Preme Magazine Issue 16 : Phora + K Camp + Nouri by Preme Magazine

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When the idea to launch Preme an independent black owned magazine came about, the concept was clear. It would be a publication that shed light on not just one aspect of the industry, but would feature everyone behind the scenes as well. Creatives such as models, stylists, designers, makeup artists and more would be included. It would showcase an array of people who strive for what they believe in and do what they love. It is our mission to give you a glimpse into the lives of those individuals, while also giving them a platform to showcase their work and talent.

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T X E T N O C a r o h p 8. i r u o n . 4 2 s t a e w s k n i p . 0 3 p m a c k 40 a M y k o o m S . 0 5

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a l l e i a rg

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NOURI Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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How do you like working in America compared to New Zealand ?

Where are you from? - I’m Kurdish Where did you grow up? - I was born in a Syrian refugee camp but grew up in New Zealand since I was 3. When did you fall in love with music ? - When I was about 5 I loved it and started singing then too. What was your favorite song when you was growing up? - Britney Spears - “Not a girl, not yet a woman” What made you start singing? - Watching my idols like Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey sing and perform on TV since I was 5 and I always wanted to do the same. How has moving to the states helped are changed your music ? - It’s helped a lot because you’re around everyone in the music industry. Everybody is so different too so you get a taste of everybody’s sounds, opinions, advice and writing styles. It really helps creatively too when you start working on your own music.

- I personally prefer the U.S because I started my career there. I knew who I wanted to work with, I knew the level I had to compete with and wanted to jump right into the deep end so that’s what I did. What is the NZ music scene like ? - It’s quite versatile. There’s a lot of r&b & hip hop which I’m a big fan of but it’s very heavily influenced by the US. Who are some artist from NZ you like ? - Right now I like Benee. I think she's cool. How have you been doing sense the covid 19? - I’ve been doing good. It has been a massive change for me and I wish it would just go back to the way it was but I’ve adapted to it all now. I’m just grateful my family and I are healthy and safe and hope everyone around the world is okay. Have you been able to create differently given so much isolation? Yeah I'm outside in the backyard a lot more, have more time to think of ideas rather than always on the go. I also do all my music sessions online through FaceTime or zoom.

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How do you feel the world is handling it all? - NZ in particular are doing amazing because we’ve had 0 new cases for a while now and are allowed back outside. As for the rest of the world I think everyone is getting a bit restless which I don’t blame them because it is quite a massive change. I just hope this all settles and we’re able to go back to normal! Describe your sound ? - Vulnerable, Melodic melodies with heartfelt story telling lyrics Tell us about your music video and what it means to you? - It’s a one shot take, very simple. It’s such an emotional song that I really just wanted to capture the emotion and let the emotions tell the story. How much of the creative directing do you do with your visuals ? 28

- Most of it, if not all of it. I’m very much Involved with everything and anything to do with my music, videos, content and creatives. Are you releasing an album if so tell us about it ? I’m releasing two different EP’s. One which is vulnerable and honest. And the second is really more upbeat and unapologetic. I love them both because they’re both me in two different ways. How do you feel about it’s sound compared to your previous released stuff? The second EP is much more upbeat compared to my previous music which is more slow/mid tempo. What do you want your fans to know that they don’t know ? That I think of them through everything that I do. I always say it’s bigger than music because my mission is to make sure I can leave a legacy they can follow or inspire to make their own.

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Q & A Where are you from ? And describe your up bringing ? I'm born and raised in Philly. Music-wise I've been drumming in Church since I was a kid. I was pretty much in the hood until the 10th grade when my dad moved us to South Jersey. That was probably the turning point for me where I started being a little more productive with my life. What was the first album or music you brought? That inspired you the most? My household was super religious so I wasn't allowed to listen to secular music as a kid. I remember my Mom bought the "Mario" album and we listened to that a lot. She loved that album. That was the most memorable non-gospel project for me growing up.

