Rapper Kali Streetz Reminds the World to Appreciate Growth in Latest Single, “Believe In Me”

Kali Streetz, a hip-hop artist from Sacramento, California, has a message for his listeners and everyone who knows him: take a good look at who I’ve become. His latest single, “Believe In Me,” highlights the struggle of not feeling appreciated for his accomplishments and progress through life.

While personal to the artist, the song shares a relatable message for anyone and everyone who has ever felt diminished despite giving their all. “I’m not the only one going through something or feeling this way. So, I put myself out there to make someone feel comfortable. I share my story in case something sticks to them in my song,” tells the artist.

“You could listen to it, and it’s never going to change. We’re always going to feel like we need more support, something to prove,” he adds.

To Streetz, “Believe In Me” is a symbol of accomplishment as well as a request for recognition. “Look at everything I’ve done. I’ve stood my word on everything I said I’d do—and I’m continuously growing,” shares the rapper.

“It came from years of doing music,” tells Streetz. “For a long time, I didn’t realize the accolades I had doing music. From touring to finding my own indie tour. I did a lot of things. Yet I didn’t feel like I was getting the recognition back home that I deserved or needed.”

Influenced by artists such as Millyz, Wale, Nipsey, and J. Cole Kali Streetz began creating music as a teenager. He recorded his first three songs at an in-home studio; by age 19, he had written and mastered multiple mixtapes. It was not long after that Streetz was touring the Southwest, ending his tour at SXSW in Austin, Texas. He then went on to collaborate with accomplished artists and partake in more tours. Needless to say, Kali Streetz has made—and continues to make—strides in the music industry. Now, all he’s asking for is some recognition back at home.

Kali Streetz doesn’t just make good music—he makes timeless music you can return to time and time again. “My aim is to make more timeless music. Not trendy, popular right now music. But when people pull up songs from 2023 in 2040 and listen to it, it’s still a greatest hit and relevant. Everything I write is from the heart, maybe because I’m more than willing to expose myself in a sense.”

Creating the single was a matter of combining the right sound with the right feeling. “The instrumental brings it out. It’s crazy that the song came out better than I actually wrote it. I actually rapped the original hook. My engineer made the beat and said ‘sing it, give it a melody.’ And it came out perfect—made the song pop more, have more emotion,” explains Streetz.

Streetz typically writes and pre-records at his home studio for comfort before bringing his ideas to his production team. “It’s a comfort thing,” he explains. “I like having my own space and being by myself. I like being secluded when I’m writing. When I actually go for final production, I always go to Q, my main engineer I’ve been working with for 10 years now.”

All in all, “Believe In Me” is a track “anybody could relate to.” “We all got dreams, aspirations that people around us aren’t supporting” adds the rapper. “We just want you to believe in us.” Kali Streetz makes music from his perspective and life experiences, yet he also understands that his feelings are not unique. “I understand I’m not the only person that goes through these type of things. Maybe they don’t know how to put it into words, what they’re feeling. That’s where music comes to play. You don’t know how to express yourself when you’re sad, but there’s this song that makes you feel better or gets those tears out.”

The message of “Believe In Me” is so strong that Streetz incorporates the song as his closing track for every live show. “A couple of people in the last couple of shows knew the words to my song—that was meaningful to see.”

“Believe In Me” is a track off Kali Streetz’s upcoming album, Trap Marley. The title is a reference to the nickname he was given on tour. “It explains my style of music. I have a positive vibe to music like Marley’s but come from the streets, so the stories I tell are street stories,” he elaborates. “The album is that—me telling my side, not glorifying [violence]. It’s things I witnessed and went through in life while being in the streets.”

Which tracks does he recommend off the album? “All of them. Every single one of them.” In particular, he suggests we listen to “Purest LOVE.” It addresses the insecurities wrapped around having a child and the impact it can have on a woman. Kali Streetz uses this song to address these issues and provide an insight to a man’s perspective on the way women are seen after giving birth.

Not long ago, Kali Streetz returned from a trip to Colombia, where he linked up with a producer and a few artists to work on the collaborative EP, Señor Streets, due for release in September. He’s also in the midst of a full-length project that will reflect on his life journey.

Fans of Kali Streetz may be happy to learn a little-known fact about Streetz and his involvement in the Sacramento community. For the past six years, the rapper has been working with Kicks4Kids, a nonprofit organization created to support children in the area. From fundraisers to coat drives, the organization—and Streetz—strives to provide necessities to children so that they can focus on doing well at school and beyond. “Kids are our future,” tells Streetz. “If you believe in me, I need you to believe in them. If we don’t reach these kids now, they might become a lost cause later if they don’t have somebody to support them. If kids don’t have love at home, they don’t know what it is. Experiencing support from a stranger can change somebody’s mind and how they look at things. I hope our work in the community can inspire other people to get involved.”

Make sure to stay connected to Kali Streetz on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

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Album, Trap Marley on Spotify
“Believe In Me” on YouTube
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