00:01
DJ Whippopatomus
What's good, Everybody? I am DJ Whippopatomus and you are listening to WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1 Raleigh. We are a student run nonprofit radio station based at a North Carolina State University. Here with me today is KHx05, who recently dropped their album BLXCK KXT. What's good with you? How you doing?
00:22
KHx05
Yo, what's good? What's up, fam out there? It's your girl KHx05 coming to you live.
00:28
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah. I'm really excited to finally get to talk to you. We've been in communication on Instagram for a minute. I really appreciate you sending in those clean edits, by the way.
00:38
KHx05
Oh, no problem. Anytime.
00:40
DJ Whippopatomus
So if you can, go ahead and introduce yourself to the audience. Where are you from, what you do?
00:45
KHx05
All right. My name is KHx05. I'm a multidisciplinary artist based in Carrboro, North Carolina. I'm originally from upstate New York, but, like, my family and roots are in the south, so very much Southerner. And, yeah, I've been like. Well, before music, I was actually dancing professionally. So actually that's where my career first started was just doing dancing. And then from backup dancing, I end up meeting a producer. And yeah, I ultimately end up getting into music from there and just kind of getting into the semen area. So, yeah.
01:24
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, yeah, that's really interesting. So how long have you been making music?
01:30
KHx05
Since 20, I want to say. 2018. 2018, I want to say. Yeah, yeah, 2018. I had a EP called Transformation, and that was like my first ever EP. It was with a friend, Maxville in the area. And so Fly was another person who helped with that project. But yeah, that was kind of like my first introduction to doing music ever. Even though my dad's side of the family, they all are just like, musically inclined.
02:02
DJ Whippopatomus
Really interesting.
02:03
KHx05
Yeah, that's cool. Yeah, yeah. My dad plays the piano. Uncle plays like, the guitar and stuff like that. So I kind of, from his side of family, I grew up listening to music.
02:13
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay, so you kind of grew up around that a lot.
02:16
KHx05
Yeah, I'm definitely a big, like, music had my big brothers. I grew up listening to, like, Rough Riders.
02:24
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
02:24
KHx05
You know, Jay Z and other times it was Ella Fitzgerald or Simone or. Yeah.
02:32
DJ Whippopatomus
So you. You were. You were taking in a lot of different genres.
02:36
KHx05
Oh, yeah, absolutely.
02:37
DJ Whippopatomus
That's dope.
02:40
KHx05
Yeah. No, I'm a Scorpio. So, like shapeshifting. I like the shape shift, go in and out, weaving in and out of stuff.
02:46
DJ Whippopatomus
Love it. So is there a story behind your name, KHx05.
02:55
KHx05
Oh, yeah. So, yeah.
02:57
DJ Whippopatomus
How did that come to be.
03:00
KHx05
So when I came out as gender non conforming around 2016, yeah, I just kind of wanted to like find a name that worked for myself. And yeah, at the time I was just like just bringing a lot of chaotic energy to me. And when I perform I feel like I. There's always this burst of KHx05 that pushes through that leads a lot of my performance. So yeah, I started going with KHx05 and so, yeah, that's how I came word.
03:28
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, I can definitely hear a little bit of KHx05 even. Even through. Through your songs when I'm listening to. I haven't seen you perform yet. I definitely want to though.
03:36
KHx05
Yes. Hopefully soon.
03:38
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, for sure.
03:39
KHx05
It's so wild right now with like a pandemic.
03:44
DJ Whippopatomus
I saw your video with NC State sessions with the Library. You did a little performance. I really like that performance. You can tell, like you're professional dancers. It's pretty dope how you incorporate that.
03:55
KHx05
Oh, thank you. I really appreciate that. Yeah, that was a fun session. To be honest. It was my first time doing like a musical performance with NC State, I believe. And yeah, I had a. It was an awesome time.
04:09
DJ Whippopatomus
So, yeah, speaking of your music, how would you describe your music? Does it fit in any type of genre or sub genre?
04:16
KHx05
So I like to put it into alternatives, to be honest. Even though I'm using rapping a lot as a tool in it, definitely I would put it more so into an alternative category. Yeah. Just because of the sound, the material. Like. Yeah, yeah, for sure. I'll put in for sure. Alternative.
04:41
DJ Whippopatomus
That's dope. So, yeah, your album BLXCK KXT just dropped recently. Last year.
04:47
KHx05
Yes.
04:48
DJ Whippopatomus
It has a real different sound and I just. I feel like there's so many different layers to it. It's just.
04:54
KHx05
Yay.
04:55
DJ Whippopatomus
It's a unique listen, for sure. Like there's really nothing else like it.
04:59
KHx05
Yeah.
05:00
DJ Whippopatomus
What is that? Is there words to put that into?
05:05
KHx05
Yeah, you know, so like BLXCK KXT, honestly. So BLXCK KXT is like named after like the song and so that just became the title. But BLXCK KXT, that song came about from me, like starting to get in touch with my Gullah roots and just kind of. Just kind of like my ancestors and where my family comes from in the south and getting into hoodoo and things of the nature. And so you work with spirits in these realms. And so BLXCK KXT is like inspired by like hoodoo spirits and things like that. So, you know, it's this magical. Yeah. This magical black world ultimately. And like BLXCK KXT is this. This entity that you can go to if you need anything. But you don't pay, like, BLXCK KXT back or if you don't, like, show respect, BLXCK KXT will take you out.
