the church) is rejecting them like some sort of inconvenient foster child: they enjoy the revenue that Christian rappers bring in – in the form of tithes and offerings – but they show them little love and virtually no support. In his CD, Opening Act, Kaijee puts it down for God in a creative way. The first track, The Bride, is a loving tribute to his wife that leaves you saying "aww…" Ooh, Soul Survivor and We Keep It Bouncin, will have you bobbing your head to the music and the message while Let Me Holla At Cha’ and Can You Feel Me (personal favorites of mine), will have you up and dancing. Whoo Raw appeals to the Dirty South rap fans and adds to this well blended CD. If you like a little house music, a dab of go go, rap and some old school scratching, this is the CD for you. At $7.99, it is a steal and is an inexpensive gift (hint hint). If hip-hop isn’t your thing, you may want to purchase this CD for your kids, friends, family or church members. Kaijee is definitely a competitor in the hip-hop market and an awesome minister of the word of God. I am not doing his interview justice, because he dropped so much info, my hands couldn’t keep up trying to get it all down! Click on his picture to visit his MP3 site and hear "Opening Act" and then hit us up and tell us what you think. But don’t just listen for free and move on, support his ministry and purchase a CD. It is well worth the money! Ps.. after you check it out, let us know what you think! To comment on this or any other BIHI article, click on the email address: bihi_eic@bellsouth.net

Additional Info kaijee@msn.com

Location P.O. Box 111780 Nashville, TN - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).