Back home in the Netherlands, Kay became hooked on American hip-hop at an early age. Even before he could write a single word, he was rapping along with the boys in eighth grade. At the Ghanaian church, he was captivated by the spiritual gospel music. And when he first encountered language and the complexity of certain children’s stories, it became clear to him: he was a wordsmith at heart.
At the age of 14, Kay began writing lyrics. The self-taught artist honed his craft by rapping along with flow virtuoso Busta Rhymes, memorizing his rhyming book, and studying Nas’s inventive narrative perspectives (backward, from the perspective of a gun). In his own little bedroom studio, he recorded track after track using a microphone wrapped in a sock, but no one except his friends ever got to hear them.
Kay’s musical career took off when he co-founded the hip-hop group Brandwerk with a group of MCs and producers. With their experimental sound and layered lyrics, the group garnered accolades and even won over the Dutch Royal Family. Although Kay thrives in a group setting and enjoys the live experience he gains, he is ready to forge his own musical identity as a solo artist. His search for his artistic identity coincides with a personal journey through Ghanaian villages, innovative percussionists, and recording studios.
In Rotterdam, Kay then puts together a talented live band, and he discovers that rap alone isn’t enough—his message requires a broader musical palette. As soon as he begins combining rap with melodies, he finds that he’s getting closer and closer to his true self, both as an artist and as a person.
Today, 29-year-old Kevin Adu Yeboah Martin makes music as Kay Slice. There’s no straightforward genre that his sound fits into—it’s a sound that unfolds from a hip-hop foundation into Afrobeat and highlife—the soil from which Afrobeat once sprang—spoken word, funk, and soul. The tracks he’s released so far are brimming with soul: they’re empowering affirmations, urgent rap, and vocals set to Ghanaian and funk-heavy rhythm sections. Kay effortlessly weaves these genres together as the soundtrack to his story.
Kay Slice’s soulful hip-hop and post-highlife hybrid is uplifting; it’s soulful. It’s the result of a quest to find his true self, through his motherland and fatherland, Ghana. Kay therefore sees music as the ideal way to connect more deeply with his roots. Afrobeat represents the part of himself that he knew only from Ghanaian birthday celebrations and the CDs his father used to play. In his solo work, he embraces and reveals all facets of himself, thereby shining a spotlight on everyone who, like him, is the product of multiple cultures. He has a grand mission: to impart a rich understanding of Africa to his generation. Africa as the part of the world where the spiritual power of music is recognized and celebrated. Through his music, Kay also wants to tell the stories of people who are overlooked and feelings that have not yet been embraced.
The production—laid-back yet energetic, with danceable, roots-infused rhythms, warm, jazzy soul chords, and futuristic synths—is inspired by Afrobeat greats such as Ebo Taylor, K Frimpong, and Fela Kuti. Yet the lyrical artistry, organic neo-soul instrumentation, hip-hop breakbeats, and quirky samples give his music a unique feel—one that will hopefully empower multiple generations to be themselves and commit to their craft without compromise.
