Whatever indefinable quality generates hits—call it "star power," "swag," or just "it"—Kamaiyah has plenty to spare. I knew it from the second I heard her breakthrough single "How Does It Feel," which married low-slung production to a hook so big you could drive an SUV through it. It's the kind of melody only a lucky few are genetically capable of writing. Her follow up mixtape A Good Night In The Ghetto—filled with it's silky, G-funk-inspired bounce—proved it wasn't a fluke.
A few weeks ago I caught up Kamaiyah in New York City, where she opened for Rae Sremmurd and Denzel Curry. Onstage at House of Vans she was magnetic, stalking the stage and totally holding her own alongside two of hip-hop's biggest personalities. Her charisma was less a product of frenetic action (See: Sremmurd) than effortless poise, even as lights flashed behind her and kids moshed in front. Backstage after the show, we chatted about Mariah Carey, her Oakland roots, and her first raps.
What was the first concert that made a really big impression on you?
Mariah Carey
How old were you?
was like 10 or 11. It was really important to me because that was one of my favorite artists. I just remember one of the first videos I've ever seen in my life was the one for "You'll Always Be a Part of Me," so when I saw it live and saw how dramatic it is and how much of a diva she is, it just inspired me. She changed her clothes like 17 times during that show. I loved the whole personification It was motivation, and it showed me that I could be onstage one day.
Who inspires you in regards to stage presence?
Really, I try to be like the guys like the deliverance, the power, and the force and demand when I'm onstage. I feel like a lot of women don't demand and own the crowd. I grab you. That's what is going to keep you inspired or motivate you to go listen. That's how I try to really interact with them: "Listen to me because we're here. We're gonna have a good time."
Tell me about the first time you ever performed.
I was like 10 or 11. I had a boyfriend. It was at the Boys & Girls Club.
Were you rapping?
Yeah.
What was it about?
Random little things. I just remember being that young, sitting there, learning the curriculum of bars, cause you know a lot of people don't know how to write bars. That was the main thing I was trying to manifest at the time.
What was the first time that you knew you were going to take music really seriously?
When I first started rapping, since I was like 8 or 9. It just made sense to me. It rhymes. I keep going and it don't stop.
What has been the most surreal moment for you since you started making music?
I can't think of that one yet. Everything that I've seen so far is what I've kind of expected, nothing less. I haven't had that moment that makes you go, "Oh my god." But I think it's coming soon.
As a kid growing up in the Bay in the mid-'00s, what kind of impact did the whole Hyphy Movement have on you?
I got to see everything. I was so young and I felt like I had to catch everything about it. The only thing I didn't indulge in was drugs. But the culture and togetherness is what I fuck with.
What do you think makes Oakland special?
It's the independence of Oakland and the way we read bosses. The Bay Area is the only place you can sell $500 worth of CDs out the trunk of your car and have reasonable success; a lot of places don't do that. In the Bay you can be your own entity and be very popular.
People always say that the Bay Area is a blessing and curse because the scene is so insular. Do you feel like that's changing?
Hell yeah. People don't allow themselves to break because they don't believe they can. It's about the mind. If you believe you will receive. I receive, so it's cracking.
