Kelly Kel

Close Encounter with Kelly Kel

Been a minute but we are back with another close encounter. This time we got the opportunity to chat it up with Kelly Kel. This young California artist did not disappoint with his debut project “Liquid Courage”, one listen through and it was clear Kelly Kel has what it takes. So it was clear to us we needed to talk before this guy blows up. If you aren’t familiar, well shit, now is the time.

Q: How did you come up with the name "Liquid Courage" for your debut album? Was it always Liquid Courage through out the process?

A: When i got the idea to make the title liquid courage, i was about 19 years old (I'm 21 now), so i was sitting on that name for awhile. At 19 i started drinking more than i had been and i noticed that the phrase applied to my life in two ways. Obviously i liked going out and getting drunk because it was fun and who wouldn't lol, but i also always compared that phrase to music and how it was also my own liquid courage, where i had the confidence to say the things on my mind, and address the people and problems i deal with on a daily basis.

Q: Liquid Courage has been out for a few months now. What has been the response to it? / What has it been like since your debut project has been out?

A: The response i got from the project was great and I'm hella thankful. I did very little promo, just mostly off my own social media and word of mouth. We did some solid numbers, not too much has changed, a few more people have reached out to me about joining their team, but i have been getting some love in my city. When i go to places people i don't even know will tell me how they liked the album, so thats pretty dope.

Q: Can we expect any videos from "Liquid Courage"? Listening to tracks like "Vibe With Me", "Baller" and "I Get Lonely" has me hoping so.


A: Yes you can be expecting one more video from the tape. "I Get Lonely" has a video out already, which i think was one of my best visuals quality wise. Im not sure what video will be next, but i promise it will be a great visual to watch.

Q: You really came with the heat on Bathroom Break. Its your longest track and most definitely the hardest on Liquid Courage. What went into making this one?


A: Lol okay so bathroom break is cool to me because ask anyone that has listened to my Super Sundays ( a segment i do on Youtube sometimes), like i got bars, but thats not the kind of Album i wanted to put out, i wanted to make songs, real songs. So bathroom break was supposed to be a step away from the whole project, something to remind or even show listeners that i do bar out. I recorded that with Paul Russel at his home studio and i remember doing take after take trying to get the feel i wanted. I wanted zero ad-libs, and as many inhale and exhale sounds as possible, i wanted the sound of the track to be really raw. I wanted it to be perfectly imperfect, i wrote for a couple days on that track.

Everyone really seemed to enjoy bathroom break.

Q: How has growing up in California influenced your style?

A: Growing up out here in California is one of the best things for an artist because its so diverse. Theres so much going on so i have so much to inspire me. Im about 45 mins from LA and almost the same for Hollywood.



Q: If you could work with any producer in the game who would it be?

A: I think i would want to work with 40 in the future, for the most part i know most producers are tangible especially if you have the money, so ill probably end up working with most of the producers i want to.


Thanks again to Kelly Kel for taking the time to let us pick his brain! Do yourself a favor and check out his debut album “Liquid Courage” ! - Fifth Kind Vibes

In 2016, Chance The Rapper sparked the #SoGoneChallenge as a platform for independent artists to showcase their freestyle capabilities over Monica’s 2003 instrumental hit. While browsing this hashtag, I found 21-year-old Kelly Kel’s video and like many, it put him under our radar.

Kelly Kel (born Marchell Hill), music became a creative outlet to express himself by uploading remixes to Soundcloud while listening to popular artists Lil’ Wayne and 50 Cent. He hopes his music and experiences relate to peers while providing a brighter future for his family.
Since this viral video, the humble Upland-based hip-hop artist recently dropped a 12-track project titled Liquid Courage. featuring soulful crooners Daelin Demar and Omari Shah.

“Baller” highlights the life and times of Kelly in Upland while jazzy-bop “Let’s Get Groovy” displays bouncy flows. He provides a contemporary, nonchalant masculine feel to Janet Jackson’s “I Get Lonely” before facing the repercussions in acoustic-led “Coastal”. Daelin Demar brings warm vocals to intensify empty promises and ulterior motives.

The project takes a technical turn with fire-freestyle “Bathroom Break” and bass led “Can’t Be Me”. Here we can see his potent wordplay and penmanship.”Show Me Love” acts as a brief intermission for bewildered “Wait on Me” and “WYD” feat. Omari Shah. As Kel wonders, Shah voices his reservations singing: “I hate it when you give me migraines / Is that how you feel? / I guess the times changed / You’ve been Top 5 since Myspace / I guess someone’s trying to take my place”.

“Caught in the Moment” thrives on euphoric production as “Vibe Wit Me” chronicles carefree pastimes. Liquid Courage concludes with triumphant trumpet-infused “Movin’ On” where Kel comes to terms with himself and this situation.

KellyKel brings strong penmanship, versatile flows, and refreshing production to create a well-rounded project. “Let’s Get Groovy”, “I Get Lonely”, “Bathroom Break” showcase his artistic strengths while other tracks prove to be tolerable. Kel tells engaging stories highlighting the pros and cons of Liquid Courage during times of uncertainty.
In the meantime, listeners can expect new music and content soon as Kel continues to build his digital presence.

Follow KellyKel on Twitter and Instagram. - Yo That Slaps