ALL ABOUT LOVE w/ KAYNE THE LOVECHILD
TALENT KAYNE THE LOVECHILD ★ WORDS BY MALACHI MITCHELL
When I interviewed him via Zoom, Kayne the Lovechild didn't take long to show off his bright and bubbly personality. From the moment he came on the call, he greeted me and his manager, who was present, with a loud, sing-songy hello. He seemed to be incredibly upbeat despite being on the move while the interview was in process. That was when I knew that this interview would be fun and that Kayne definitely lived up to his moniker.
- Malachi Mitchell
Currently living in Atlanta, Kayne was born and raised in the Bronx, a fact that he wears with pride. It is where the music video for his recently released single, "Roll Call," was shot. In the video, he is adorned in a John Starks Knicks jersey, rapping in the bodega (with a cat, of course, being present), in front of apartments, in the park, and in front of a mural of Big Pun. The video shows Kayne's deep love for Hip-Hop. He ties this passion for the culture to his two older brothers, who listened to the greats, Eric B and Rakim, Wu-Tang, and The LOX. "To the world, I'm Guncle. To the rap community, I'm Gun," Kayne says during our conversation. These nicknames refer to his sexuality and the two sides of Kayne as an artist. Guncle is a combination of Gay and uncle, while Gun is a combination of Gay and Pun, referring to Big Pun. Guncle represents Kayne's more poppy, affectionate, and fun side, while Gun represents his more rap-focused, rough, and in-your-face side. This duality is something that Kayne has always embraced. Growing up, when he wasn't listening to rap with his two straight older brothers, he would listen to Brittany Spears and NYSYNC; he just loved music.
This duality is also a part of the reason for his name, "The Lovechild." Kayne is a self-described lover-boy who has always written [music] about love, the first song he ever wrote at 16 being a love song. However, Kayne believes that within love, not everything is good. One could best describe his feelings on love with this gem he dropped during the interview, "Love is the most disgusting, beautiful thing in the world." Comparing love to both crack and cupcakes (he made sure to make it known that he hasn't tried the former), Kayne talked about how it can lead to being put in positions that can compromise your integrity. Kayne's journey with the concept of love and romantic relationships was an interesting one. Growing up as a gay black teen, he didn't have a model to help guide him through what love is and looks like for someone like him, something that Kayne describes as a forest. Because of this, Kayne turned to the heteronormative examples of love that he grew up around. One of those relationships that played the most prominent role in his understanding of love was the relationship between his parents, who stayed married for 35 years until the passing of his father.
Kayne comes from a musically inclined family because both of his parents (whose names, Martin and Wanda, Kayne lovingly has tattooed above each of his eyebrows) were involved in music; it's how they met. His mother was a singer from the Bronx, and his father was a percussionist from Philly. They met in college when she was a part of the show choir, and he was a part of the band. With the foundation being in music, it makes sense why the family loves music. At one point, Kayne thanked God for his parents' approach in introducing him to music. They never shielded him from anything and instilled in him that a lot of music may present a viewpoint, but that doesn't make it right. While not overtly acknowledged, the idea of duality, or dichotomy, seemed to come up a lot in our conversation. I think this is because Kayne does not fit into a box; he can't easily be labeled. He referred to himself as a “mindfuck” because of the combination of his outward appearance, the content of his lyrics, and his sexuality. "I have a roughness about me. You see this 6'2, 300-pound guy, and I get to the mic, you don't know what's gonna come out my mouth." Kayne isn't an artist that fits into the cookie-cutter template, and I think the world is better for it. When I asked Kayne his inspiration for making the art he does, he said he aims for representation. "I wish I would've [seen] a fat, black, gay n*gga who makes quality music and has that it-factor on TV." Kayne is for everyone, especially those who don't fit the status quo. This is best shown in Kayne's recent single "We Outside."
“I wish I would’ve [seen] a fat, black, gay n*gga who makes quality music and has that it-factor on TV.”
The song is a summery anthem where Kayne invites everyone outside to enjoy themselves to the fullest. With lines like "bring your weird shit, there are no rules," Kayne paints the image of a party where no one feels left out and no one is bringing any negative energy. It's Kayne in full Guncle mode. The vibrant video shows a perfect NYC summer day, including a Mr. Softee truck. Kayne says the song responded to the previous years when everyone was locked inside due to the pandemic. It was a "no-brainer," said Kayne; the song was the product of a 2 am studio session that came about naturally from the vibes in the room. Kayne is keeping the momentum from his two previous singles going, as he just released “Banjee Girls.” The song sounds like it was made specifically for the ballrooms and for those who are feeling particularly “c*nty.” At one point Kayne pauses the track to exclaim, “If you not c*nt, you pulling a stunt!” At the time of this writing, the music video for the single is set to come out in a couple of days and, if we’re to go buy what Kayne has been teasing on his Instagram, it’s sure to be something special!
When asked about his plans for 2024, Kayne was hesitant to speak about the alleged project he is working on. He did, however, let us know that there might be two projects in the works, again allegedly. Kayne also said that he would continue working on his craft and speaking up and shedding light on his communities, whether that means the LGBTQIA+ community or the black community. At one point, Kayne talked about a time when he had put his artistry to the background to write for others, but now it’s Kayne’s time to take center stage. Even if you may not know what to expect from him, as Kayne says, "regardless, you're gonna love it."
