Hailing from the Midwest, Karras is a unique alternative rapper whose style incorporates the grit of classic hip-hop with an aberrant surrealism that channels the dystopian sci-fi depictions of the ’80s. With his off-kilter lyricism, Karras lures his listeners into his lucid fever dream that is hypnagogic yet starkly tangible. He is a rap artist who has synthesized the manifest and mystical worlds. Karras is an artist who grew up playing punk and metal music before diving fully into rap. His friends in high school taught him how to play music, and by college, he could play guitar, bass, and drums. He joined multiple local bands, playing basement and bar shows for over a decade and touring the country with smelly dudes, sleeping on floors, and eating at gas stations. However, he decided to focus on rap, the genre that first got him actively engaged with music. Karras’ latest single, “Kerosene” (Stony D Mix), is an ode to the genres he grew up playing and listening to that still hold an important place in his musical lexicon. The two verses in the song are packed with non-stop wordplay about punk, metal, and classic rock. Karras delivers punchlines that reference bands like Thin Lizzy, Jimi Hendrix, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Guns N Roses, Beastie Boys, Iron Butterfly, Jefferson Airplane, Woodstock ’69, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Miles Davis, Santana, Deep Purple, Fleetwood Mac, Black Flag, Metallica, Sonic Youth, Skinny Puppy, Patti Smith, and Sex Pistols. While some of the punchlines might be lost on listeners who are not familiar with the source material, Karras hopes that at least some of the lines resonate with his fans. His lyrics contain a lot of niche references, making them both clever and fun for those who understand them. Karras’ vocals on “Kerosene” were recorded to an amazing beat made by his best friend, Stony D. Unfortunately, the file got corrupted during a power outage, and Stony D lost the entire track. Karras had already been working on the track for months, and he felt he had no choice but to release the remixes that were already done. Although the remixes were good, they were not the original and best version of the song that Karras had recorded the bars too. Karras believes that the original version is always better since he made every conscious decision about how each syllable landed within the context of the instrumental. His singular style and unique approach to music make him a refreshing artist to watch out for. With his feet firmly planted in two worlds, Karras is Liquid Swords meets Blade Runner, Enter The Wu meets Escape From New York, ATLiens meets Aliens. His music is a testament to his ability to synthesize the manifest and mystical worlds, and it promises to be an exciting ride for fans of alternative rap.
Socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/father.karras/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KINGKARRASMATIC