Creating music can be an emotional and deeply personal process that often highlights intimate struggles and relationships in the life of the artist.
“When I’m creating music and writing music, it’s the only time that I’m hyper-focused [while simultaneouly] not really thinking,” Kennesaw State senior Elijah Kent said. “It’s like I can channel my pain but I’m not actually in pain. In that moment, I’m at peace.”
Kent is a self-made rapper who said that music is the one thing that is constantly on his mind. Ever since he was young, he has been expressing himself creatively.
Kent grew up participating in plays and musicals in addition to playing the piano and drums. At the age of 17, Kent expanded his musical abilities through the art of freestyle rap. For the last eight years, he has continued to perfect the craft.
“I always felt just different and alone, so [writing] kind of became my outlet just to express myself,” Kent said. “It was sort of therapeutic for me.”
Kent began his rapping career at open mics in Atlanta after receiving positive feedback from friends and family. His career moved quickly at age 17 when he released his first project, “Future Trippin.”
Now, Kent has a total of three completed projects under his belt, the most recent of which, “The Chronicles,” was released in 2017.
Kent uses his life experiences as inspiration for writing. He is a single father and he balances music and school alongside two additional jobs. On top of an already busy schedule, Kent’s number one priority is sobriety, and he said that staying sober has remained a large part of his musical journey.
Although Kent partially attributes his struggle with sobriety to why he is not further along in his career, he also says that it is what motivates him to continue.
“Its a part of who I am and the struggle that I’m going through, which is why I write,” Kent said. “It’s what I need to write music for, but at the same time it creates a big struggle to actually have that time to go network and deal with responsibilities.”
Kent prides himself in showcasing the most honest and vulnerable version of himself through his music. He said that this thirst for rawness was inspired by and born out of a love for “old school” musicians like Eminem, Ludacris and Green Day.
“[They] touch my soul in a powerful way,” Kent said. “The same powerful, emotional experience that I get when I listen to those artists that I love — I wanna give that to someone else.”
Kent encourages fellow rappers on the journey to success to never simply make music so that it will be perceived as cool. Instead, he said to be authentic to who you are, even when other people might not understand it.
“Either people get it and it’s powerful to them or people don’t like it,” Kent said. “I get mixed responses to that.”
Kent has big dreams for the future. He hopes to one day reach world-touring status and to eventually transition into film and acting.
For more information about Elijah Kent and his rap career, follow him on Instagram @elijahkentmusic.