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"I try to bring an honest vulnerability to my music that I think really resonates with my fans. " pink sweat$

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What inspires you to start making music and how did you discover your direction ? When you're a writer you are constantly being asked to copy this or make it sound like that, but thats never something I want to do for my own music. One of the most important things to me is balance. I think you need balance in everything, whether that be life or your music preference. In an age where heavy production is so prevalent and everyone wants there songs to hit a certain way, I just wanted to give people the opportunity to also have the other side. Similarly, you hear so many songs focusing on sex and over-sexualizing women. I try to bring an honest vulnerability to my music that I think really resonates with my fans. Describe your creative direction is it a team ? Or all you ? If so whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s that process like ? I have a creative team that I work with on all of my visuals. We are all so close that no one is ever afraid to throw out ideas that may be risky or out of left field. They do an amazing job of taking pieces of my imagination and really bringing it to life.

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"I always want my videos to give you a different perspective as to how to view the song" PINK Sweat$

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If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new ep/album coming how much can you tell me about it. Along with how much can you describe the growth of it music wise from your last? I pretty much play every instrument, and on my album I'm going to let people hear that. I've been working really hard and collaborating with a lot of tremendously talented people to put my first full-length album together. I want it to be a masterpiece and I know its getting there. Some of the album records are songs I think the world needs.

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Your visuals are really amazing! What inspires them all. I always want my videos to give you a different perspective as to how to view the song. I never want it to be a down the middle representation. My team knows how my brain works and we all collaborate to make the videos special. How has your direction grown sense the start and do you feel youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve figured it out yet ? Or still room to grow ? For me I think this answer is probably a little different than most since I'm not a kid. I'm 27 and I couldn't be happier with my life and the person I've become. There's always room to grow and improve, but I honestly feel like tough times are behind me and its only up from here.

Is there something or someone who inspired your first ep/album? 39 I ask because of the titles to me seem to be about the lost of love ? I wrote Volume 1 from an airbnb couch in LA. It was the first time I had gone out there to really make my rounds in the songwriting circuit and I was doing sessions everyday. When you're in a new place meeting new people its easy to be inspired. I wouldn't say there was one person that inspired Volume 1, just a lot of new people in my life that gave me a different perspective. What is something you would want your fans to know about you. Maybe no one knows ?

I tell people this during my shows, but I never write anything down. I'm a freestyle writer, so when I get in the booth its more of a stream of conciseness than anything. It usually only takes me a few takes to nail down a full verse or chorus. I remember when I was writing 'Body Aint Me' with by guy Doc Daniel, he started playing that guitar riff and we recorded the entire first verse and chorus all in the first take.

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kcamp

interviewed by mustafa abubaker

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K Camp new album KISS 5 is out now. The official remix to his smash single Lottery featuring 1/3 of the Migos, Quavo, is out now. Preme Magazine caught up with the recording artist to discuss his past, present, and future.

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What&#39;s good, Camp? I&#39;m good. Im blessed. I&#39;m on the way to the studio right now. Everybody&#39;s good. My niece is good. My mama is good. My sister is good. Everybody&#39;s in the house safe. I&#39;m in Atlanta, the only city in the world thats open. I just had a chicken salad, man. What;s your sleep schedule like right now? Nah, ain;t no rest. This shit continues. I don&#39;t sleep, man. You sleep when youre dead. Were young, man. Being asleep isnt going to do anything. That one album isn't going to solidify what I&#39;m doing. Were wrapping up the Rare Sounds compilation. Foot on their necks. 2021, were really trying to take over this shit. When&#39;s the last time you recorded something? 2, 3 days ago. I know you started rapping when you were in the 7th grade at the age of 12 on a karaoke machine rapping over your mother;s CDs but which CDs in particular? I was just a jit trying to get some tunes going. The first CDs I bought were Freeways and Ludacris ; &quot;Chicken and Beer.&quot; I might have rapped over those. You started playing small shows all over Georgia in 2012 driving from show to show in a hooptie with your friends, and you even did a show in a small town I had never heard of by 44 the name of Claxton. How do you feel about those shows now? Those shows put money in my pocket. I had to show K Camp to the country. Your first upload on Youtube â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Feb 6, 2012, a song called All The Way Down â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what do you remember about recording that? That&#39;s when I was with my old management group. It was a single at the time. We were everywhere at the time. We put work into it and tried to make it go up. It was just one of those songs.

