WHAT IT IS: The Bronx-born underdog has been steadily crafting his album for over two years while building up a buzz in NYC’s DIY rap scene. The album is inspired by a turbulent period in Kemba’s life that saw him lose his mother to a stroke within six weeks of going viral—after an acapella freestyle earned him a co-sign from Kendrick Lamar and speculation of being inked to TDE. With new singles, “Exhale” f/Smino and “Deadass,” bubbling in the streaming world, Kemba is set to take over with an album that features Portugal. The Man, among others.
ALBUM: Gilda
RELEASE DATE: April 2019
SINGLE: “Nobody I Can Trust”
LIVE: Direct support on Brasstrack’s nationwide Vibrant Tour Jan through March
INTERNET: First two singles with Republic have streamed more than 1m times across all platforms; 500k+ “Deadass” streams in less than a month
PRESS: Fader, XXL, Complex
BOOKING: Liz Pantone, ICM
PUBLISHING: Stellar, Sony/ATV
MANAGEMENT: Dharmic, Initiative