Kendra Mars - Remember When I Was Your Dad

TURNING HEADS IN TULSA, LANGSTON, AND OKC OF LATE, THE PROVOCATIVE STYLES FLAUNTED BY THIS SMALL-TOWN HIP-HOP ARTIST ARE NOT FOR THE FAINT OF EAR.

By Evan Jarvicks

“I’m takin’ rap back to pissy floors and crack in the walls,” proclaims “RAP-TURE,” one of four new cuts on Remember When I Was Your Dad?, the debut EP of Kendra Mars. The line isn’t unearned. The Muskogee artist is bold, crass, and unapologetic on the mic, and this is just one of numerous such examples. It would be a disservice, though, to relegate her style to a sensationalist and unsubstantive lane. Not only does she dish her ballsy verses with a smooth, humorous finesse uncharacteristic of much selfserious lyrical bomb-dropping in modern hip-hop, but she also proves by the end of the EP that an unplumbed depth of songwriting versatility lies beneath her brash exterior.

Kendra Mars released a series of singles leading up to Dad , a run which includes 2021’s adrenalinepumping debut “The Takeoff,” but the new EP clears the air with a proper reintroduction for both newcomers and her day ones. Here, the femmecee is confidently at ease in mid-tempo beats, showing off a smorgasbord of personality and serving bars like it’s tennis practice.

Opener

“Is This Thing On?”

shapeshifts through at least five vocal demeanors within its first verse. Slipping between duplet and triplet flows seamlessly, she is hard-edged and playful in turn, murdering the beat with the verbal footwork of a boxer. It isn’t a perfect track. The rap feature from LayLo Junior Kami and the instrumental backing don’t quite meet the high bar Kendra Mars sets, and Kendra is bound to irk sci-fi nerds with the way she conflates Star War s and Star Trek references at one point. As an intro, however, it is as attentiongetting as her dramatic throat clearings. This thing is indeed on.

From here, the EP rolls into more rap cuts. “Space Jam” is a catty, braggadocious number with tons of rhymes and nuggets of provocative wordplay such as “fuck life, no plan B.” The aforemen- tioned “RAP-TURE” samples a luxurious vintage string section to accompany some of Kendra Mars’s coldest lines, and feature emcee Zorro makes the most of his tight 16, cramming a speed run of rhymes to the last literal second.

By this point, listeners will either be too prude to have lasted this long or will be accustomed to this explicit album’s ample mentions of penises, anuses, and titties. It is important to note, however, that Kendra Mars is not particularly sexual on this record. She invokes references to, say, pussy popping whenever it fits the lyrical flow, but she never relies on sexual imagery the way some artists do. The bulk of her writing is an ode to living loudly without remorse, and this happens to include a rude sense of humor.

It is this context which makes the closer even more jarring. Nothing in her studio work has hinted at a stripped-down acoustic guitar number like “This Is

Not a Lullaby,” so when Kendra Mars bares all in a melancholy closer about growing up in America’s tumultuous foster care system, it is a sucker punch to the feels. It tackles heavy subject her debut EP, there seems to be no limit to what a Kendra Mars song can be. matter with lines like, “I put music in a needle / And inject it in my veins / Thought I loved it for the pleasure / I need it for the pain,” and it gets darker from there. The album art hits in a tragic new way, too, since this low-fidelity photo of Kendra as a child is one of the few known to exist. Her identity is one built out of impermanence.

Before signing off, Remember When I Was Your Dad? tucks in an alternate version of “Is This Thing On?” that would serve as a hidden track in the days of compact discs. This is not the only time Kendra Mars pays homage to 90’s culture, she makes clear references to TLC and Meredith Brooks at points on the EP — but in bringing to this “405 Edition” one of OKC’s best bar-for-bar lyricists currently rising in the ranks, she ensures that this is music for the present. Husl’s feature verse writes not just for himself but for the context of the song, picking up and handing off the baton with clever lyrical integration that is rare in any music genre.

She has a Spotify playlist called “Songs I Wish I Wrote” that includes the likes of Hozier and Reba McEntire alongside Lupe Fiasco and Denzel Curry, and she credits her eclectic music taste to moving from household to household as a kid. Knowing that her artistic instincts can so proficiently adapt to different styles like this and hearing the proof in

If an EP is meant to be a hint of bigger music to come, Remember When I Was Your Dad? is a BatSignal of hip-hop. That artists are not already lined up around the block to get a Kendra Mars feature on their studio work suggests she is still undiscovered to most. If she continues this trajectory, though, not only is that bound to change, but she is also poised to release an incredible full-length album in the future. That is good news because even with a fast flow and stacked verses, four tracks are not nearly enough to contain everything Kendra Mars has to say.