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You remixed Kodak Black’s Calling My Spirits, Ella Mai’s Boo’d Up, Migos’ Versace, Drake’s Pound Cake… what is it about remixing songs that compels you to release them?

I did remixes for jumpshots, for practice. I got that from Wayne from back in the day from Dedication mixtapes. I did it for my craft.

I know every artist needs a Twitter, but what specifically made you want to create an official K Camp Twitter in April 2009 at that time?

I don’t even know. Twitter was the new app. Everybody tapped in. 2009! That’s long ago. I had All Night going up during that time. That had the streets going crazy.

What do you remember about making the 5-track CD Who The _____ Is K. Camp?

Just trying to get a hit record. I don't want to hear none of them now.

Do you feel like the rest of Atlanta hasn’t embraced you the way you’d like or left something to be desired because you’re from the Northside where not many artists come from?

Coming up from Cobb, nobody ever shouted out any Northside. Me and Sy Ari The Kid, we felt like it was on us to bring light to the North. That’s when Migos started popping up. They were talking about Gwinnett, and we were talking about Cobb. It just meant we did our job. 45

Do you find yourself studying artists / businessman like Puff and Jay these days, trying to move like they move to make up for the shady business early on in your career?

Of course. I’m always paying attention to the OGs and legends before me. You have to keep your eye on what you’re trying to accomplish. I’m inspired by Jay, Diddy, all of them. I have my own label, I’m the CEO. I gotta take the coins from the big dogs.

When DJ Scream was MMG, he co-signed you. You’re in a photo with Rozay. Was that ever going to happen i.e. you on MMG?

I don’t think so. If I knew that back then, I would’ve still been with MMG. But, no, I’m Rare Sounds. I got my own legacy going on.

What has been the state of relations within the K. Camp inner circle this year?

Hard work. Loyalty. Communication. Quality over quantity. Communication. I don’t call all the shots. That’s not how I roll. We all work as a team. Brothers are going to fight all the time. If everybody is a yes man, how are you going to get shit done?

What was the first song made for KISS 5?

I wanna say, “Ice Cold”.

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Let's talk about your songwriting and your best songs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; "Money Baby," "Comfortable," "Cut Her Off," "Lottery." Which comes first, the verse or the killer choruses? Either or. It isn't the same process every time. I might make a hook out of the verse. Songs like "Ice Cold" and "Cry To You" do suggest that you're looking for a way to get to people without resorting to top-40 partying in the club records. That's just me making my music. I'm not trying to do anything out of the ordinary.

Technically speaking, what all equipment is currently used in the studio to record the music? Pro Tools. Big boy speakers. What's your songwriting for others looking like these days? I just wrote a song for BeyoncĂŠ. I hope it gets placed. Was jumping on the YES! Record with Kyle and Rich The Kid an easy decision? Yeah. I was in LA. I went to KYLE's writing camp. We did the record. He threw Rich The Kid on there last minute. Would you ever be open to making a dubstep song? If the money's right, and if it makes sense for my brand. Does it take you to feel pain to make your best music? Oh yeah, of course. You got to feel the pain. That's where the real music comes from. What's the most memorable recording session in your 5,000 square feet studio in Atlanta, Rare Sounds? Recording Kiss 5. First of many projects recorded there

