BRS Kash — formerly known as KashKash — is a real finesser by definition. The Atlanta-bred singer/songwriter has taken the music industry by storm with releasing his viral hit single “Throat Baby (Go Baby),” notching his first Billboard Hot 100 entry earlier this week. Kash’s affinity for music traces back to a talent show in the eighth grade, back when chorus class was the focus. “I had a group called CSOD, Crunk Squad On Deck, and we all had originated from the chorus class: so, we made this song, we recorded it on a tape recorder and we performed it at the talent show,” he explains to me over the phone.
Naturally, the crowd’s reaction served as an instant “adrenaline rush” for the young emcee at that time. He wanted more: Kash had easily developed a fondness for the limelight. In retrospect, middle school was a pivotal point of reference in Kash’s come up story. Hell, if it wasn’t for the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) program, who’s to say Kash would be the artist he is today. “It’s actually crazy, because one of the people who actually named me Kash is 21 Savage’s manager, Meezy, and his partner Sean.” I won’t go as far in saying that Atlanta is the city of interconnectivity, but it’s damn near close.
BRS Kash is a prodigy of Atlanta’s ranging soundscape. He draws inspo from Southern influences like Juvenile and Big Boi, blending a unique balance of perceived “gangsta rap” with a smidgen of R&B influence, but he doesn’t identify as a singer: “I’m a rapper at the end of the day.” Whether he’s finessing the track with a melodic undertone to help accentuate his keen ear for acoustics, or carving out his own lane in an ever-changing industry of trends, Kash is here to stay: most recently inking a new deal with LoveRenaissance (LVRN), in partnership with Interscope Records, to further champion this truth.
During our conversation, we covered a range of subject matter: strip club culture and it’s relevance to Atlanta’s thriving music scene, when music became a priority, the inspiration behind “Throat Baby (Go Baby)” and more. Our conversation follows below.
When did you first fall in love with music?
I first fell in love with rap when I was in the eighth grade. I was the lead singer in chorus and I had entered into my first talent show in the eighth grade. I had a group called CSOD, Crunk Squad On Deck, and we all had originated from the chorus class: so, we made this song, we recorded it on a tape recorder and we performed it at the talent show. We had the band playing the beat, ‘cause, at that point in time, we in the eighth grade, we ain’t know how to get beats. The beat we made, we was beating on the table and the band ended up turning it into a whole nother beat and we performed at the talent show and shut it down. The crowd reaction just made me want more because it was like an adrenaline rush. From eighth grade on up, I started rapping. They started calling me Kash and I ran wit it.
So wait, your artist name was created during a middle school talent show?
Well, my artist name was kind of different. That’s where I got it from, because I was rapping, but I was on the AYP program, it’s called No Child Left Behind, so I used to have to ride two buses to get to school basically. I used to have to get on the high school bus to ride to the high school in the morning, then I would go to the middle school. When I was on the high school bus, the older kids who would get on there, I used to get on there with the tape recorder rapping: as I’m rapping, I used to always have money on me and I would pull out money. It’s actually crazy, because one of the people who actually named me Kash is 21 Savage’s manager, Meezy, and his partner Sean, so they were the ones who gave me the name Kash.
Strip club culture and breaking records are an integral part of the come up, especially when it comes to the city of Atlanta. Personally, how important is it to have your music played in those types of entertainment spaces?
It’s very important; I’m not even just going to say the strip club, the club period. In the Atlanta scene, you have to go mess with the DJs, you gotta show the DJs love. It’s not like you can just walk in a club and play the song yourself. You gotta give that support so that they can give it back. You don’t want no fake relationships, you wanna build genuine ones. With the strip club, it’s such a major key because of the strippers. If the dudes who spend the money see what the strippers like and they dancing, getting turnt to it, it’s gon’ make them spend more money.
“Throat Baby (Go Baby)” is sensual by definition. What was your headspace like with creating this song?
My headspace was getting head. I had got some crazy head the night before, and it was from one of my home girls. The way that I look at her, I wouldn’t look at her like that, she was always around me. So, for that to happen, it was crazy. I don’t really like head like that; I’m a pleaser, I like to please a woman and get straight to it. For her to do that and it be that crazy, I had to make a song about it. Literally the next day, I’m sitting in the car and I came up with the song.
I can imagine you’ve gotten some pretty insane DM’s on Instagram since the song dropped.
Oh yeah, it’s like they competing to be throat baby number two. Like they tryna win a trophy, so more power to ‘em.
How does BRS Kash best define his art form: do you consider yourself an R&B artist?
No, I consider myself an artist in general. Even when I sing, I don’t call it singing, I call it finessing. I’m not no Chris Brown singer, I’m finessing the notes, that’s all it is. I was in chorus, so I know how to hold a note, work my voice. I’m a rapper at the end of the day. I’m just bringing melodies, that melodic flow.
At this stage in your career, what does it feel like to be a professional recording artist?
When you want something for so long and you finally get it, it’s like a weight being lifted off of your shoulders. Back when I was in school, language arts was my strongest subject; I passed language arts before I passed anything else. Writing poems, 8-bar stanzas, soliloquies, I used to do that on the daily.
Are you content with life at the moment or do you feel like something is still missing?
Oh yeah, it’s a lot still missing. From the outside looking in, people looking at it like he made it, he doing it – but I got so much more work to do, so much more building to do, so much more of an impact to make on the world. With that being said, I’m just gon’ keep going hard, keep doing what I’m doing, because it’s a lot more things that I want. I want to buy property, I want to have multiple streams of income that I can invest in. I’m making good money right now, but I want to be one of the greatest, one of the best at what I’m doing. I want to leave a legacy behind.
Who would be the ideal candidate for a “Throat Baby (Go Baby)” remix?
I would want Meg Thee Stallion, Cardi B or someone like that to get on the remix, so they can give a girl standpoint of the record: but a remix is definitely on the way.
I honestly thought you were going to say Mulatto, for the simple fact that I see you two have a working relationship.
Mulatto, that’s my dawg, that’s my ace. The thing is, with that, I would definitely rock with Mulatto on the remix, but I feel like that’s expected. So with me, I would do another one [record] that’s even bigger than “Throat Baby” for us to rock on, and I’ma leave it at that.