These are events recommended by Oklahoma Gazette editorial staff members. For full calendar listings, go to okgazette.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 22

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub.

COUNTRY

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Sunset Patio Bar Karaoke Night, Sunset Patio. KARAOKE

Michael Rudolph Cummings, Core4 Brewing. FOLK

Nonpoint, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ROCK

Softcult, Beer City Music Hall. GRUNGE

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa.

COUNTRY

The Wednesday Band, The Deli. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, MAR. 23

Country Music Group Therapy/Biscuits & Groovy, The Deli. COUNTRY

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge Karaoke Night, Dust Bowl. KARAOKE

Jackson Emmer, UCO Jazz Lab. COUNTRY

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Lainey Wilson, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. COUNTRY

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Riley Green, The Criterion. COUNTRY

Shelly Phelps and The Storm, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

Short & Broke/The BlueRays/JL Jones, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Three Dog Night, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa. ROCK

FRIDAY, MAR. 24

Carson Jeffrey, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY Chew/Psychotic Reaction/Glitch, Opolis.

PUNK

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

Dylan Earl & Chris Acker/Beau Jennings & The Tigers, Blue Note. COUNTRY

Elle King, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. COUNTRY Emma Goldman Cachs/Stockhausen and the Amplified Riot/Manic Hotel, The Deli. ROCK

Eventides, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. INDIE

Forgotten Space: Grateful Dead Tribute, Tower Theatre. TRIBUTE

Grayson Graham, Stonecloud Brewing Co. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

Luzcid, 89th Street—OKC. ELECTRONIC

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ PB & Jazz, Ponyboy. JAZZ

Souled Out, UCO Jazz Lab. COVER Trey Lewis, The Vanguard, Tulsa. COUNTRY

SATURDAY, MAR. 25

Austin John Winkler, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar.

ROCK

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS Bee and the Hive/Don’t Tell Dena, Opolis. INDIE ROCK

Bruce Benson and Studio B, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. JAZZ

Casper McWade/Taylor Hunnicutt, Blue Note. COUNTRY

Catherine Fuller, Full Circle Bookstore. ACOUSTIC

Cody Hibbard with Chad Cooke Band, Tumbleweed Dancehall & Concert Venue, Stillwater. COUNTRY

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE Hairball, Diamond Ballroom. COVER Jack Barksdale, The Blue Door. FOLK

Joanne Shaw Taylor, Rose State College

Hudiburg Chevrolet Center. BLUES

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Joey Valence & Brae, Beer City Music Hall. RAP

Levi Parham, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. SINGER/SONGWRITER

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Montu/Olympus Mons, The Deli. ROCK

Old Bulldog Band, UCO Jazz Lab. ROCK

Owen Pickard/ Mallory Eagle with Rachel Reichert & Kelcie Lee/Kelcie Pickard/Marty Summers/Taylor Atkinson/Michael Scalf, Rodeo Opry. COUNTRY

Speakeasy 90s-00s Nostalgia Dance Party, 51st Street Speakeasy. DANCE

The Taylor Party: Taylor Swift Night, Tower Theatre. DANCE

TobyMac, BOK Center, Tulsa. HIP-HOP

SUNDAY, MAR. 26

Badflower, Tower Theatre. ROCK

Colony House, The Jones Assembly. ALTERNATIVE

Country Fresh, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. COUNTRY

Go For Gold/Goalkeeper/Memorial Drive/Anchorway, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

Jared Tyler, The Depot. AMERICANA

Jazz Night!, Blue Note. JAZZ

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Tin Can Gramophone/Hosty, The Deli. FOLK