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On The Imperfect Freestyle, you rap, "God said I'm Him, you better open your eyes." Just how much of a role does your faith in God play in your music? I believe in God. I'm God's son. I'm always going to have faith. What's your favorite flower? A rose. Do you ever get massages? All the time. That's my favorite thing to do. What's your stance on socks? I don't wear them for more than two days. Has a movie ever gotten you emotional? For sure. What's your stance on UFOs? I think they're real. If you could ask President Donald Trump one question face to face, what would it be? 47 â&#x20AC;&#x153;What the hell you got going on?â&#x20AC;? Who's your favorite cartoon character, and why? Riley from Boondocks. Do you still legally carry a Smith and Wesson everywhere you go, except New York? For sure. How do you feel about cats? I don't like cats. I have a dog. His name's Rari. How have you seen Atlanta evolve musically? It's always evolving. What are your favorite things to do in Atlanta? Studio. Strip club.

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Coming up from Cobb, nobody ever shouted out any Northside. Sy Ari The Kid and I felt like it was on us to bring light to the North. That's when Migos started popping up. They were talking about Gwinnett, and we were talking about Cobb. It just meant we did our job. Are you studying artists/businessmen like Puff and Jay these days, trying to move like they move to make up for the shady business early on in your career? Of course. I'm always paying attention to the OGs and legends before me. You have to keep your eye on what you're trying to accomplish. I'm inspired by Jay, Diddy, all of them. I have my own label, I'm the CEO. I got to take the coins from the big dogs. When DJ Scream was MMG, he co-signed you. You're in a photo with Rozay. Was that ever going to happen i.e., you on MMG? I don't think so. If I knew that back then, I would've still been with MMG. But, no, I'm Rare Sounds. I got my own legacy going on. What has been the state of relations within the K. Camp inner circle this year? Hard work. Loyalty. Communication. Quality over quantity. Communication. I don't call all the shots. That's not how I roll. We all work as a team. Brothers are going to fight all the time. If everybody is a yes man, how are you going to get shit done? What does life after music look like for you? Who knows? Maybe I'll have a flock of bad bitches somewhere on an island smoking weed with my feet up.

What moments remind you that this is worth it? Just remembering everything I'm doing is changing my life and the lives of the people around me.

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Who is Smooky

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yMargielaa ?

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• Who is SmookyMargielaa ? Describe yourself in 5 words. Best Youngest Artist Out Now • Where are you originally from ? Bronx New York • How was the vibe at school, since having so much success? I can’t lie , it was lit!! I had the whole school on my back! I went to Eximius High School shout out to them. • How old were you when knew you wanted to be a rapper ? I’d say around 9 or 10. when I was 9 I felt like I could rap just didn’t know how. When I was 10 I started practicing in GarageBand and releasing music on SoundCloud Proof Copy: Not optimized for high quality printing or digital distribution

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• who’s your biggest inspiration? Michael Jackson , I’ve been watching him since I was young. • What’s been your favorite city or show so far ? Toronto! Shout out to the 6! 55 They went crazy when I came out!! What’s your relationship like with ASAP MOB? Those are my guys , those are my brothers!

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• How many pair of Margielas have purchased over the years ? Sheeesh man OD lol , idk I can’t even count them. I’d literally have to count them all. Probably not 100 but a lot lol though.

• What are your must have items in the studio? Good energy! Good Engineer, snacks some studios have the cookies with the milk! My favorite snack would be Starburst. Oh I have to have water and Tea! Tea keeps my voice clean.

• What do you have planned for the rest of 2019 and 2020 ? I’m about to drop “ The Youngest in Charge “ tape really soon. A lot of great features on it, then the Album right behind that also my own Tour. It’s a lot • What is something that you would like your new fans reading this to know about Smooky ? Just know we taking over! We going crazy!! And I got the best music coming out! Take over time!

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Preme Magazine Issue 16 : Phora + K Camp + Nouri

Articles inside

Phora

KCamp

Nouri