Keznamdi Bio

Our respective legacies live, breathe, and thrive through our lineages. Rather than leave behind material totems and trinkets, we really impart wisdom, history, and memories on the next generation. Keznamdi carefully considers this with every move he makes. You can hear it in his voice throughout a celebrated international catalog streamed in excess of 20 million times. You can see it in his face during sold-out solo shows across North America, the Caribbean, and beyond. You can feel it on his 2019 full-length debut for his independent label, the aptly titled Bloodline. Fusing classic reggae as the root with soul spirit, rock energy, and hip-hop attitude, he delivers eleven tracks worthy of passing down. “I want to show bloodline is about your legacy, and your legacy isn’t about the work you do—but about your family,” he explains. “I’m speaking on the struggles of the common man, having loved ones out here, defending them, doing what you’re supposed to do, and playing a role to ensure you’re making this life better for your children. Tomorrow is never promised. It’s not just investing in your business; it’s investing in your bloodline. It’s what I’m trying to do.” A tight bond at home prepared him to build a formidable legacy both personally and creatively. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, he remained surrounded by music as mom and dad led the iconic reggae outfit Chakula. By five-years-old, he contributed his first track “Mix A Color” to the Save the World children’s compilation and turned heads locally. Professional obligations brought the family to Tanzania. At 12- years-old, his eyes quickly opened to the importance of a global upbringing. “Most people don’t even have a passport,” he smiles. “My parents showed me the world. I’ve seen many different cultures and experienced different languages, foods, religions, and people. It made me grow.” Relocating to Ethiopia four years later, he continued to soak up African culture before finally settling in California for college at St. Mary’s on a soccer scholarship. Following a career-ending injury, music became the central focus. 2013 saw him make his debut with the independent Bridging the Gap EP, scoring #1 on iTunes Top Reggae Albums Chart and the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart. He quietly built a fan base with consistent performances around Jamaica, maintaining a prolific output in the process. He joined forces with one of Jamaica’s most famous producers for the song “Grade,” which continued to stoke excitement. During 2015, he made waves around the world by joining forces with ZHU and A-Trak on the hypnotic crossover hit “As Crazy As It Is,” which cracked 10 million Spotify streams. Co-written with Poo Bear [Justin Bieber, Sam Smith], the single “Champion” saw him deliver another reggae #1. The artist’s “Stoner’s Remix” series soared to peak popularity as “Herbs”—his take on Rihanna’s “Work” [feat. Drake]—received looks from Pitchfork and The Fader. In the aftermath, he toured throughout the Northern United States. In 2017, he dropped the Skyline Levels, Vol. 1 EP and headlined his own sold out tour, packing venues everywhere. Calling the project Skyline Levels proved important as that’s how he defines his music. He notably shot the video for “Father Protect Me” in South Central Los Angeles, telling a powerful story. Next up, the project’s triumphant single “Victory” [feat. Chronixx] scored over 1.2 million YouTube views and half-a-million streams. On its heels, “So Right” amplified the impact among fans as he embarked on tour with his full band. Everything set the stage for Bloodline. Throughout 2018 and 2019, he recorded the full-length in Jamaica, mixed in Miami, and mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London. Along the way, his vision crystallized with universal ambition. “I took a snapshot of what’s happening right now musically and culturally,” he explains. “With this project, it’s my responsibility to raise the bar and make sure we keep the standard high when it comes to reggae. It gave birth to hip-hop and all of this other mainstream music. I tried to maintain the integrity.” He most definitely did so on the resulting body of work. Fittingly, he opens the album with “Skyline Drive.” Sunny acoustic guitar and samples of sirens and smoking underscore his bouncy delivery as he welcomes listeners to his old stomping grounds. “It’s really a story about where I come from,” he says. “Skyline Drive is the road I was born and raised on. Skyline Levels is the venue my father built brick-by-brick. I want to show the world it’s a special community. I also want to let you know if you come from any small village you can do big things. I’m shouting out everyone who was part of my success.” Elsewhere, “City Lock” [feat. Tory Lanez] tempers his rapid cadence with a robust beat. It climaxes on a hypnotic and harmonic cameo from multi-platinum recording artist Tory, adding another dimension to this buoyant banger. “I wanted to have a contrast to the lyrics I was spitting,” he explains. “When I had the demo, I wrote, ‘Keznamdi ft Tory Lanez’, in the notes on iTunes. I never thought it would happen. Sean Kingston’s brother made the connect though. We finally ended up recording ‘City Lock’ together at Tory’s penthouse in Miami. He really believed in us and blessed us.” Elsewhere, church-style organ swells towards another island-inflected beat on “Morning Comes” as “Queen of the Ghetto” spins “the story of a queen” over cinematic production. In many ways, the title track perfectly encapsulates the overarching theme and message. “It’s all about family and parenting,” he continues. “Any nation, country, or the entire world starts with family. I’m sharing my stories as a human being and bringing this natural feeling.” In the end, Bloodline will make you treasure Keznamdi’s legacy and even your own. “Music is a service,” he leaves off. “I want to live in service. My duty is to show people if you have a dream, believe in it, and work hard at it, you can achieve it. I want to be an example of that.”