Urban Pulse Magazine

Growing up in the Bronx during the golden era of the 90s, hip hop was never just background noise for Keef Sweatshirt—it was a foundation. From high school cyphers and filling notebooks with rhymes to working with billboard-charting, Grammy-nominated producer Excel Beats, Keef Sweatshirt’s journey reflects the timeless spirit of real hip hop. With influences ranging from Nas and Biggie to Kendrick and J. Cole, his music blends raw storytelling with substance, reminding fans what authenticity in the culture truly sounds like.

When did you first realize rap was more than just a hobby for you, and what was the moment that made you say, “This is it”?

Growing up in the Bronx hip hop has always been a huge part of my life, it was the golden era of the 90s and it created my foundation. High school was when I realized it was more than a hobby, I used to write more rhymes in class than school work, and take over cyphers for multiple instrumentals at a time. Linking up with Excel Beats, super producer from LA, was when I realized “this is it”. The instant respect garnered from a billboard charting, Grammy nominated producer made me truly understand the limitless potential of my talents.

When you’re writing, do you start with the beat, the lyrics, or a feeling you want to capture?

Sometimes I’ll start with a feeling in mind, but nine times out of ten I just put the beat on repeat and let it talk to me. It’s hard to explain, but the beat tells me what to say and how to say it, so I just allow the creativity to flow and pour out through the music. I’ll study the beat and waveforms in protools, break it down, and once it hits me it takes typically no time at all to complete the song.

Which artists or life experiences have shaped your style the most, and how can listeners hear that influence in your music?

In my earlier years Jay Z and Biggie influenced my love for the art more than anyone else, but stylistically I would have to say it was Nas. In the later years my influences became Cole and Kendrick, two people that I felt breathed life into the game. As far as life experiences, I was molded by the struggle and every day situations that we face in this crazy world. The fans can hear these influences simply in the way I rap, I give that raw authentic hip hop feel that was instilled in me during the 90s. Content wise, the stories and substance I give the fans allow them to take a walk in my shoes, reliving the events that shaped me.

If someone had never heard your music before, which one track should they start with, and why?

Wow, this is a really tough question because I’m so diverse. If I had to choose one for a new fan to start with it would be Intro, it’s just so raw and encompasses the style that created me. It takes you on a journey through my mind, and highlights some of the mental health struggles that we all deal with, which I am a huge advocate of. The imperfections of an introvert.

What’s the hardest obstacle you’ve faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?

The hardest obstacle in my career has been my mental health, things can get really rough at times and make it hard to keep going. Sometimes I can lose my passion and will to create altogether, going long stints without making music.

You’ve probably lived through moments your fans don’t know about—what’s one personal story behind a song that changed how you see life or music?

I created the song “Hypocrite” while going through one of the toughest times of my life. Dealing with a tough breakup, caused by an abortion, this was one of the most reflective periods of my life. I was dealing with very heavy depression and questioning everything, including my own actions, beliefs, and morals. It caused me to take a step back, self examine harder than ever, and begin trying to figure out what it all means in this life.

How do you feel about the current state of hip hop, and where do you see yourself fitting into it?

I think the current state of hip hop is horrible, and I don’t see myself fitting in at all. Things have strayed away from authenticity, causing people to do and say whatever for the sole purpose of popularity and monetary gain. I honestly don’t feel like it’s even hip hop anymore most times, it’s just simply rap at that point. I see myself reminding the world what true hip hop is, an open book of one’s life based off of actual personal experiences and not just the fairytales that people live in their mind.

What’s the most misunderstood thing about you as an artist or person, and how does your music set the record straight?

I honestly don’t know how to answer this question because I truly don’t feel like I’m misunderstood. I’m extremely transparent in my music, as well as life overall, so I think most people can sense the authenticity within my actions. The only thing that could possibly be misunderstood is my origins because of how far I’ve come and the way I carry myself nowadays, so maybe so people can’t readily identify the struggles and experiences that have shaped me.

When people talk about you years from now, what do you want them to say about your impact on the culture?

My impact on the culture will be great, authentic music that allows people to connect with a different side of themselves. It will even extend further than that, I’m part owner of a music technology company where we strive to be innovative and push the game forward. People will remember me as a true example of hip hop and what the creators intended it to be used for.

What’s coming up next that fans should be excited about—whether it’s music, performances, or collaborations?

I have an album I’m in the process of creating which I’m looking to release before the end of the year. It has a strong presence of the hip hop style that I grew up accustomed to and will be a gift to every true hip hop head who longs for the golden era to return. I also have a collaboration in the works with a feature from Sean Kingston that will be a standalone single, and a big named producer from NC that I’ve recently linked with and will be working with as well. No performances are lined up at the moment but stay tuned because they will be coming as I rollout this upcoming project.