America Has a Problem: Kilo Ali

Even if you’ve never heard the name Kilo Ali before you’ve probably heard his song Cocaine sampled by Beyonce for “America Has a Problem.”

Kilo was in a gang at one point, but he left and built a career for himself with music throughout Atlanta in the early 90s through what was a unique sound adopting parts from all over the country. Southern bass with a new flow and sped up. People liked it. It sounded good at a party or the car.

Kilo recorded “Cocaine,” when he was just 17. A lot of Kilo’s music is stuff you can dance to, but he was sharing some real important facts on those tracks.

A lot of people point to Lost Your Mind as a good example of his ability because Organized Bass is by far his most popular album. However, two of my favorites are White Horse and Little Nigger Boy.

A lot of Kilo’s music is what the kids would call turn up music now, but he was hitting some deep points from a young age demonstrating the importance of duality and how hip hop always has room for both the turn up and grown up.