Kali
Los Angeles, California, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Kali tackles topics concerning struggles in human relationships, the pitfalls of temptation, and the difficulties we face in the world's current music state. Throughout your stay, he wants you to remember one more thing: That life is great. Escape, Relax, and have fun, these 18 tracks are words of hope told from a voice of gritty struggle. - The Hype Magazine
More recently known for his Midnight Club: Los Angeles videogame gig (son did the theme song), Kali seems to pride himself on being a California lyricist who’s determined to continue the development of the New West. Son’s style and flow adapted well to the hard beat on “The Code,” the bouncy rhythm on “Rollin Down The Freeway” and the lighter themed “Cali Kali.” - XXLMag
1982 and friends spin their take on 'Christmas In Harlem' by telling us about 'Christmas In Boston' with Teyana reworked for the hook. - Hip Hop DX
Put TMI on the beat, Termanology on the feature and let Statik Selektah take on the hosting duties and what do you get? Nothing less than Certified hip-hop. Cali native Kali, who is signed to Statik’s Showoff Records, delivers an a capella intro and then immediately grabs your attention lyrically with a catchy beat lending support. Off the upcoming Glasses On A Gloomy Day, mixtape, which is currently awaiting a release date, Certified is that drop the bomb and run for cover type of record. Kali is on that John Stockton, leading the game in assists, so sit back, throw some 20s in the sky and catch this one in your eardrums. - DJ Booth Net
Kali, an upcoming MC with a bright future due to his his diversity and trait to be able to blend into any track. He’s sort of like a chameleon the way, be it a pop track or an underground street anthem is easily controlled by his prowess. - www.playasonly.com
Discography
Glasses on a Gloomy Day (Hosted by Statik Selektah)
Timeless (Hosted by Clinton Sparks & Statik Selektah)
Cali Kali EP (on Itunes)
The Coast (Hosted by DJ Ill Will & Statik Selektah)
Hotel Kalifornia Mixtape
Photos
Bio
Kevin ‘Kali’ Hammonds, the Southern California Rapper by way of Massachusetts, never panics, on the contrary, he revels with a Microphone in his hands. See while other kids spent their formative years playing kickball, he internalized the sounds of his icons Big L and Tupac, furiously penning lyrics, rhythmic verses and anthem-like choruses. Today, Kali garnishes the respect of his peers and fans with his uncanny ability to draw people in with his music.
Kali’s on a mission to prove he has what it takes to succeed in this brash business of music, and recently he’s been put to the test.
As Statik Selektah was drumming away on the album, 100 Proof (The Hangover) he realized a ballad was essential to the project. As soon as, he heard Kali’s feature with Novel "Walking Away" the producer knew he found his answer. The graceful tone of the song quickly gained fame amongst fans and was a favored single in the critically acclaimed release.
When Rockstar Games wanted a hit for its Midnight Club Los Angeles: South Central video game series they handpicked Kali's song "Rollin Down the Freeway" featuring Mistah Fab, Glasses Malone and Termanolgoy as the promotional theme.
As Universal Pictures struggled to find a testoster-featured single for its summer blockbuster Fast & Furious Five, executives caught wind of Kali’s songwriting ability and the opening theme song How We Roll was crafted. Just how much throttle does Kali deliver on his verse? Well, if the up-and-coming lyricist were cast as a character in the film Fast & Furious, he’d be Diesel Out. And He has more hits to come, as Kail’s currently in the studio working on the soundtrack for the comedy Tower Heist due out this fall starring Eddie Murphy and Ben Stiller.
When fans grew tiresome of lightweight music circulating in the public, Kali’s responded with two mixtapes “Timeless” followed by “Glasses on a Gloomy Day” and a fresh EP called “Cali Kali” hosted by world-renowned DJ's Clinton Sparks, Statik Selektah and DJ Ill Will. While raising the bar in quality and standards, all his projects were supported by original production and include prominent features from Busta Rhymes, YG, Don Omar, Evidence, Fashawn, Novel, Reks, Termanology to name a few.
Even radio has started to take notice; Kali’s singles have had rotations on Internet, College, Satellite and Radio stations throughout the country including Boston’s Jam’n 94.5, LA's The Beat 93.5 and Power 106, Augusta Power 107, SHADE 45 SIRIUS Satellite, and Emerson College 89.9.
But most importantly, Kali relishes the positive response he’s received from fans. His mix tapes and EP try and resemble a verbal masterpieces of struggle and joy depicting the realities of growing up amongst violence and hardship, racism, social inequality, unbridled aggression, compassion, playfulness, and hope, themes not only expressed in his art, but dictated in his life.
"I want to make music that allows my fans to feel my experiences at the time,” Kali explains. “Life is full of conflict but it’s also fun, exciting, and thrilling, so you hear that in my music—I Love the ironies that balance out life¬ that’s what I capture and dissect in my bars."
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