I’m Not A Star: Ken Carson’s Embrace Of Being The Anti-Hero

Ken Carson is a simple man. The antithesis of grandiose, despite what his music and persona may suggest, as he seems aloof to the growing wave of notoriety that’s engulfed him in recent years. At least that’s how the 23-year-old comes across during our conversation on a summer afternoon, as his tone treads closer to insular than gregarious. “Go shopping, go to the studio,” he says of the pleasures that have become daily recurrences. The declaration is one that’s curt, but indicative of his focus being channeled towards the essential rather than the fluff.

What’s necessary to know about Ken Carson is that he’s no one’s savior. His emergence has altered the Atlanta rap hierarchy in he and his Opium crew’s favor, yet, he has no intent or desire to impose his will or spark an evolution upon himself or others. To him, allowing others to conclude for themselves is the way of the game, rather than striving to change it, a mind-state that’s a reflection of the title of his last studio album X, his most successful release to date. “No inspiration,” he says of the choice in name. “It’s just like a fill-in-the-blank. Like, instead of putting the space bar, just put an X. That actually makes it mean something.”

With an eclectic style informed by a range of influences—”I was f**king with anything that was on AMTV”—Carson’s brand of music its right into this genre-bending era, where moshers and hip-hoppers unite to rage, style, and, for a lack of better words, tear shit up. And with his hotly-anticipated third studio album A Great Chaos on the horizon, the anti-hero is primed for the next level of stardom, pursuant or thrust upon. “Sh*t, like I said, all my life, I’ve always been in the right spot. The youngest ni**a always doing something. I just made sure I was always doing some sh*t.”

VIBE spoke with Ken Carson about his forthcoming album, sticking to his own script, and the price of fame.

VIBE: You were raised in Atlanta. How did the city mold and influence you?

Ken Carson: It’s like a battle royale. It’s like every man for themselves type sh*t, it’s on some get it how you live type sh*t. So I feel like sh*t gonna have you build up when you get out but it’s tough trying to get out.

How would you describe the vibe at Opium?

It’s cool. I know everybody here. I knew everybody here before it was a label so it’s not nothing random. It’s not nothing that surprises me. It’s just [been] the same old, same old since day one.

How has your style evolved over the past few years?

I’m leaning more and more to whatever I want to do instead of what people want to hear.

You’re gearing up to drop your third album, A Great Chaos. What’s the meaning behind that title?

It literally just speaks for itself. It’s a great chaos. It’s a great work, but it sounds massive.

Any new wrinkles or surprises listeners can expect?

Honestly, I’m not trying to surprise nobody. I’m not venturing off to do nothing new. I’m just trying to make good music. It’s not even…let’s not make it a headache.

How do you differentiate between good music and bad music?

What I think bad music might not be what you think bad music is. The only way I can give you that definition is if I give you someone who makes bad music. I don’t listen to all that generic music. I guess boring songs just be boring. I don’t listen to boring music.

So something that has to give you a feeling.

Yeah.

What do you think people feel when they hear your music?

Energetic. Either energetic or… I don’t know. I just feel like I make feel-good music.

Going back to the album, who are some of the artists that you locked in with?

I don’t wanna give away too much. I locked in with Uzi, I locked in with [Destroy] Lonely.

What was your mind-state state while making this album?

I make music every day. So it’s like when making the album, you’ve just got to try your hardest. But that’s the only difference between it because I make music all day

How many songs would you estimate you got in the vault?

Oh, definitely over a thousand.

What do you hope fans take away from this album?

Just enjoy it, bruh. Don’t think too hard. I’m not venturing to the left. I’m not trying to go left. I’m not trying to make a sound that you don’t know me for.

You’ve also got your Antagonist Tour coming up with Carti, Destroy Lonely, and Homixide Gang. How are you gearing up for that?

How am I gearing up for it? 

Yeah, how are you getting ready or preparing for it? You getting your rest?

I don’t sleep, bruh. I’m not trying to get ready. I’ve been touring since I came out, so it’s like get ready for a tour?

So It’s like second nature for you now? For some people it’s a big deal being on the road and away from family.

Yeah, I’ve been away from family since I came out, so it’s like the normal thing. It ain’t even no surprise that I’m going on tour, niggas know I be on tour. I been on tour my WHOOOOLE life. I mean whole goddamn life [laughs]. I been on tour my whole upbringing.

What’s one thing that happened on tour that always sticks with you?

Well, see the thing about that tour, it wasn’t just one thing. It was just multiple things that kept happening over time. Just recording every night. We all recording every night in the same spot. That be cool.

So the whole crew just being in the same room?

Yeah, we all just recording in the same room.

Who would you say is the fastest when it comes to making music?

I don’t know, we we fast. We’re pretty fast, so I don’t know. It just depends on the song and the beat and the moment. I don’t know. We’re definitely all fast.

You once said you never aspired to be famous. What would you say has been the best and worst parts about fame?

I don’t consider myself famous.

But you are, though.

Eh.

You are famous. We wouldn’t be wanting to talk to you if people weren’t interested in you.

Nah, you’re right. I do have a following. Famous is like…I feel like that’s some next level sh*t. Like that’s some Leonardo DiCaprio type sh*t. I feel like you don’t just grasp being famous.

Yeah, there’s definitely levels. But what would you say? What’s the worst part?

The worst part is like…you might be minding your business, doing something and then you might forget that…like you might be doing something that don’t got nothing to do with what you do. Then you’ll probably forget that you do do what you do, so it’s like a fan might throw you off. Say if you’re out with a girl or something. You ain’t thinking about no fans.

Talking about the album, when can fans expect it?

I don’t know. If I said a time, I’d be lying. I don’t know.

What’s the percentage of it you would say is done?

I’m 100% done.

What’s the holdup then? So you can’t even say before the end of the year?

It ain’t me. I’d be lying if I say if I gave you anything.

So it’s in the label’s hands?

Yeah. Yup, it’s already ready.

I might just start randomly playing that sh*t. Getting tired of it to the point where I wanna play all that sh*t. Motherfuckers thinking I be going live just to show them my new music, I be tired of just sitting on that sh*t.

As an artist you’re trying to get it out, so you’re like ‘Damn I’m tired of hearing this sh*t.’

Yeah, I make music every day. So it’s like shit be getting old to me fast. Shit be getting old to me mad fast.

What’s next for Ken Carson?

I just want to keep creating man where there’s music or something else. I just want to keep being a creative motherfu*ker.

For somebody that doesn’t know your music. How would you introduce yourself?

I’ll play them “Freestyle 2.” ‘Cause [that song] is either gonna scare ’em or reel ’em in. No thin line between the two.

So they’re gonna know right then if they’re f**king with you or nah.

Mhmm, cause either they ain’t fucking with it… or they fucking with it [laughs]. 

What would you say is something about you that people wouldn’t expect?

I don’t know, I’m super genuine. As long as you don’t step on my toes, you ain’t got no problems from me. But if you step on my toes though, then I’m on [go]. Then I’m like the worst enemy to have.