05:59
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay. Okay. Interesting.
06:00
KHx05
So.
06:01
DJ Whippopatomus
Wow.
06:01
KHx05
It kind of like that kind of just like drove the. The EP and then from there it was like Edna mode and all these things. Very dark. I'm a person that. I'm very inspired by death. I'm very inspired by the dark because I feel like so many people run from the dark. Yeah, that's kind of where you find your true self, I feel like. So I've been definitely trying to be more authentic to myself. Just digging into that darkness.
06:28
DJ Whippopatomus
Absolutely. Wow. That's very deep. There are a lot of layers to that, for sure. So who did you work with on the project? Producers, the COVID art, Anything else?
06:40
KHx05
Yeah, I was going to say. So I worked with predominantly queer and trans artists on the record. I think the only people on track that wasn't produced by a trans person was Boonki and Run It Up.
06:59
DJ Whippopatomus
That's dope.
07:00
KHx05
I feel like everybody else that on that was like queer and trans. And it was really intentional with that because I feel like. Like, I don't know, I'm a. I'm a black trans woman in music right now, and there's just not a lot of us. And a lot of the times when, you know, when we do push into spaces, you're not, you know, it's kind of. It's weird to be in those spaces. So.
07:21
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah, just.
07:24
KHx05
Yeah, Just cultivating stuff for me. New stuff. Sorry, one sec. Yeah, yeah, Take your time. Oh, okay. Lost my train of thought now.
07:37
DJ Whippopatomus
You're good. Yeah. So you really seem to be, like kind of a. An activist or at least a spokesperson for the black trans community. I think that's a really beautiful thing that you do with your work, honestly.
07:48
KHx05
Yeah. Because I'm just. I don't know, it's. For me, I'm like. We live in a time frame to where, like, social justice is very trendy. I'll say. And so, like, a lot of conversations are centering black trans people. But Right. A lot of times, like, the things that, like, people don't really talk about or I would like to see more of is the fact of just kind of like, you know, people are there for black trans people when it's, like, convenient or like, social justice clout. And so, yeah, I wanted to really, like, yeah, just kind of make music for black trans people and just really be like, hey, I'm here for you. And I see this. That's happening.
08:22
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
08:23
KHx05
And we can build some new for ourselves. Ultimately that's kind of like. That's ultimately my goal with like the music is like liberating people, building more spaces for like queer and trans people, especially black and brown trans people.
08:37
DJ Whippopatomus
Absolutely.
08:38
KHx05
Yeah. Powering through because. Yeah. I just feel like it's so hard to find a job at all as a trans person, you know?
08:46
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah.
08:47
KHx05
Let alone black and trans during a pandemic.
08:50
DJ Whippopatomus
So.
08:51
KHx05
Yeah. Just wanted to empower.
08:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. There's. There's a lot of power to that and power to your music as well. You're also very open about mental health and your mental health specifically. And I. I always love to. To see people show that type of vulnerability. I have experience with mental health myself, working in mental health and also dealing with it.
09:12
KHx05
Yeah. I was going to say I saw. So I'm a person who. So I'm neurodivergent. I'm autistic.
09:19
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
09:20
KHx05
I either have ADD or adhd.
09:22
DJ Whippopatomus
Which one?
09:22
KHx05
I forgot. I got diagnosed like a while ago, so I actually forgot the. But yeah, I. I also am a person that deals with CPTSD and other mental illnesses. So I've. It's. It's taken me a long time to get to a place to where I'm vulnerable.
09:40
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Yeah.
09:41
KHx05
You know, able to like, be in a safer place just because before I play. Oh, yeah, I'm good, but I'm like going to hell.
09:48
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Facts.
09:50
KHx05
And also, I think, like, people tend to stigmatize people with mental illness. Not realizing that majority of people deal with mental illness. And so, yeah, I want there to people to normalize being able to talk about mental health, be able to talk about substance abuse.
10:07
DJ Whippopatomus
I'm with that.
10:07
KHx05
Talk about, you know, anything like that.
10:10
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, no, I love that. Yeah. Just I'm always attracted to music that shows some type of vulnerability. That's really what I'm into nowadays. Like, there's a lot of music that's kind of like one vibe only, and it's kind of been that way, but I'm really starting to move over to a little bit more substance, if you know what I'm saying.
10:30
KHx05
Yeah, no, I feel that because it's like, you know, I'm all about having fun and all of that, but like, oh, no, lately for me too, I've been in a place of like, I want something that's going to nourish me, that speaks to me because I'm like, we already got enough people talking about, I got money this, blah, blah. Blah, blah, blah. You know, that's that and the other, I'm just like, that's.
10:50
DJ Whippopatomus
That's money.
10:54
KHx05
It's like, it's dope, it's a mood. But yeah, it's not that innovative, to be honest.
