Independent Weekly
''Indy Week'', formerly known as the ''Independent Weekly'' and originally the ''North Carolina Independent'', is a tabloid-format alternative weekly newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina, United States, and distributed throughout the Res ...
'', 19 March 2003 is a rapper from
Durham, North Carolina
Durham ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Durham County. Small portions of the city limits extend into Orange County and Wake County. With a population of 283,506 in the 2020 Census, Durham is the 4th- ...
.
Biography
Thomas was born on Fort Belvoir, and grew up in nearby Dale City VA. After spending many summers in NC, he eventually moved to Richlands, North Carolina with his family in 1991 when he was in his early teens.Kaze Biography Muze Ltd. He studied at the
University of North Carolina
The University of North Carolina is the multi-campus public university system for the state of North Carolina. Overseeing the state's 16 public universities and the NC School of Science and Mathematics, it is commonly referred to as the UNC S ...
, initially majoring in
criminal justice
Criminal justice is the delivery of justice to those who have been accused of committing crimes. The criminal justice system is a series of government agencies and institutions. Goals include the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing other ...
, but switching to English, and then radio, television and motion pictures. Kaze's first claim to fame was as founder of the Hip-Hop Nation on-campus organization, aimed at promoting local MCs, DJs, poets, and graffiti artists. He followed this with the nationally syndicated television show ''Hip-Hop Nation'' in 2001, which he co-created and produced. He then started his own Soul Dojo record label, the first release on which was his 2003 debut album, ''Spirit of '94''. The album was picked up by BCD Global Distribution later that year. He followed this with the ''Enemy of the State'' mixtape, featuring contributions from
DJ Forge
A disc jockey, more commonly abbreviated as DJ, is a person who plays recorded music for an audience. Types of DJs include radio DJs (who host programs on music radio stations), club DJs (who work at a nightclub or music festival), mobile ...
,
L.E.G.A.C.Y.
L.E.G.A.C.Y. is a rapper from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and former member of the Justus League collective.
Biography
L.E.G.A.C.Y. is an acronym for Life Ends Gradually and Changes You.Cordor, Cyril " L.E.G.A.C.Y. Biography, '' Allmusic'', Macr ...
Independent Weekly
''Indy Week'', formerly known as the ''Independent Weekly'' and originally the ''North Carolina Independent'', is a tabloid-format alternative weekly newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina, United States, and distributed throughout the Res ...
'', 23 June 2004 and a single "Move Over with Nature", featuring production from fellow North Carolina resident 9th Wonder. 9th Wonder remixed the beats from Kaze's debut, and it was re-issued as ''Spirit of '94 Version 9.0'', with re-recorded vocals, released by Brick Records in the United States and Handcuts Records in Japan. Kaze & 9th Wonder - ''Spirit of '94: Version 9.0'' Review , ''
Okayplayer
Okayplayer is an online hip-hop and alternative music website and community, described by ''Rolling Stone'' as a "tastemaker" and "an antidote to dull promotional Web sites used by most artists".
The community was founded by The Roots' drummer ...
'', 13 July 2005 Combined sales of ''Spirit of '94'' and ''Enemy of the State'' totalled over 10,000 copies.Lathrop, Spencer (2006) Starr Hill goes under(ground) ", ''Charlottesville News & Arts'', Issue #18.22, 2006 In 2006, he signed to
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records was an American hip hop record label known for starting the careers of many rappers. Rawkus started in 1995 with releases in hip-hop, drum and bass and fun-dustrial (Dystopia One).
Label heads Brian Brater and Jarret Myer then si ...
, with his second album proper, ''Block 2the Basement'' released in 2008. He performed as part of the
SXSW
South by Southwest, abbreviated as SXSW and colloquially referred to as South By, is an annual conglomeration of parallel film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences organized jointly that take place in mid-March in Austin, ...
festival in 2007.SXSW 2007 Showcasing Artists: Kaze ", SXSW In February 2009, he went on to become co-winner of the LOUD.COM Ultimate Rap Star contest, earning him a record deal with hip-hop business legend Steve Rifkind's SRC Records, distributed by Universal Motown. He joined forces with G-Unit/Shady's DJ Whoo Kid to release the "First in Flight" mixtape in September 2009.
Kaze founded the Sunday Night Sessions open-mic events in
Chapel Hill Chapel Hill or Chapelhill may refer to:
Places Antarctica
* Chapel Hill (Antarctica) Australia
*Chapel Hill, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane
*Chapel Hill, South Australia, in the Mount Barker council area
Canada
*Chapel Hill, Ottawa, a neighbou ...
Independent Weekly
''Indy Week'', formerly known as the ''Independent Weekly'' and originally the ''North Carolina Independent'', is a tabloid-format alternative weekly newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina, United States, and distributed throughout the Res ...
'', December 22, 2010, retrieved 2011-02-06
Discography
Albums
*''Spirit of '94'' album (2003) Soul Dojo/BCD/Universal Japan
*''Spirit of '94 Version 9.0'' album (2005) Brick (Kaze & 9th Wonder)
*''Block 2the Basement'' album (2008) Rawkus
Mixtapes
*''Enemy of the State'' mixtape (2004) Soul Dojo
*''Battleground Mixtape: Soul Dojo Edition'' (2006) Battleground/Soul Dojo (Kaze & DJ Battle)
*''Word on the Street'' mixtape (2006) Vintage/Soul Dojo
*''First in Flight aka 4Letters'' mixtape (2009) Street Records Corporation (Kaze & DJ Whoo Kid)
*''Black Kennedy'' mixtape (2012) Sound of The Culture (Kaze, Dark Matter Productions, The Dem, D.R.U.G.S., E. Jones, Erv Ford, Family Biz Ent., Johnny Juliano, K. Slack, LaPhelle,
M-Phazes
Mark Landon (born 1 February 1983), better known by his stage name M-Phazes, is an Australian-born producer based in LA. He has produced records for Logic, Demi Lovato, Madonna, Eminem, Kehlani, Zara Larsson, Remi Wolf, Kiiara, Noah Cyrus, ...
, Skates, & Talent Ted)
Singles
*"Move Over With Nature" single
*"50/50 Amp" 12" single (2004) Brick
*"Last Laugh" 12" single (2004) Brick (Kaze & 9th Wonder)