24hourhiphop.com gets a chance to sit down with King Karlemagne upcoming recording artist out of Massachusetts. King Karlemagne talks about his backround, new music, his take on hip hop, and lastly what he has coming up for 2014. Check out what he had to say and let us know what you think!

24HHH: Intorduce yourself to everyone that doesnt already know who you are?

KING Karlemagne: I was born in Cameroon; that’s in Africa for those who aren’t too map savvy [laughs]. My family immigrated to the United States when I was nine years old and settled in Malden, Massachusetts (a city on the outskirts of Boston). Having to adapting to a new country, language, and culture in general, writing became a way for me to express myself… and practice my English at the same time.

24HHH: Before we get into your music, can you describe your history about how you got into the music business and what inspired you?

KING Karlemagne: I like to think that I was born an artist; I’ve loved to draw. I was attracted by art early on through African music that played back home growing home. But how I got into Hip-hop was during my family’s first couple of years in States, since my mother had a really hectic schedule, my younger sister and I spent a lot of time at the YMCA after school. At the time there was bootlegger not too far from there, and I’d always see people going in the store arguing over everything; rappers, mixtapes, fashion, sports, you name it!

One day I wandered in there and came across a bootleg of G-Unit’s Beg for Mercy album. The guy told me it wasn’t in stores yet – so he claimed to have the ‘exclusive’. Now mind you, this is 2003 and 50 Cent is all that my classmates are talking about. So because I’m the weird African kid that nobody wanted anything to do with, I was buying it to give them a reason to talk to me – to be cool!

It didn’t work out how I thought it would, but the aggression on that album man – songs like “My Buddy”, “I’m So Hood”, “G’d Up”- it almost felt like they were screaming out all that rage and aggravation I’d had built up in me over the years for me. I then decided to start creating [music] for myself, and I haven’t looked back since!

24HHH: What was the hip hop scene like for you growing up where your from?

KING Karlemagne: To be honest, I can’t say. Aside from the kids I’d battle in the lunchroom, I really wasn’t familiar with any rappers from Boston. I was consuming Hip-hop, either through the bootlegger or BET- so G-Unit, Bad Boy, DipSet, Fab, and anything else from New York is really all I paid attention to. there were guys that were selling CD’s out the trunk at different subway stations and all, but I never listened to them to the point where they’d have an influence on me.

24HHH: What makes you Unique as a artist and different from other rappers out now?

KING Karlemagne: Well, for one thing I’m not trying to sound like what’s hot at the moment. And because of that I’d say that my music is probably going to have more longevity. I pride myself on not following the trend, because I’ve seen them come and go so often. You know, from snap music, to auto tune, and that era where every song had to have a dance to go with it!

The thing about Foreign Exchanged is, while it features a broader sonic range than most, if you listen to it you’re not going to be able to say it sounds like MMG, or Drake, whoever else is popping. It has love, joy, pain, fear, doubt, regret, and everything else a human being can feel – because a real person made it. It’s not just 808, horns, and strip club anthems at all, far from it.

Check out the single from King Karlemagne – Another One

24HHH: Tell us about what you are working on?

KING Karlemagne: As I mentioned earlier, I just released my first project entitled Foreign Exchanged onto DatPiff, where it’s up for free download. I’m planning on shooting a video for the 1st single off it called ‘LuvIzLuv’ within the coming weeks – so look for that on iTunes soon, and hopefully y’all support it. And after, that I’m hoping to head overseas to promote my music further before making my way back to States.

24HHH: What producers have you worked with and who would you like to work with in the future?

KING Karlemagne: Really aside from my homie J. Rob (@JRobonthetrack), who’s shutting it down in the DMV right now, I’ve really just been getting my beats through SoundClick. What mixtapes used to be was people rapping over popular instrumentals, with the same cadences over and over a lot of the time. What I like about SoundClick is not only do I get to pick from a broad variety of beats for close nothing, but it also makes my music sound brand new – because what are the chances of you having heard somebody rap over a beat I picked? And if so what are the chances of us sounding the same on these beats?

Something I read in a 50 Cent interview once was to never be too particular about who makes the beat, because you’ll never know who made the best one for you – so I plan to always keep my ears open. However, I do have a great for a party record in my head that I’d I hear going over well with some drums from Swizz Beatz. So Swizz if you’re reading this scream at me, boss.