10:59
DJ Whippopatomus
Exactly. It's just getting kind of old. I'll be real, to be honest. I love it. I love some of those vibes. But yeah, time moves on.
11:10
KHx05
Yeah, but I'm like, you know, I, I definitely. Especially because I'm. I'm trying to make my art sound like stuff that's more authentic and more real about what's happening around me. So. Yeah.
11:22
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, that's. That's why I love your music too, because, like, you show vulnerability, but it's still hard at the same time. That's like my favorite combination. Vulnerable but hard.
11:31
KHx05
You know, I'm feeling sour. I'm a cabbage patch kid. Yeah. I come with it when I need to. And yeah, to be sweet, I'm a. I'm a big ass nerd, to be honest. Majority of times people are like, super. One of the things I've learned over the past year just is like how much like how I intimidate people and didn't know that people were intimidated by me.
11:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, word.
11:54
KHx05
Yeah. Like, apparently people are really intimidated by me. And so like a lot of the times, like I'm. I don't know, maybe it's because I deal with social anxiety and I'm not one to necessarily start. Be like, hey, yeah. And so I guess that comes across as though I feel that.
12:11
DJ Whippopatomus
It's funny how people experience social anxiety in different ways because I too experience social anxiety. But like, I. I don't know, I just kind of close myself off sometimes and like, I'll still like smile and say what's up? And like add to some conversation. But like, deep down inside, like, there's a whole lot more I could express if I was only comfortable to do.
12:31
KHx05
So, to be honest. Yeah. And that's. Yeah. Because you know what it is also too, it's that like that toxic positivity thing.
12:38
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
12:39
KHx05
Positive all the time. Yeah. Be like, oh, no, actually, you know what life is? I'm learning that it's not hitting right now.
12:46
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. I've learned that it's important to embrace all the feelings that come to you and instead of, you know, push through it in quotations like that push through mentality just ends up hurting more in the end. Gotta acknowledge it.
13:00
KHx05
Literally. I come from, you know, I come from that kind of background. My. My. My mother was a military back. My grandmother and, like, was in Vietnam and Korea.
13:13
DJ Whippopatomus
Shout out to them. For real?
13:15
KHx05
Yeah, shout out to them. Because I would be there without that. I'm not one for warfare like that.
13:21
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, yeah, I feel you.
13:24
KHx05
But for sure. Yeah. No, I. Yeah. Just come from a background discipline of structure and having to,
13:33
DJ Whippopatomus
Like, toughness.
13:35
KHx05
Yeah. And just kind of like. Yeah. It wasn't an excuse. Like, any excuse. Anything that happened was automatically on us and, like, we automatically had to, like, deal with it and keep it pushing. Otherwise. Yeah, otherwise it was that. It was that ass.
13:50
DJ Whippopatomus
No, I feel you. Yeah, I was actually. Was actually in the army myself, so, yeah, I feel that mentality. That's why I got out, honestly.
13:58
KHx05
Yeah.
13:58
DJ Whippopatomus
And, like, I really don't.
14:00
KHx05
What was that you. Because you, like, burn yourself. Oh. You know.
14:04
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
14:04
KHx05
We already live in a capitalist, you know, system that says, you know, we have to produce something. You know, if we not produce or anything, then, like, what's the point? Like, you're nothing.
14:15
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Yeah.
14:16
KHx05
You know, like. Yeah, just kind of. I've had to. I. Well, this year especially, I've, like, learned how. It's really hard for me to relax, and I've had to, like, learn how to relax.
14:30
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
14:33
KHx05
Yeah. So definitely forever. Whoever is listening to this right now, like, don't feel like you got. Just keep working yourself to death because it's not the tea facts, and also it's not going to get you anywhere faster, to be honest.
14:48
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
14:50
KHx05
So I feel like I don't know this the time that I took for myself to actually focus on what I want and need throughout this pandemic and just kind of like the stuff I didn't want to need, really. Yeah. Just made me tap into a deeper part of myself.
15:03
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
15:04
KHx05
Creatively, spiritually, mentally. Hell, yeah. So, yeah, love to hear that.
15:10
DJ Whippopatomus
We're going to take a quick break to play BLXCK KXT off of KHx05's latest album, BLXCK KXT. Y' all enjoy. We'll be right back.
15:46
Music
[KHx05 – BLXCK KXT]
17:31
DJ Whippopatomus
What's good, everybody? And we're back. I'm DJ Whippopatomus and I'm here with KHx05. Sorry. Usually when I'm in person, it's a lot easier because I like, I point. But this is a phone interview, by the way. Y' all forgot to mention that. Very exclusive. So, yeah, I want to get back into your. Your music. First of all, I wanted to ask, do you have any plans for any music videos? Because you seem like. You seem to have such creative visions, so I'd be excited for. For one of those.
18:06
KHx05
Yeah. So I. Not it. Not currently. I'm not working one.
18:11
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
18:11
KHx05
I'm currently record. Working on collabs and like, the next project. Yeah. So I'm working on is an alternative punk record called Rage of the Violent Femme. Whoa.
18:28
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, it sounds like you already have it, like, all planned out.
