Star Of The Month: Keen9

Star Of The Month: Keen9

Katlego professionally known as Kat Keeng and Keen9 is a star who's on the rise with a strong love for music. Popular for his onstage performances and well received releases especially with his brother in music: Reya Ray. We had a chat with him and here's what went down: 

Welcome to Mzansi Avenue

Thank You For Joining Us.

Keen9: Thank You for having Me. 

McKing: You guys are best known for working together, how did your professional and personal relationship come about? 

Keen9: We met in 2016 at a Bushbuckridge fashion show at Love life in Acornhoek and everything started from there. 

McKing: And it's been amazing since then. How and when did you record your first song?

Keen9; It's crazy 'cause Reya was in North West and I was at bush at the time so we had to send recordings back and forth. 

McKing: Must've been fun. You seem like the more chill one..reserved, how do you manage to channel your artistry and express it to an audience? 

Keen9: When working or entertaining it's different from personal reservations so music just takes over.

McKing: Who's is the one to forget the lyrics during a live performance?

Keen9: (chuckles) we both do forget sometimes but (we) always have a way to recover.

McKing: That's good. Bounce back like a tennis ball. What do you love the most about working with Reya?

Keen9: Well he always thinks outside the box. 

McKing: He definitely does. You're Stuck in an island and you have to choose 5 songs to play until you get rescued. Who's on your playlist and why plus what other items or people would you two be stuck with and why??

Keen9; Any 5 songs from Drake. They keep me cool: Time Flies.  Girls like girls. Trust issues. Pipe down and God's plan.

McKing: Those are bops.  What do you dislike about working with Reya?

Keen9: Well what I dislike? He fails at saying no to alot of requests.

McKing: I'll take him to No school. (Chuckles) You released a well received joint project last year (2021) Straight Outta Bushbuckridge which had songs many related to. What inspired you guys to come together and drop this project?

Keen9: We're both being working on different quality of music for Bushbuckridge and we both wanted to show everybody that coming from the rural doesn't mean mediocre sound is the peak that we can do it as good as top guys or even better and Piano hour shows just that. 

McKing: Quite a transition from Straight Outta Bushbuckridge to Piano Hour. Any personal favourite songs each one of you has? Why?

Keen9: It's songs we haven't released yet: Wena Fela & Ngisak'khumbula.

McKing: Hope they see the light of day. Your favourite artist you've collaborated with?

Keen9: Favourite has to be ReYa as you can see we've worked together on so many records. 

McKing: Who would you like to work with on the local scene currently?

Keen9: A couple of artists: ADB, Tray, Dark-Horse, Lawd Kaymo and PoeticSoul.

McKing: If Reya was a lyric from a famous Hip Hop song which line would he be?

Keen9: He'd be DRAKE: "if i die I'm a motherf*****g legend".

McKing: Massive!! Between the two of you who is likely to get married first?

Keen9: 😂😂that's a tough one, but I'd say Reya would get married first.

McKing: What are the challenges you come across as artists?

Keen9: Promoters or people booking us and failing to pay or being mistreated when you get to the venues you're called to come perform. 

McKing: We're sorry about that. How did you overcome them?

Keen9: It's nothing to be overcome over night more success is the only solution. 

McKing: Nice. Who are you listening to right now who's hot on the scene or underrated?

Keen9: Priddy Ugly and Lloyiso.

McKing: Playlist Essentials they are.  Any good advice you'd like to share?

Keen9: Advice I can give that when you fail, find or make a new path to reach that goal giving up just leads to misery. 

McKing: Thank you. What do you think of Hip Hop beefs and diss songs?

Keen9: I think beef and diss songs make the entertainment space exciting as long its just for the sport and nothing too personal.

McKing: Yeah! People do get carried away. What's your view on artistry and records that are released for gimmick purposes? 

Keen9: They kill the interest people have on real music 'cause a lot of the songs out these days it's just gimmick. 

McKing: Would you rather not feel your face like the Weeknd or hang out with Ngwana Mopulana?

Keen9: Rather hangout with each separately.

McKing: Congratulations on the recent EP Piano Hour, it's doing so well. We scored it a 5/5. What do you have to say to anyone who hasn't listened to it yet?

Keen9: 5/5🔥🔥🤌🏽Well I'd say BBR has a Gem here and if you not part of making it grow "uzozisola se ku late". 

McKing: Who do you think will take the artist of the year award in December (Mzansi Avenue Year End Awards)? 

Keen9: Those responsible for Piano Hour 🤷🏽‍♂️😂😂....

McKing: Interesting. Is there that song, you recorded but didn't feel yet it was well received? 

Keen9: It has to be NAKURHANDZA.

McKing: What have you two drawn from each other and what can we expect?

Keen9: We've been learning each other's goods and bads, and how to draw goods forward and just expect more great music. 

McKing: And we'll let it play on and on and on. 

Truth Or Dare? 

Keen9: Truth

McKing: You chose truth so

What's your honest truth about Jay Cracker?

Keen9: I don't know much about him, from how hard he's pushing I can tell he is passionate about about entertainment.

Instagram: @keen9_global

Facebook:  Kat Keeng

Keen9 is definitely building his kingdom from a place of confidence determination, passion and heart. He's one artist we're excited to see grow and reach greater heights. More Music. We'll sing along on full blast. 

Thank You For Joining Us.

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Twitter: @Mzansi_Avenue

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Until Next Time.