24HHH: Are you happy with the feedback you have been getting from people on material you have released?

KING Karlemagne: Yes, but I do feel it’ll more appreciated in time. I don’t have a big budget behind me like most big artists, so the response I get now is honest. And it’s a good one – I might add.

I feel like that’s the up side to being up and coming. The response you get outside of your circle is more honest. Whereas there are so called artists who’ve been on fire over the years, yet without all the propaganda behind the name wouldn’t even have been considered ok.

24HHH: In todays free download age, what do you need to do to make your self a household name?

KING Karlemagne: I’d say creativity more than anything. We’re more fortunate now than they were twenty years ago, I feel like. Because through social media we can interact directly with the public and know what they like, or don’t like! There is no more middle man. So this definitely is not the last time you’ll hear from me man.

I plan on taking the same approach as Master P, Hov, Puff, and 50 did as far as music, and brand expansions are concerned. I don’t just rap either though– I’m a writer too. I have books worth of material written in my computer right now. I plan on telling my story not only through music, but books and films also. So look out for me, I’m a legend in the making.

Check out the mixtape from King Karlemagne “Foreign Exchanged”

24HHH: How do you feel about the current state of the hiphop scene?

KING Karlemagne: I actually like it more now than I have in recent years; it becoming competitive again! I wish everybody would stop featuring each other though, but I’ll take the good with the bad.

That’s something else about Foreign Exchanged that I’m proud of, it’s not loaded with features to the point where you don’t even know who you’re listening to anymore– it’s just me from top to bottom. Aside from a great verse from my mentor and big homie Phella (@PhellaDaFam) there’s not even an R&B hook on it! Try finding that on anything released in the past 5 years commercially and I’ll pay you.

24HHH: Outside of the music what else are you currently working on?

KING Karlemagne: A few things actually, I’m working on a book as I mentioned earlier, depicting my journey as an African kid trying to adapt into American society.
Maybe I’ll package some music with that also. I’m looking planning on going in the printing business, and doing everything from business cards, promotional to flyers, calendars, t-shirts, and much more for myself and others.

I just kicked off this web-series called KarlKarlTV 1on1 where I’ll go around interviewing other up and comers to hear about their hustle. The 1st episode is staring myself, so any one who’d be interested in being featured on that can contact me.
There’s also a company I’m starting called ‘Foreign Exchanged Party Planners’, where we’ll put events together for different cultures around the world – and that’s just off the top of my head. And make sure you support the ‘#TEAMKarlster’ t-shirts also, they should be available around the same time I release the ‘LuvIzLuv’ video and single on iTunes.

24HHH: Where do you see yourself going in 2014 and how do you plan to separate yourself from the other artist out today to get the recognition you feel you deserve?

KING Karlemagne: Sky’s the limit man, BIG said it best. Hopefully a lot of touring, spot dates here and there even. I don’t want to ‘Nikola Tesla’ myself and say ‘how’ so they can steal my ideas out there, but I guess the simple answer would just be by working smarter than everybody else.

It really all depends on what you define as success. To most of my cousins back home I’m already successful just by having made it to live in America. I personally have much higher expectations for myself though. And I don’t even think I’ve gotten started to be honest with you, this journey will be long one, but I’m willing to put the work in. In 10 to 20 years, when I have my own chain of WalMarts and am held as one of Hip-hop’s greats I’ll let you know the ‘how’ of things.

24HHH: How can fans go about contacting you?

KING Karlemagne: Yeah, through my website iluvkarl.com (http://iluvkarl.com/), @iluvkarl on twitter, youtube, facebook; fan or personal page. I’m usually good about updating, unless I’m travelling or something… In which case you’ll just have to wait until I get back!
http://iluvkarl.com/
https://twitter.com/iluvkarl
https://www.facebook.com/iluvkarl
http://www.youtube.com/user/KarlKamTV

24HHH: Thank you for providing 24hourhiphop with this exclusive interview, do you have any lastwords for your present and future fans?

KING Karlemagne: No problem, thank you for the platform. Make sure to check out my previously unreleased project too when you get a chance; it’s called ‘Foreign Exchange… And So A Journey ‘ it’s on datpiff too.