Dr. Strange: Can we start with you briefly introducing yourself as an artist? How would you describe your music?

Kemba: I’m Kemba, I’m an artist and writer from the Bronx, NY. My music is hard to describe for me, because I’m changing. The next project I put out will sound very different from the last. But I think artists with good taste will always put out good music, and I think I have pretty good taste at the very least

Dr. Strange: Oh, do you have anything in mind for the direction of your next project?

Kemba: Actually, yes. Every album I’ve been trying to get better, tangibly. You’re Welcome was just me getting used to rapping and recording. Fall FWD was my first crack at writing songs over original beats. Good Morning, Midnight was me experimenting with my voice, and melodies, and things of that nature. I think GNK, then Negus, are where I got comfortable with all parts of music-making and started getting better at all of it. Now, I’m working on my melodies, and being more personal in my music. I want to go from reporting what I see, to telling folks what I’ve been through and how I feel. You know?

Dr. Strange: So, you’re gonna Drake on us a little bit? Haha, but in all seriousness, I totally feel ya, I’m looking forward to it. Would you say this progression is because you personally prefer to listen to music like that? More melodic, deeply personal music?

Kemba: Not going Drake. Not really that emotional, just talking about life experiences. I think it’s just what I love to make. It’s a natural progression. Also, I think I’ve said all I can say when it comes to social issues. Now I want to make music for your everyday life

Dr. Strange: Do you mean like everyday life as in dealing with relationships and stuff of that nature?

Kemba: I mean everyday life as in everything. I want to make music that you can play in all stages/events in your life. Stuff you can grow with

Dr. Strange: Your old name is YC the Cynic, and in your Twitter bio you refer to yourself as a “recovering cynic”. Can you tell us what sparked that change in you, where you went from a “full-on” cynic to a recovering one?

Kemba: I kinda just grew out of being a cynic, so to speak. I’ve gotten more positive as time’s gone by. It’s still a process though

Dr. Strange: Can you recount anything in particular that affected your worldview more positively?

Kemba: I don’t know the exact moment, but, one of my exes, my first real relationship, gave me The Secret DVD. I got deep into studying the law of attraction, reading a ton of articles, listening to a bunch of audiobooks, etc. Funny thing is, once you learn about it, you notice a bunch of famous people talking about it. Anyway, that phase kind of fizzled a bit, but the positivity it brought is still here

Dr. Strange: Gotcha. I never took for a person who’s into The Secret. That’s actually cool. How much do you believe in the LOA? Would you say it worked out for you?