18:31
KHx05
Oh, yeah. So it. Well, I already knew I was gonna make an alternate punk record, but this is gonna be a follow up to my first mixtape, the violent film mixtape.
18:39
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
18:40
KHx05
That I released in, I want to say, 2019.
18:43
DJ Whippopatomus
Is that on. On platforms?
18:46
KHx05
Yeah, but it's kind of hard to find right now.
18:48
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
18:51
KHx05
Yeah. Because it's under. So it's under, like, my name, but, like.
18:56
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah.
18:57
KHx05
It's just weird. And the funny thing is, like, I've had the, like, gone through, like, disrupted to try to, like, have it transferred.
19:05
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
19:06
KHx05
And, like, it'll only show it under a few platforms. So right now I'm probably going to go through a process of, like, taking the stuff off my distrokit and then replacing it.
19:17
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
19:18
KHx05
So. Yeah, so you'll probably be able to hear it, like, sooner actually. And it's probably gonna be a situation to where I might. I'm gonna release the. Re Release the mixtape and then release. Then release the new one, so.
19:30
DJ Whippopatomus
Can't wait.
19:31
KHx05
Yeah, it's gonna be. It's Definitely. Honestly, it's my favorite work that I've done, to be honest.
19:37
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh word. You're talking about the upcoming project or the. Okay, so how much of a departure is it from your. Your last album that you dropped? Just like sound wise.
19:50
KHx05
Sound wise is. It's. You know what? Sound wise. It's a lot more. Is definitely more rock. It's a lot more funk influencing it. I've been listening. So with this record, I've been going back to listen to a lot of just kind of like old punk music. Just getting down to like the fundamentals of things. So I've been listening to like Sex Pistols and Swan, things like that. And so yeah, it's sounds like that are on there. There's some. Some island influence on there. Like Bounty. Yeah, yeah. So I have this track called act up that's going to be on like. Like as far as like sound goes. It's like on the caliber of Boonki, but I think. I think it hits way harder than it were politically wise.
20:41
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, I love it.
20:43
KHx05
Yeah. So that's going to be a bob. I have a kind of reggaeton kind of. What is it? It's like partially reggaeton, but it's also by that funk.
20:57
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh my goodness, this is gonna be lit. There's just so many different. Different elements combined.
21:03
KHx05
Yeah.
21:04
DJ Whippopatomus
That's what I really like about your sound too is like, have you listened to grime before? UK rap?
21:08
KHx05
Oh, yeah.
21:10
DJ Whippopatomus
I forget what song it was. But like, there's one song of yours where like, damn, this kind of sounds like that for a second. It's just like. It's just your album has so much to offer, like sound wise. And I feel like a person of a person, no matter what genre they come from, like, they can come to appreciate your sound.
21:28
KHx05
No, honestly. Yeah, no, like that. So with this project, one of the things I wanted to. Really partially why I'm doing this too is because I. When you used rap as a tool in music, not necessarily like identify as a rapper.
21:44
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah.
21:44
KHx05
All kind of like potential you into this box and wanted you to like stay in the box.
21:48
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, exactly.
21:49
KHx05
All these things. So one, I need. I needed to just let everybody know that's not who the I be. Like, most of the records are going to be like, different than the other one. Like that's always probably going to be the case. But I also wanted to also kind of reclaim punk music because punk music tends to be a thing that only is centered around Cis White, especially since Hetman. And so there's a Rich history of just black people in general in the punk. And so I wanted to, you know, put myself into that to be like, honestly, I'm here to it. And honestly, who's more punk than a black trans fan? To be honest, in this world?
22:31
DJ Whippopatomus
Facts. No, those are major facts. I feel that.
22:34
KHx05
So I wanted to do that and also let people know that punk isn't necessarily rock. That's one thing. So people. Punk doesn't always have to be rock. And so I wanted to let people know that punk could be anything, to be honest. It could be by that phone, it could be trap, it can be electronics.
22:52
DJ Whippopatomus
Labels get people stuck. You know, we gotta. We all gotta be a little bit more fluid with our understanding of these things. It's just. It's just not set in stone, you know.
23:02
KHx05
Oh yeah, truly. I'm just like. Yeah, when you. I guess also too, when you stay that way, like you're not able to like innovate anything. Everything is kind of like sound the same after that point, so. And that's also why I was just like, you know what, the next record has got to be a lot different. So I feel like more singing.
23:23
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, okay.
23:24
KHx05
Singing on there and. Well, yeah, I was gonna say like definitely a lot more singing. Inspired definitely. By like Deftones. So. I'm a big Deftones fan. So my. It seems similar to that. If you know the lead singer's voice, that's kind of the vibe it's bringing.
23:47
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
23:48
KHx05
Yeah. So kind of like if you've seen the Butcher, if you know that song, that's some like some of the vibes that's this record. Okay.
23:58
DJ Whippopatomus
Interesting. Yeah, I'm excited for it. Yeah, definitely. Keep me posted with that.
24:02
KHx05
It's gonna be. Yeah. Cuz it's gonna be quick too. I like the songs. So this was originally gone. The project was gonna be an ep. But then I realized like the tracks that I have are actually pretty short for, except for like a few of them. So you know what, we'll just do a little quick mixtape and then that way I can like get this punk out, you know, let people know and then work on the Beast, which would be the following project after that, which is already pretty much like to be honest, the next project after.
