The DownBeat Keys formed almost by accident this past October at Hamilton College. Baldwin (keys), Cal (drums), Root (bass), and Ill Will (vocals) were waiting to audition for a benefit concert. Kadahj just happened to be there, and Baldwin asked him if he’d like to sit in. The brand new quintet got the gig and dubbed themselves “DBK”. A few weeks later, Jared Schneider (sax/guitar) stumbled into a rehearsal and became the sixth and final member. In the few months they’ve been together the DownBeat Keys have played dozens of shows in central New York and have become the most popular band at Hamilton. People love DBK for its funky grooves, catchy vocals, and raw energy. This April saw their first release, a six song EP entitled “Invisible Ink.” DBK plans to play a few shows in New York City this summer. By October, they should have a Northeast college tour scheduled along with a brand new EP.
1. What first inspired you to get into hip-hop?
DBK: As a band with six members, we all have different reasons for getting into hip-hop. Kadahj (MC/Singer) started off as a neo-soul singer, but realized if he was going to make it in the East Boston music scene, he’d have to start rapping. Ill Will was heavy into creative writing in high school. Hip-hop presented a way for him to infuse his words with even more passion than they originally had on the page. As for the instrumentalists, all of us came out of funk, jazz, and reggae styles of playing. We had always loved the grooves and rhythms of hip-hop, but weren’t into what most rappers had to say. When we got together with Will and Kadahj, we were blown away by how intricate and intelligent their rhymes were. Together, we realized we could do something new with both music and lyrics and write some really meaningful songs.
2. If you were a super hero, what powers would you choose and what would be your name?
Cal: I’d want the ability to embed any song into people’s brains. Like, if it looked like someone was having a bad day, I’d just throw on some Bob Marley that only they could hear. Or if it was people I didn’t like, I’d force them to listen to Akon’s “I Wanna Make Love Right Na Na Na” until they threw themselves off a cliff.
Ill Will: I’d be Terra-man, with the ability to control all things earthly and natural.
Root: Yeah, Terra-man is sort of what I’d be, except more like “plant guy,” with the ability to make any plant grow instantly. Along with that I’d like a set of iron lungs and the ability to make a small flame with my thumb…
Jared: Word, I’d want “Plant Guy” too.
3. If you could deck any celebrity in public and get away with it, who would it be?
Ill Will: Lindsey Lohan, because when I bumped into her at a bar in Long Island, I said “Excuse me” and she haughtily replied “Excuse you?” Plus, I believe in gender equality and would feel no remorse for decking her.
Kadahj: Diddy, because he takes people with talent and futures and destroys them.
Cal: Manny Ramirez.
4. If you were approached to do a reality show, what would be the name of it?
Baldwin: Daisy of Love.
Cal: Rock of Love with Bret Michaels.
Jared: Shot of Love with Tila Tequila.
Root: Made: I’m a goofy white kid from the middle of nowhere trying to play hip-hop.
5. Your girl caught you leaving the theater with another girl, give me your best lie.
Will: I’m so drunk, honey, I thought it was you.
Cal: This is my friend from back in the day who happens to be way hotter than you.
Baldwin: Well, your mom was busy, I had no choice.
6. What do you love and hate about hip-hop?
Kadahj: I love doing it, but I hate that it allows everyone to do it.
Ill Will: I love Hip-Hop’s energy, its rhythms, its promotion of linguistic creativity, and its expression of intellectual genius. I hate the people that don’t value these characteristics, because to me, they are treading upon hip-hop’s beauty.
Root: I love hip-hop made by musicians who actually have something to say. I hate that there are so many rappers making music just for money and their own egos. The songs are incredibly simple-minded so that people can hear them and like them immediately without thinking. There is so much of this crap coming from everywhere that people with any sort of deeper message than bitches and money get drowned out.
7. What’s the dopest shit about your city?
Root (New London, NH, population 3,000): Lakes, mountains, forests, and crazy rednecks.
Cal (Syracuse, NY): Corndogs.
Site:
myspace.com/downbeatkeys
Here’s their single ‘I Don’t Remember’.
