MELODIES // up-and-comers
Tht Kid Ker: Dropping Tapes and Making a Name for Himself // by torsheta Jackson
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May 5 - June 1, 2021 • jfp.ms
the murals
arker DeLoach grew up in a home hop and rap—reflective of the music he The album, which Wiz the Kid largely melodic album contained the catchy single filled with music. The preacher’s remembers hearing during his childhood. produced, has a sentimentality that reso- “Dolla,” which became the featured numson listened to his father’s favorite That sense of nostalgia has become a nates with listeners, DeLoach asserts. ber in DeLoach’s first music video. gospel tunes with his two brothers. central theme to his music. His first mix“When (people) would tell me that He also performed on “A Magnolia The brothers began a music group with tape, “1999,” which released on his birth- the songs touched them kind of how they Show,” a music platform that features artsome friends and sang at area churches day, Jan. 1, of this year, is a collection of touched me or (when) they would tell me ists across the state. In the video filmed in and events. Yet, when father Charles De- songs that focus on Parker’s experiences different lines, that’s how I knew that I re- front of a south Jackson mural with the Loach was not around, his oldest sons with love, music and coming of age. ally connected with the people and that I quote “You can win as long as you keep would crank the radio to the your head to sky,” he performs sounds of Kanye West or Lupe his first-ever released single Fiasco. Young Parker learned “Away.” He chose that particuthat music, too. On those days, lar piece because he felt that it he learned to appreciate hip-hop best reflected the message that and rap as much as the spiritual. the show’s producers were tryThose childhood musical experiing to convey. ences now influence DeLoach’s “I felt like they wanted to personal music style. connect a lot of different asThe artist, who goes by Tht pects and art forms. I found it Kid Ker, didn’t dream of a career pretty cool what they were doin music. At Chicago Heights ing and it was definitely a new Bloom Township High School, idea,” DeLoach says. “They told recruiters approached the standme the location that we were out athlete for both track and shooting at, and I thought the football. For most of his young perfect song was ‘Away,’ which life, he believed that he would atis about flying away from whattend college and play sports. ever barriers the world may set A flyer for his school’s drama for us as dreamers and to go club auditions, however, changed deeper—as Black people.” that trajectory. DeLoach will release his “My junior year … somesecond full body of work called body said I should come to “No Love 2” in late May. The drama club,” he says. “They album will feature collaborawere doing ‘Shrek the Musical,’ tions with independent rappers, and that’s my jam. I was a little singers and producers such as conflicted, but then I ended up Jackson’s Nahveyeh and DJ CJ going, and that opened so many from Chicago. The business possibilities.” administration major plans to DeLoach began to indulge use the degree to get his foot in his creativity while performthe door at a major record laing in the club. There, the bel. His one surety: Music will usually quiet and reserved stube a part of his life no matter dent began to gravitate away what he does. from sports to his true passion: Parker DeLoach, a Jackson State University student who creates and performs music under the “I just keep making music music. Once he enrolled in handle Tht Kid Ker, released his first album, “1999,” on Jan. 1, 2021, his birthday. His second fullthat means something to me Jackson State University, he body album, titled “No Love 2,” will release in late May. and possibly means something joined the group “Outspoken,” to someone else, too,” DeLoach a student-led creative arts collective that “I think ‘1999’ is a mixtape that tells gave them the warmth I got from making it says. “If it takes me somewhere, it does. If offers students a chance to share their you kinda how I grew up and the things and the warmth that I got from my child- it doesn’t, it really doesn’t matter. I do it works and receive constructive feedback. that impacted me over my life and the dif- hood,” he says. “It really hit me that people because I love the music.” DeLoach says that the group has been a ferent experiences that I’ve encountered,” felt something from it.” Listen to Tht Kid Ker on Apple Music, key to his time at JSU and his music. he says. “It didn’t go too deep because it was The January music release was a Spotify and Youtube. To keep up with news Tht Kid Ker’s sound features melodies my first project, but it was more so of a fun- follow-up to the artist’s first EP album re- regarding the artist, follow DeLoach on Instathat span gospel, rhythm and blues, hip- loving mixtape.” lease on Soundcloud titled “No Love.” The gram @thtkidker.
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