24:33
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh man, you already think about the next. Next project.
24:36
KHx05
I already have it. Like that's to be honest, like I have probably like written like as far as like it written probably like three albums.
24:47
DJ Whippopatomus
Damn. All right.
24:49
KHx05
Yeah.
24:50
DJ Whippopatomus
All right. Be ready.
24:52
KHx05
Yeah. Plus the collab that's going to be coming out and be ready. I'm super excited about it's coming. Like, I don't know. It's some big collabs coming.
25:00
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, wait.
25:01
KHx05
Yeah. Like, one of them is really huge. And I'm like. I'm just like. Because I'm like, when this. When it happened, people don't know. That's all the I know. That's all I know. So I'm just like, just praying to my ancestors let this happen because they'll really pump me. It'll really get me out there. And, you know, I just feel like. I don't know. It's interesting because, like, the. You would think there. There would be a lot more black trans femmes being pushed in the music, like elevated in the music industry. Like, hey, let's just get them all up in here since we know the girls is not doing, but always the crew. So I'm coming with it.
25:44
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
25:45
KHx05
I'm definitely coming with it.
25:46
DJ Whippopatomus
Yes. I love it. Low key. I feel like the Triangle is starting to develop this like, punk rap scene because I've interviewed. I've interviewed a few rappers now that kind of describe their sound as that as like punk. And like, have you heard of Juice Lord? I bring them up every interview. It's funny. But do you know who Juice Lord is familiar with?
26:08
KHx05
Juice Lord?
26:08
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Okay. All right. I shouldn't even ask, right?
26:12
KHx05
But yeah, like, you know, Juice Lord is very. I'll say that Juice lore is. Musically, I like what I've heard from Juice Lord and I've actually gone to a Juice Lord show.
26:21
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, me too.
26:22
KHx05
Musically, Barry Inclined musically. There solidarity as far as social consciousness goes in general. I just wish more cishet men in the industry overall in the Triangle area were. Were a lot more. Just would combat transphobia and homophobia a little bit more.
26:44
DJ Whippopatomus
It's interesting. Yeah, it's interesting that you say that because I was just interviewing Godric. Another Chapel Hill. Yeah. You know Godric.
26:52
KHx05
Oh, yeah.
26:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, okay.
26:53
KHx05
Yeah, Godric is fresh. Yes.
26:56
DJ Whippopatomus
Love Godric.
26:57
KHx05
Yeah, Godric is. Yeah. Anytime I've like, you know, been around Godric and like out at an event or something, like, yeah, they're. They always on. They always look good. They give a show and they handle their business and then they bounce. I love that energy. Yeah.
27:14
DJ Whippopatomus
Gotcha. Was talking about how Juice Lord kind of helped put. Put them on and he. They were really surprised on how open Juice Lord was to. Just to their lifestyle and to the community that they brought.
27:25
KHx05
Yeah.
27:25
DJ Whippopatomus
So it's really cool to see all that. Come. Come Together.
27:30
KHx05
Yeah. No, it's interesting because we do, like, we know, like, some of the mutuals. My experience with Juice was personally at a show of his, and he made a comment about people with vaginas coming up to the front of the stage.
27:43
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, word.
27:44
KHx05
Right. So it's very, like, specific. And so.
27:47
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah.
27:48
KHx05
I'm just like, you know, I mean, you know, for me, I'm like, I'm not going to just, like, be dragging people also. I'm like, if you go support, you know, queer. Queer folks and trans folks, do it all the way. Don't have to do it. You know what I'm saying? So. Yeah, but. And honestly, I'll probably, like, at some point. I do want to, like, talk to Juice Lord, because I'm just like, Juice Lord has a big platform here, and it's so sick and could be even sicker with the right, like, information, you know?
28:19
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, we can all be stronger together. That's kind of like my phrase.
28:23
KHx05
I've been pushing, honestly, and just to have safer spaces, too, because, yeah, honestly, as a. As a black, as a, like, trans film performer, to be honest, there anytime I'm in a space for, like, just happen. To be honest. It's not really a safe space, to be honest.
28:41
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
28:41
KHx05
So I think also I think I want to see more. Yeah. Just more like, areas, like safe spaces that do have sys. Headmen, but who are informed and able to be in solidarity.
28:55
DJ Whippopatomus
No, I love that. That's. That's a whole lot of knowledge. There's a whole lot of potential for that too. Just. Yeah, it just got to be propagated, you know, it's got to start somewhere.
29:03
KHx05
Yeah. Honestly. Right. Setting, to be honest. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. Yeah. I'm a bitch. I'm like. Yeah, like the crab in the barrel mentality, like, you see it all the time. And that's like, why black people. You don't see as many people elevate as they could. So I'm a person. I'm just like, you know, let's. Let's elevate together. How can we get things popping?
29:27
DJ Whippopatomus
Exactly. So I'd like to go a bit deeper into your personal music journey, or just your journey in general, just to help the listeners get to know you better.
29:37
KHx05
Yeah.
