#Motiv8Mondays – Caly Cal
Welcome to Spectacular Magazine Independent Artist of the Week, the latest Spectacular Magazine weekly feature. Each week Raven Nicole Gibbs (professionally known as Raven Nicole), founder of the non-profit organization Motiv8, Inc., will feature an up-and-coming artist of various genres. This week we are featuring Kevin B, AKA “Caly Cal.”
1. Who are You?
My name is Caly Cal, and I am based in Burlington/Durham, North Carolina.
2. How did you start?
I got started at around seven years old, but professionally around sixteen years old. I’ve done things prior, but that was me just trying to find my niche on how I wanted to make music. My first project I released, titled “Dopesh*t” was put out on DatPiff (known mixtape site), at the end of 2012, which was my freshmen year at NCCU. Afterwards, I did some performances, showcases, talent shows, and anything else I could do to expose myself at the time. On the flip side of things, I also became very involved in school. My talent mixed with my social skills and was able to build up enough courage to ask Wade Banner, to host my second project. I was actually very nervous asking him, because I know he’s particular, but he said yeah. That’s what sparked my second and most recent project out, “Better Now Than L8ter”. That project is very different from my first one because it shows my growth not only as an artist, but I finally found my sound within that project.
3. What is your genre/profession?
Technically I would be considered a Hip Hop/ Rap artist, which would also be my profession. When people ask me I just like saying I’m an Artist, if they ask what kind I say musician. I say that with confidence now because recently I have been engineering, recording, and semi-mixing myself lately. I’m also a brand ambassador from time to time for companies, but I only take on clients I truly trust.
4. Who are your musical or artistic influences?
My mother is where I get most of my musical influences from as far as the samples I listen for. She always had the radio station on & they were always playing old school jams, which is why I can pick apart a sample when I hear them nowadays. T.I. is & will always be my favorite rapper. I can’t help it, no matter what anyone says to me, in my mind he’s the one who always stuck out. Especially in Florida at the time I was growing up, before I moved to NC of course. Recently I have been listening to some different things. I always stay tuned to modern music, but on my personal time I listen to a variety of Artists. Those artists range from Chinx, KCamp, TI, Wu-Tang, Nas, Devin The Dude, UGK, Jay-Z, to J Cole, Young Dolph, 2Chainz, Nipsey. My list is non-stop. I really consider myself a student of the game, and I’m still learning new things everyday, but I take my craft very seriously. Not from a competitive stand point, but more therapeutic.
5. What Motiv8s you?
Many things motivate me. My family is the number one thing. My mother is my fuel, for the most part, she keeps me pushing. I’ve learned how to be resilient throughout the years as well. If you want something you’re going to have to fight for it, nothing is as easy as it looks. The last thing is we do not have a cash cow in my family. My end goal, before I pass, is to leave my bloodline with something that can keep value on our names forever.
6. Do you have any upcoming projects, shows, or appearances? What are your next steps?
I just had a performance at the first PullUpOrParty, at Big Cs Chicken & Waffles. It was most definitely my best performance to date! I was able to bring out Marlee Savage and Swift as surprise guests to perform the songs we have together and the crowd loved it! The name of the records are “Summertime” feat Swift and “How I Do” feat Marlee Savage. My next project is called, “Match” hosted by DJ Ice Berg. It’s going to be all originals like my last project, but it’s going to have that romantic, stoner vibe. The title explains it all, along with the music. For any appearances, shows, performances, etc you can follow me on IG & Twitter @YIKESCalyCal or you can subscribe HERE to stay updated with everything that I’m doing. I’m on any major music platform, Apple Music, Tidal, SoundCloud, just type in Caly Cal. My next big steps are to keep expanding my music catalog. I want to be able to headline and perform at a couple of festivals soon. “Some envy, some congratulate, some criticize so that they can feel great.”
To be featured as a Spectacular Magazine Independent Artist of the Week, contact Raven Nicole at info@wemotiv8you.com
L8 on last week’s #Motiv8Monday? Check it out HERE.