Peace Eddie and thanks for taking the time out to do this interview. You've been doing your thing on the underground scene for a while now with the music and the merch but are still a new name to some. Please introduce yourself to the readers and let them know what you do.
My name is Eddie Kaine. From Brooklyn. Bed Stuy section and I make timeless music.
Like i mentioned you've been doing this for a while now, dropping your first mixtape at sixteen, selling them hand to hand in Brooklyn, to your latest release, “Last Exit to Crooklyn” produced by Big Ghost LTD. with merch selling out and streams going up. Tell us about that feeling.
It feels good. I’m grateful and don’t take it for granted, but I feel like Kobe, “The job is not done..” I have plenty of ideas to execute and plans in motion to even be able to sit back and take it all in. I just want to keep working. “Last exit to Crooklyn,” took a year and a half to put together. My writing process when it comes to Big Ghost collaborations is just writing and living and when I feel it’s complete… Boom you get what you get. I’m more so happy and satisfied in knowing I put my all into my music and didn’t give my fans a half-assed effort.. To answer your question, it feels good to have come this far and still be putting in work.
So your latest project “Last Exit to Crooklyn” is available now, tell us about the title of this project and how it came about. Word is there was another name for the project originally and then it got changed up.
Yup for sure, we had a whole other idea and concept at first. It wasn’t until I did the photo shoot for the album and we got the pictures back that we considered changing the title. A lot is put into this project. Majority of the songs are second versions, some are even third, with my formula of just working and living. “Last Exit to Crooklyn,” was perfect for the iconic brownstone shot. If you never peeped the correlation, look up Spike Lee’s movie “Crooklyn.” Keep in mind the move was unintentional to sit at the brownstone and then you’ll understand how everything began to come together so well.
The entire project is produced by Big Ghost LTD. and this is yall’s second project together, following up the 2021 release “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” What is it about the connection with Ghost and the sound that he brings that make yall mesh so well together?
Ghost fucks with me on a genuine level. That’s the type of person I am. I kinda have to like you as a person and understand you before I work with you. Since I stepped into this industry, Ghost was one of the ones who looked out for me and saw and understood my vision!! That’s what I think makes us mesh so well. He knows me. He knows I'm a creative, not just a rapper!! So we experiment. I put my life on his beats and we give it to the people… Simple formula.
“Last Exit to Crooklyn” features Planet Asia, Jae Skeese, Rim, Smaccz, Emilio Craig, Spoda, Odawg and Passport Rav. How do you select the artists outside of your team that you want to feature? Is it from the perspective of the artist you want to work with as a fan or more of a strategic business move?
It’s more business with me when it’s outside the fam. Of course I like to have a genuine relationship and understanding with whoever I work with, but I like to put plays together. I will reach out to an artist just because I see the hunger and know they are on the same time as me, so I reach out like yo, let’s get it, let's cook. If you are not in my team I’m most likely reaching out because I know you work hard and have a good energy to bring to the table.
Now I ask that question because you have stated you really do hip hop for the passion, it's not about the money for you. When your projects were not selling you gave them out just for people to listen. So with your name and stock now rising how do you maintain the authenticity and passion for hip hop while balancing the business end?
Well it’s naturally me at this point. I never had a label, management, or financial backing. I paid for my career out of pocket for the love of hip hop. The business end is what I had to learn by default, so I have been handling my business so long it’s another fun part of the game for me. The whole process is my favorite. I take time to shut the world out and create. I also take time to shut the work out and focus straight on the brand and business. Everything can be done when you properly plan before executing.
Your music, although gritty, has an uplifting message in it and brings a feeling of hope when you look into the lyrics and really listen to what's being said. What's the message you are trying to push with your music and do you feel that message is getting across and your name is being represented how you'd like?
Yes, definitely at this point right now. I feel like those who listen, understand exactly what I’m trying to say. I’m from da stuy, I was outside for real. All the Brooklyn violence, drug, gun shit we been around it we still around it. I wanna give people the hopeful side of it. That someday if we focus on the importance of life and clear our minds up we can get on the good foot! I make it clear that I’m not trying to preach but I’m definitely not telling you to run outside and clap something or buy a pack and hit a corner. I’m saying, if this the life you stuck in let’s try to change it, if you don’t love it, and for those that aren’t into the life hopefully you hear my shit and say “Naah he smart I fuck wit him. I can listen to him because he talks about both sides”, word.
Your merchandise is also a big part of your brand, with limited edition vinyls, cassettes, CDs and more being available for a limited time of each release. How involved are you with the direction of branding each release, designing the alternate versions and putting together the merchandise rollouts.
It’s usually a team effort. Those who I’ve worked with respectfully understood my ideas and elaborated on it. I bring certain things to the table and we put it all together. I've been grateful to work with people that understand what I’m trying to do with the Eddie Kaine brand and they help me capitalize off my ideas in many ways, whether contributing an idea for an alternate cover or just bringing a cover idea into fruition.
Would you like to sign to a major one day or is the independent route more your way?
I’m more used to the independent route. So I will say that I’m perfectly fine working this way. This is what I've been doing since a kid. I wouldn’t mind experiencing being signed to a label though. As long as the business is right I would definitely want to experience it at some point.
What should the readers and fans be expecting from yourself in the second half of 2024?
I’m back in the kitchen!! Back to cooking, I’m back outside. Expect videos, interviews and more music for the second half of 24. Definitely more music !!!
Eddie, we know you're very busy and once again appreciate your time. You're known to be an artist who talks back and interacts with his fans and supporters, so before we go please leave us with your final comments as well as where the readers can follow and reach out to you at.
Eddiekaine.com for all the new music and updates and all that. Instagram/twitter @_eddiekaine never hard to find ! Always on the grind ! If you didn’t know just know I’m always HUSTLIN OVERTIME !!! Thank yall overtime hustlin for having an outlet for a young independent hustler like me to showcase his talents ! Brooklyn what up !! Bed Stuy what up !!!! It’s kaineeeee
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