29:38
DJ Whippopatomus
So what was it like growing up in your hometown?
29:42
KHx05
My hometown?
29:43
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Well, you went to high school, so.
29:46
KHx05
When I went to high school, do.
29:47
DJ Whippopatomus
You consider that your hometown?
29:49
KHx05
Hell, no. Okay.
29:50
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, tell me about it, actually.
29:52
KHx05
So. Okay, so I'm originally from Rochester, New York, upstate.
29:56
DJ Whippopatomus
Word. Okay.
29:57
KHx05
And I've also partially lived in Baltimore.
30:01
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh wow.
30:02
KHx05
Yeah. So like we moved here around when I was like 11. My mother moved my family and I down here around like 11 and I went to school. We lived in Raleigh and we like lived in like some Section 8 housing. That's still there. My mom's still there. Awesome woman. But they had us go to school out and carry because this was like around the redistricting what's happening in this area. So like they had. They were just trying to bring kids from different areas into one school. So I went to school at Panther Creek High School.
30:39
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
30:40
KHx05
And it was like a product was like a. Actually I think when I went there we didn't even have a scene class that yet. That's how new it was. So Carrie, my experience in Carrie was very double edged sword because in one sense like it's part of like what makes me now and just kind of like I met some dope friends in high school but also I realize now as an adult of how stressful high school was for me to be honest. Because I was coming from a poor working class family.
31:16
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
31:16
KHx05
And like a lot of my friends were like they lived in Gary. I didn't live in Gary.
31:21
DJ Whippopatomus
So yeah.
31:22
KHx05
You know they had all these resources, the nice clothes and like my mom was like a woman just working for Walmart and stuff. You know, having pressure to get the new clothes and all that other stuff. Yeah. So yeah. I would call it my hometown. But Durham.
31:40
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
31:40
KHx05
I do love Durham.
31:41
DJ Whippopatomus
Love Durham.
31:42
KHx05
I definitely have like a soft spot for Durham in my heart. Just because that's like, that's where I started like dancing professionally.
31:49
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
31:50
KHx05
That's where I met a lot of my queer and trans and I know now and built like a lot of my like support honestly. Right in that area.
32:00
DJ Whippopatomus
A lot of culture.
32:02
KHx05
Yeah, very much so. You know, so.
32:04
DJ Whippopatomus
And I know things are changing now, but.
32:07
KHx05
Yeah, things are changing you. You know, it's interesting. For better or for worse, Durham have changed. Not always the best.
32:15
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
32:16
KHx05
But the community there. Well like they try.
32:20
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Yeah.
32:21
KHx05
And that's what I love about them is that they try. And yeah, for the most part like it. I felt. Always felt like safe in Durham.
32:30
DJ Whippopatomus
Right. It's interesting the different. I was just about to say that the vibe difference from Durham, the Raleigh, it's. It's real, you know?
32:38
KHx05
Yeah, no, completely. Completely. I like it's interesting. Yeah. Because like Raleigh, I say Raleigh is like very much like a capitalist. Like it's on his way Trying to be like a capitalist city big and have all these people come in. But I think because of Durham being a smaller town, plus it's like rich history of like activism, work and like, you know, things happening there.
33:01
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
33:02
KHx05
People don't know socially. Yeah. Bingo. Plus Duke is there too. So just to add a layer of like academia wanting to be like, you know, oh, I'm woke. Like knowledge. It kind of. Yeah. It put. Makes it a little bit safer. Like. Yeah. Because I don't even think Raleigh have like gender. Do they have like gender neutral bathrooms or Raleigh.
33:26
DJ Whippopatomus
Not that I've seen. I go out more in Durham than Raleigh because I. I hate the dress code. Downtown Raleigh. At least in Glenwood.
33:33
KHx05
Oh my God.
33:33
DJ Whippopatomus
They really got me one time and I just. It just left me unnerved ever since.
33:40
KHx05
No high key. No. They definitely a lot of dress codes. I was very anti black because it's like. Yeah. It's always like, oh, no sneakers, you can't be wearing. No like.
33:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Exactly. That's what they try to get me on too. It was. Man, don't get me going.
34:00
KHx05
But see, yeah, I used to be a. I used to be the one that like. So y' all just got anti black. Like.
34:07
DJ Whippopatomus
Exactly.
34:11
KHx05
People was really getting pressed because I was like catching them off guard.
34:14
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
34:15
KHx05
But yeah, no Jerome. I love Jerome. And now I'm in Carrboro and honestly like being in Carrboro currently because I need. I needed a break. Yeah. I just needed like a break from Durham for a little bit and to just kind of like be on some low key. So. Yeah. And like this area, Carrboro, slow. And you know, it's a college. It's college like right around. So there's still kids and stuff. But as far as like Migos, I'm just indoors making music and plotting.
34:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Right.
34:54
KHx05
So it's a good place for me to be right now.
34:57
DJ Whippopatomus
How would you describe your sense of fashion?
35:01
KHx05
My sense of fashion? Definitely. Definitely alternative. Heavily. Like. Like a lot of my fashion students were. Comes from just like growing up in New York. My sister used to model. I was really into fashion growing up. So like that's where a lot of that comes from. And just kind of street kit like the street kids in New York mixed with like the art school kids. That's. That's me.
