Due to colder temperatures and fewer sunlight hours, winter months can be particularly difficult to get through without feeling under the weather and melancholic. We may not have the urge to overcome the emotions we are experiencing on the inside, just as we have no control over the weather outside. However, if we turn to our favorite music, it will not only help us in uplifting our mood but also get rid of the winter blues. Similar to meditation, it has been proven time and time again that listening to music can redirect our thoughts and break our brains free from the cycle of sadness, anxiety, or fear. Unfortunately not all music can have such an impact on our mood. Joseph Rey Morales, more commonly known as Kakazi, however, is an exception.
Inspired by Eminem who he refers to as The Rap God, Kakazi began rapping at the age of 16 after which he turned his passion into a profession. Having received no formal training in music, this talented rapper has taken the hip-hop audience by storm with his hit singles. Being an underground rapper at the moment, Kakazi is certain that one day his talent will be appreciated and cherished all around the world. “My previous songs are hidden gems to the public eye that will be discovered later,” Kakazi shared.
Without a doubt, hip-hop has evolved over time. This genre has had its fair share of criticism and is often linked to consciousness and rags-to-riches tales. Kakazi’s story is quite similar. In his latest song “Destined for Greatness,” he raps: “I’m on my way to stardom, I started from the bottom… either way I’m awesome and haters playing possum.” Kakazi uses his music to show the world how he started from the bottom and is now working his way up to the top. An entrepreneur during the day and rapper at night, Kakazi utilizes his passion for music to make money instead of working a 9 to 5 job.
With infectious beats and deeply meaningful lyrics, Kakazi’s music is something that instantly uplifts your mood and pumps you up to conquer the world. Feeling anxious before an important presentation? Listen to his song “Ready to Rock”, you’ll have blood running down your veins, forcing you to set the stage on fire within the first few seconds. However, it took Kakazi over a decade to hone his writing skills and develop lyrics that have an impact. “Back then I couldn’t stay on topic and have meaning behind my lyrics,” he said. “My biggest achievement thus far is having my mindset reprogrammed and mature enough to drive along this musical journey and handle business like an adult”.
Kakazi is unstoppable in the truest sense as he has the determination to achieve financial freedom and accomplish notable musical hip-hop milestones along the way. Earlier in 2022, he launched his music production company called ‘And Another One Productions LLC’, where he provides social media management support, video and audio production, and skilled labor to further specialize in the field. After investing 16 years in his rapping career, Kakazi is now hopeful that “doors are beginning to open.” His new album “Kakazi –A New Beginning” is all set to release sometime in 2023, which he claims will be “undeniable.”
Even though Kakazi’s music might be spectacular, the process behind is quite simple. “The beginning process for me would be to think of a concept or topic. Then Find a beat that I believe would be the suitable choice. After that would be the brainstorming/writing phase. Then record it. Straight like that!” explained Kakazi when asked about how he comes up with such deep and meaningful lyrics.
Kakazi has succeeded in establishing a prosperous career based on his love for music that too without any formal music education. He underwent a rigorous and profound journey from appearing in talent shows to gaining confidence to rapping on stage in front of hundreds of listeners, Kakazi has surely come a long way. Unlike other mainstream rappers, his music focuses on optimism and resilience while avoiding bad themes such as drugs and alcohol. Hence, he continues to be a positive influence on most people through their tough times.