Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua “Kaleb NFI” Outsey.
Hi Joshua “Kaleb NFI”, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in Birmingham, AL . I grew up in the Smithfield neighborhood. Around the time that I was in Middle School I started becoming interested in creative writing. I was inspired by artists like Tupac. I would hear him on the radio and I felt inspired by how took the struggle that he grew up in and was able to make art out of it. After he died, I was at an age where I became interested in wanted to share my story of the struggle around me. I remember I would always keep a notebook with me and in my notebook I would always take notes on what I saw in society and incorporate my observations in the raps that I would write. Fast-forward to around 20 years old, I was living in Knoxville. I found myself working as a community organizer, working to solve some of the issues that I would go on to rap about.
I worked for Tribe One, it was an organization for “at-risk” youth. We had a recording studio and a t-shirt printing shop and used that to help kids get out of the streets. Through that organization, I got connected into the community. When Tribe One closed, a few of the people that I met there (Stan Johnson, Jerome Johnson and Jarius Bush) and myself founded a non-profit called Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development (SEEED.) SEEED is still going strong today.
Now I work as Documentation Project Coordinator for Appalshop in conjunction with the Appalachian African-American Cultural Center. Although I’m no longer in Knoxville specifically, I’m still in Appalachia and my work is more regional.
From my time at Tribe One until now, it’s been more than 15 years. As for the music, I’ve had a few projects here and there but in 2018 I decided to re-introduce myself as Kaleb NFI. NFI stands for Now Finding Inspiration.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road was definitely not smooth. For me, its always been hard finding access to recording studios and to find employment where I could make enough money to support myself and invest in my music. I struggled for real. There are socioeconomic factors that present in Knoxville and the people that really need help, it seemed like they had to compete or outperform each other for things like housing and food assistance and basic necessities. Once I got involved in the community, I didn’t feel the need to jump through the hurdles set up because the community had my back.
With my music, I’ve always battled with the gangsta persona. It was gangsta rap that influenced my style and my flow, but I felt torn from that lifestyle. I had a responsibility to my community and my family and now I have a daughter. I didn’t know where I fit as far as my music.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Hip Hop artist and cultural organizer. I build communities. I work with other organizers and we bridge community members with opportunities. We do it strategically and when necessary though mutual aid and direct action. I like to create and use my music as a soundtrack to the struggle while I’m creating. I’m proud to be connected to the idea of love and change. A lot of places that I’ve worked, when you mention change or love, people think about me and my family. I’m proud that people think that I stand for something. My music stand out because my flow is retrospective of old school but vibes with the new school and what’s going on today. I’m versatile in that way.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I feel like Hip Hop has been big for a while and it will continue to have the role that its plays. From the ‘60’s until now and maybe for the next 50+ years, every generation will have its own connection to Hip Hop. The movement have been different for every generation but my music will be able to fit and be relatable throughout those generations.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Kaleb_nfi
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/KalebNFI/
Image Credits
Terran Young Christopher Moyer Nicholas Gangloff