35:29
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay. Bet.
35:30
KHx05
Love it. Yeah. But. But I'm also though I'm not a person that even though I like have this like huge sense of like fashion and things like that, to be honest, I will up some. Some clothes. Like. Yeah, clothes Just something like I'll put on.
35:47
DJ Whippopatomus
But yeah, I hear that. I'm with you. What. What artists or what's an artist that you've been listening to a lot lately that you've been really vibing with?
35:59
KHx05
Okay, so this I've been listening to Backwash. Who? Super dope.
36:05
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
36:06
KHx05
Black punk transfer.
36:08
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah.
36:09
KHx05
They're. Oh, they're so sick. I actually talked to him. They talked to her the other day about.
36:13
DJ Whippopatomus
Really?
36:15
KHx05
Yeah. Like, fingers crossed we go see what happens in the future. But I love Backwash. Backwash is so sweet.
36:22
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
36:24
KHx05
So, yeah, I would love for.
36:26
DJ Whippopatomus
I love that music to come out, but honestly, when I listened to you, it did remind me a little bit of their sound.
36:33
KHx05
I just. So I. I just listened to, like, their album because I have heard, like, songs of theirs over the years, like, randomly, like.
36:42
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, right.
36:42
KHx05
Song or two. But I recently just like a month or so sat and listened to their recent album, and that thing, like, it really broke me down.
36:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Oh, man.
36:55
KHx05
I feel that way possible.
36:56
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. Yeah.
36:58
KHx05
It just kind of made me think about just, like, vulnerability. Whether really vulnerable on the track in Backwash.
37:05
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
37:05
KHx05
Like, the way their writing is. Their handwriting is sickening. Yeah. So I've been listening to them. Pink Panthers is another one.
37:15
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
37:16
KHx05
Pink Panther, she's a young girl from the uk.
37:21
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
37:22
KHx05
And she does like, UK two step kind of stuff. And then I've also been listening to a ton of the Idols. And, like, they're like a punk band from the uk, too. But they just released the album. That's really great. So they've been on. On, like, rotation. Rochelle Jordan is another one. Electronic artist. Yeah. Like, it's. Yeah, a lot of those roles.
37:54
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
37:55
KHx05
I'm always listening to Azalea Banks. Oh, Twigs, this new record.
37:58
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
37:59
KHx05
That's another sick project. Yeah.
38:01
DJ Whippopatomus
Do you listen to a lot of music?
38:03
KHx05
Honestly, like, I can. Yeah. I consume music on.
38:06
DJ Whippopatomus
I hear that.
38:07
KHx05
Yeah. To be honest, big music nerd.
38:10
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
38:11
KHx05
Because eventually, like, off, like. Because after I get done with, like, the fun stuff, eventually I do want to, like, get into jazz.
38:20
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh.
38:21
KHx05
Just because. Yeah. My. My father started him there.
38:23
DJ Whippopatomus
Really.
38:24
KHx05
And just kind of like a. Having a bass voice. I want to get some vocal trainings and.
38:30
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. All right.
38:34
KHx05
So. But yeah.
38:35
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, I got a few more questions.
38:37
KHx05
Who I'm listening to. Right. Yeah, that's who I'm listening to right now.
38:39
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, yeah.
38:40
KHx05
And who I want to collab with, too.
38:42
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
38:43
KHx05
Especially I'm like, hey, hit me up.
38:45
DJ Whippopatomus
Hey, y'. All here, y'. All heard it. Hit him up. Let them know, gotta happen. What's. What's your favorite place to eat? Just in the Triangle. Really? Anywhere in North Carolina. Locally? No chains.
38:59
KHx05
I'm like, damn, you asked me about food now, love.
39:05
DJ Whippopatomus
It's fun to talk about food.
39:07
KHx05
So one. Okay. So I bust down the silly cheesesteak from this place called iP3.
39:14
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
39:15
KHx05
Like, all the time. That's definitely, like one of my spots. Straight up Car burritos is another one. Dame's Chicken and Waffles.
39:26
DJ Whippopatomus
Classic.
39:28
KHx05
There's another. Oh, it's a Jamaican spot.
39:33
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, yeah.
39:34
KHx05
Jamaican spot in Raleigh. That's really dope.
39:36
DJ Whippopatomus
Word.
39:37
KHx05
Yeah. Pretty much, like, don't. Yeah, I like most food. That's. Yeah, I pretty much don't turn down food for the most part. Unless, like, yeah, I do. You know, it's not hitting.
39:53
DJ Whippopatomus
Next question. Are you a pet person? What's your favorite type of pet?
40:00
KHx05
Yes, I am a pet person. I like dogs and cats equally. I like snakes, too. I don't have a snake, but I do love snakes, too.
40:10
DJ Whippopatomus
So if you had to pick, though, are you a dog or cat person? Because I have a dog and cat too, so I feel the pain.
40:16
KHx05
Right. You know what? That's such a. Because they're both dope for completely different reasons. I think right now I would probably choose a dog just because of the companionship aspects during the lockdown and all. Yeah. But, like, you know, if I really need, like, if I started traveling again, cat would be more.