MONDAY, MAR. 27

The Aints/Bailey Gilbert & Friends, The Deli. AMERICANA

TUESDAY, MAR. 28

Brent Cobb, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES

Kevin Kaarl, Tower Theatre. SINGER/ SONGWRITER

Sabrina Carpenter, The Tulsa Theater. POP

WEDNESDAY, MAR. 29

Amarillo Junction, JJ’s Alley Bricktown Pub. COUNTRY

Blvck Hippie, The Vanguard, Tulsa. INDIE ROCK

Duel/BugNog/Costanzas, Blue Note. METAL

Edgar Cruz and Friends, Broke Brewing Company. ACOUSTIC

Jazz Jam, 51st Street Speakeasy. JAZZ

Sunset Patio Bar Karaoke Night, Sunset Patio. KARAOKE

Trett Charles, River Spirit Casino Resort, Tulsa. COUNTRY

The Wednesday Band, The Deli. COUNTRY

THURSDAY, MAR. 30

Amy Grant, Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center. POP

Caloncho, Beer City Music Hall. LATIN

Country Music Group Therapy/Biscuits & Groovy, The Deli. COUNTRY

Dust Bowl Lanes & Lounge Karaoke Night, Dust Bowl. KARAOKE

The Heavy Heavy, Ponyboy. ROCK

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Music Over Midtown, O Bar. VARIOUS

Wet Muscles/MTKA, Opolis. INDIE

FRIDAY, MAR. 31

Dan Deacon w/ Brothers Griin, Beer City Music

Hall. ELECTRONIC

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

Dr. Pants, Full Circle Bookstore. ROCK

D.R.I/Paralysis/Will Grim Brown/Titan Metal, 89th Street—OKC. METAL

Goth Prom: Wednesday Addams Dance

Party, Tower Theatre. DANCE

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

Rat F!nk/Bedtime, Opolis. PUNK

Steph Simon, The Vanguard, Tulsa. HIP-HOP

Underoath, Diamond Ballroom. METAL

Zac Copeland, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. COUNTRY

SATURDAY, APR. 1

2 Minutes to Tulsa, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. METAL

Another Pink in the Floyd, Belle Isle Restaurant & Brewing. TRIBUTE

Bedlam Live Local Bands, Bedlam Bar-B-Q. VARIOUS

Ben Brock, Grand Casino Hotel & Resort, Shawnee. FOLK

Dameon Allensworth w/ Matt Moran, Beer City Music Hall. COUNTRY

Dance Party, Ponyboy. DANCE

Hayes Carll, Tower Theatre. COUNTRY

Joel Forlenza, Othello’s Italian Restaurant. INSTRUMENTALISTS

Kenny Chesney, Paycom Center. COUNTRY

Lip Service, VZD’s Restaurant & Bar. COVER

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

Lucas Ross/Haylie Bagwell/Levi

Walker, Rodeo Opry. COUNTRY

McKee Brother Jazz Band, Bourbon Street Bar. JAZZ

The Red Stripes, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ROCK

Smilin’ Vic, UCO Jazz Lab. BLUES Turnpike Troubadours, BOK Center. RED DIRT

SUNDAY, APR. 2

BJ Barham, The Blue Door. ACOUSTIC Houndmouth, The Vanguard, Tulsa. ROCK

Jazz Night!, Blue Note. JAZZ

Jessica Tate, Full Circle Bookstore. INSTRUMENTALIST

Live Jazz!, Hefner Grill. JAZZ

No Whiners Aloud, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES Omerta/Sledge, 89th Street—OKC. INDIE

Tin Can Gramophone/Hosty, The Deli. FOLK Weyes Blood, Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa. ALTERNATIVE

MONDAY, APR. 3

The Aints/Bailey Gilbert & Friends, The Deli. AMERICANA

TUESDAY, APR. 4

Bruce Benson & Studio B, 51st Street Speakeasy. BLUES

Caleb McGee, The Deli. BLUES waveform*, 89th Street—OKC. INDIE

Pop Evil an American rock band from Michigan formed in 2001 by vocalist Leigh Kakaty and guitarist Dave Grahs, currently on tour promoting their newest album Skeletons which is centered around the need for support during trying times. Catch their show with The Word Alive and Avoid, 7:30 p.m., Apr. 4, Beer City Music Hall, 1141 NW 2nd St., 405-8968716, beercitymusichall.com. TUES, APR 4 Photo provided

Shelly Phelps and The Storm, Bourbon Street Bar. BLUES

Short & Broke/The BlueRays/JL Jones, Mojo’s Blues Club. BLUES

Stevie Nicks, Paycom Center. ROCK

Turnpike Troubadours, BOK Center. RED DIRT

Live music submissions must be received by Oklahoma Gazette no later than noon on Wednesday seven days before the desired publication date. Late submissions will not be included in the listings. Submissions run as space allows, although we strive to make the listings as inclusive as possible. Visit okgazette.com to submit your lisitngs or email listings@okgazette.com. Sorry, but phone submissions cannot be accepted.