Kevin Bronson on June 17th, 2020

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Kenan Bell has a lot on his plate. He’s a rapper, DJ, schoolteacher and entrepreneur with a new EP and video, a side business and “lockdown” on his mind — not just the quarantine, but national events that have reminded Black Americans how much they “are still truly locked down.” He has some things to say, along with a playlist, in today’s QUARANTUNES.

THE LATEST FROM KENAN BELL

After releasing a trio of EPs in 2019, rap artist/DJ/schoolteacher/entrepreneur Kenan Bell returned in late April with a new EP, “Cellular Theory.” His quick, crisp witticisms are apt for a man who’s never not doing something, whether it be art-directing Anthony Sylvester’s videos for IDK and Channel Tres, promoting his own new video for “Sunshine” (also directed by Sylvester) or staying busy with the business he started with his girlfriend. For the latter, Stay Fresh by KB, he manufactures and sells eco-friendly candles. (Sale pitch: They use 100% all-natural soy wax and 100% fully recycled Spanish glass and hand-blend unique fragrances.)

HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MANAGE THE ‘STAY AT HOME’ EDICT?

I’m doing as well as one can be, though it has been of a struggle to stay positive. As a teacher, remote learning presents its challenges and I think we all also learned a lot through the process. As a rapper/DJ, this awkward moment we are experiencing has forced me to re-evaluate my approach and adapt by doing weekly freestyles and live-streams on IG and just utilizing the technology more. As a Black man in America, I’m always somewhat skeptical of our government and how much emphasis is truly placed on “the people.” It seems as if insult was added to injury as injustice after injustice reminded us to what extent we were in fact still truly “locked down.” I’ve enjoyed the response of the youth, and it was inspiring to be among the demonstrators at City Hall and march through the streets of DTLA. Albeit in the midst of a pandemic, I’m kinda cool on being around a lot of people right now.

“Stay at home” for me means a lot of quality time with my girlfriend Christina, who is also my partner in this new business venture, Stay Fresh by KB. We’ve been able to produce more candles during lockdown and are regularly releasing products and fulfilling orders daily. It also means I get to work on a LOT of art: I’ve challenged myself to produce 100 pieces during quarantine, and I’m halfway home. New EPs (plural) coming as soon as I can safely get back in the studio.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN THIS IS OVER?

Booking rap shows. DJing to a room full of people properly dispersed across a “crowded” dance floor. Hugging my momma and kissing my Nana. Taking the trips to Europe and Canada we had to cancel because of COVID-19. People-watching at the Promenade. Celebrating my 6th-grade graduates. Pick-up basketball. Vintage shopping. High-fiving strangers who like my shirt … but probably not going to do that last one anymore.

ANYTHING WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THIS PLAYLIST?

The first handful of songs are the jazz and house records that push me during morning workouts and bike rides. Such a fitting and calming composition, Lonnie Liston Smith’s “A Garden Of Peace” was sampled for Jay-Z’s “Dead Presidents,” and the Roni Size record samples another one of my favorite Lonnie Liston Smith tracks “Shadows.” The next few songs include some of my favorite producer/rapper combos: the Freddie Gibbs x Alchemist collaboration, and new Kaytranada featuring Mick Jenkins. The Lil Baby release is so important during these times, especially from an artist of his stature. Other notable COVID releases include my track “Ghetto Child,” which features my 68-year-old father on the hook. The track was due to drop at SXSW as part of a brand and artist installation featuring Neon Trees, Camp Lo, myself and others. We pushed the record back, and many of the other plans for the releases got abandoned, but I’m proud of the video we snuck in for “Sunshine” that following week as quarantine was announced. David Bowie’s “This is Not America” and Talking Heads’ “Born Under Punches” are two of my favorite records ever, and also rather poignant. The optimistic sentiment expressed in the tracks from my latest EP — “Sunshine,” “Ghetto Child” and “Better Days” — became somewhat therapeutic as the lockdown lingered on, further preventing me from tracking new music. Along with everything else: Soon cometh. Stay up.