40:40
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, cats are easy. Easy to take care of. You can leave them alone for a while, as long as they got food, water, somewhere to pee. They're like a roommate that don't do nothing for you.
40:50
KHx05
Literally autonomous. They're just like, you just do what I need and then peace out. So. Yeah. Oh, if I could get a pet, though, any pet, it would be a red panda, but that'd be lit, you know? But that's kind of problematic because people always trying to get some, like, wow.
41:10
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, I love raccoons. Honestly, I love the personality of raccoons, how they use their little hands.
41:18
KHx05
The trash pandas.
41:19
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, exactly.
41:22
KHx05
Yeah. Honestly, they look very similar to red pandas.
41:25
DJ Whippopatomus
Oh, yeah. I guess that's true a little bit.
41:28
KHx05
Not too. What about you? Which word? You. Dog or cat?
41:36
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, I love both, but I'm definitely more of a cat person. First off, cats are just underrated. Still, a lot of people still don't understand cats, and that's what I kind of like about them too. But just personality wise, they're not as needy. Sometimes they can be. Just depends. But like, they're not as needy as a dog. You know, dogs can be so food driven. And my cat is too sometimes. But like that. That's not what. What drives him. He. He can be. He can be pretty rude sometimes, but it's always funny when he is. He just likes knocking stuff down or licking our hair.
42:10
KHx05
Just like.
42:11
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, he be having an attitude. Shout out. Icy Shot my cat out real quick.
42:20
KHx05
Yeah, I'm gonna say they definitely got an attitude.
42:23
DJ Whippopatomus
But like, they play together. They both got an attitude. My dog and my cat. And my cat's older than my dog. And when we got the dog, she was real small and the cat was bullying him or bullying her. And now my dog, she's a German shepherd boxer mix now. I mean, it's. The cat still bullies or even with as big as the dog is. But like the cat's whole head will be in the dog's mouth just while they're playing. They play pretty rough too, but like, they don't hurt each other. They just. They know what's up. They grew up with each other.
42:55
KHx05
I know the vibe, so. Yeah, I feel that.
42:59
DJ Whippopatomus
All right, one last question before we close things out. I always like to ask people, how many hours of sleep do you get a night?
43:06
KHx05
Oh, actually not that much, to be honest.
43:09
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah.
43:09
KHx05
So truth be told.
43:10
DJ Whippopatomus
So like, everyone functions differently.
43:13
KHx05
Yeah. Plus, like living with like, cptsd.
43:16
DJ Whippopatomus
Right.
43:16
KHx05
My experience, I tend to have a lot of, like, most nights I have nightmares, so.
43:22
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay.
43:22
KHx05
I normally wake up like multiple times in the night.
43:26
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, yeah.
43:27
KHx05
And then once I'm up, I normally like 6:30, going on 7. And then from there I'm just like, meta. I'll like, pray in the morning and then I'll work out.
43:38
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay, that's dope.
43:42
KHx05
Yeah.
43:43
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah. So I'm gonna start closing things out. Is there anything else you'd like to let the listeners know?
43:49
KHx05
Yeah, I would say if you want to find my stuff. Yeah, yeah.
43:54
DJ Whippopatomus
Where can they find your music and your socials?
43:57
KHx05
So you can find my. My music on my socials on my Instagram, which is Cruel World of KHx05. KHx05 is KHX05.
44:08
DJ Whippopatomus
Right.
44:09
KHx05
And then on Twitter, Legend of KHx05, all caps and it's spelled the Same way, K H x 05. But my music is on all platforms, all streaming platforms. My music videos are on YouTube, so go check those out. But other than that, it was. I had a lot of fun and I hope see people out at like, Venues again.
44:35
DJ Whippopatomus
Facts, facts. Real soon, Real soon. I'm hoping we're getting there.
44:39
KHx05
Yeah, we're just about there. I feel like actually have something coming up. Oh, yeah, what's up with that on February 18th?
44:50
DJ Whippopatomus
Okay. Is there a fire? Is it on your page or anything?
44:53
KHx05
Yeah, it'll. It'll be up soon. Okay, definitely. For sure.
44:56
DJ Whippopatomus
So stay tuned.
44:57
KHx05
Follow me then. Yeah, I'll be up soon.
44:59
DJ Whippopatomus
Facts, facts. I'll be looking forward to that.
45:01
KHx05
Thanks for having me.
45:02
DJ Whippopatomus
Yeah, it's been a pleasure. Thanks for sharing your story with us. It really means a lot and I appreciate our listeners for tuning in. And you can check out the interview I did with Jooselord and other local artists at wknc.org/podcast and click on Off the Record. I am DJ Whippopatomus. And I was here with.
45:28
KHx05
KHx05.
45:28
DJ Whippopatomus
There you go on WKNC 88.1 FM HD1, Raleigh. I'm gonna send y' all off with one more song by KHx05, and that is called Boonkey. Don't forget we are stronger together. So show each other some love, y'all be easy.
46:26
Music
[KHx05 – BOONKEY]