After writing last week’s feature on Big Kev’s smooth, late-night sound and the effortless energy behind projects like How Did We Get Here? and Big Kev’s Special: Live in Las Vegas, I knew this story couldn’t stop at a playlist recommendation. There was way too much substance behind the music.
What makes Big Kev stand out in today’s hip-hop landscape is that he never sounds like he’s chasing trends, TikTok moments, or playlist formulas. His music feels intentional, story-driven, calm, reflective, and deeply rooted in the kind of underground hip-hop that values atmosphere just as much as lyricism.
From Detroit-rooted storytelling tracks like “313/702” to collaborating with producers like Half-Centric and preparing for a full live-band performance in Las Vegas, Big Kev is building his catalog with patience and purpose instead of forcing visibility.
And Dayclub SEAZN was lucky enough to get the full backstory.
Before we get into the Q&A, Big Kev will be performing with a full 8-piece live band on May 29th at The Usual Place in Las Vegas alongside The Missing Piece collective. If you’re into underground hip-hop, live instrumentation, soulful production, and artists who genuinely care about craftsmanship, this is absolutely a show to keep on your radar.
Q&A with 702’s Big Kev
Your whole catalog carries this smooth, laid-back energy, but there’s still real substance in the lyrics. What pulled you toward the boom bap / conscious rap lane?
I think that truly came from a few places in how I approach my art. One of those places came from my family, especially my parents, who always taught me to be aware of my surroundings and created a household that valued learning and studying.
That thirst for knowledge led me to discover music that not only sounded incredible, but also carried messages that resonated with me and with other people in the world.
Another influence came from my background in sports. I’m naturally competitive, so I’m always working on my craft. Finding creative and technical ways to put words together and spread meaningful messages through my writing and rhymes.
When did hip-hop officially become part of your life? What was the moment that made you decide to seriously pursue hip-hop as an artist?
My earliest memory of hip-hop goes back to when my family was living in Detroit. I remember hearing Notorious B.I.G.’s “Big Poppa” playing through a boombox on the porch while my parents were having a party. As a kid, I loved listening to stories and reading because of how vividly words could paint pictures, and that song did the exact same thing for me.
I fell in love immediately…with the bass, the storytelling, and everything in between. Ever since that moment, I’ve felt honored to be part of a culture that has impacted so many lives, and I’ve always wanted to contribute to it in my own way.
I started making music in college with my friends, and Armani Cooper helped me create my first few songs and really showed me the ropes of how to make music. I enjoyed it, but I also struggled with the fear of not being able to control how people would receive it. That fear honestly kept me away from music for over 10 years.
In 2023, I went to Campfire Open Mic because I had so many song ideas and concepts written down that I had never shared with anyone. One day, I did a good old Google search and decided it was finally time to express myself on stage again. I performed at that open mic in such a warm, artist-friendly environment that it reminded me exactly why I loved music in the first place.
Do you wear the producer hat too, or are you strictly focused on the artist side of things?
I once heard this phrase from Punch — the rapper and executive at TDE — about mastering the mid-range before focusing on anything else. That idea has always stuck with me. I’m a huge basketball fan and still play whenever my IT band allows me to (lol), so that analogy immediately connected with me.
The message behind it is powerful: before trying to master every aspect of your craft, you need to become truly great at one thing first and have it in your repertoire.
Right now, my main focus is improving my art as an MC and sharpening my skills when it comes to crafting rhymes. I love making music, and I’m fortunate to work with incredible producers like Half-Centric and Dave Audinary. Down the line, I definitely want to explore producing more seriously, but at this stage I’m focused on becoming the best artist I can be first.
How did you and Half-Centric link up?
This actually happened pretty recently, back in 2023. Melo.hp and I had become friends after meeting at Campfire Open Mic, and one night there was another open mic event at The Space with a ton of artists trying to perform.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to go on until right before the event shut down, so we were feeling a little discouraged. But afterward, Half-Centric came up to us, told us he liked what we did, and we ended up chopping it up and exchanging social media info.
A few months later, he posted some beats he was working on, and one of them immediately caught my attention. I hit him up like, “Hey…uh…I need that ‘Black Card Affairs’ beat.” He actually sent it to me free of charge — which is still crazy to me — and ever since then he hasn’t been able to get rid of me.
The way Half produces music, plus his stage presence and rhymes, has helped me tremendously as an artist and continues to keep my pen sharp.
Fun fact: the song we made together is going to be featured on the upcoming group project Desert Heat with Melo.hp called “Another Day, Another Night!”
“GetUp” is a beautiful track. What headspace were you in mentally and emotionally while creating it? Also, Earth Love on the chorus feels like the voice of reason throughout the song — almost like a mental clarity angel guiding the track.
This song came from a place I wasn’t familiar with for most of my life. It came from finally having confidence in myself and genuinely loving who I was becoming. At the time, I was recovering from a difficult season in my life that taught me a lot of valuable lessons, and for the first time I felt completely content with who I was as a person.
When it came to Earth Love, I already knew what she would bring to the table creatively. As we worked on the song together, everything came together beautifully, and her vocals perfectly carried the vision I originally had for the record.
Honestly, this is one of the most important records I’ve ever been a part of. So many people have come up to me and told me it’s their favorite song because of how deeply it speaks to them emotionally.
Whenever we perform it together and see people’s reactions, I always think about the younger version of myself — the kid who sometimes felt alone — and how proud he would be knowing that his words were able to reach people and help them through their own journeys.
We need details on the upcoming May 29th show because…a FULL live band?! Damn bro. That’s major. How did this performance come together, who’s involved, and please tell me this will be uploaded to YouTube?
Yes — the show is happening on May 29th at The Usual Place, and I’ll be performing with The Missing Piece, who are all incredible artists in their own right. Gennaro is the musical director for the band, and we previously worked together with The Sams at my EP release party. People really connected with the chemistry we had performing together.
Gennaro came up with the incredible idea of expanding the band for this show, which means we’ll be performing with full live instrumentation — no backtracks, no beats, just live musicians bringing the music to life in real time. This is a first for me, and honestly, we’re all really excited about what we’ve been building for it.
We’re also bringing out special guests like LeeCee, Half-Centric, and EarthLove to fully help bring the vision together.
And yes, we’re working on professionally recording the performance so the full experience can live online afterward. It’ll only cost $99.99 to watch the whole thing… I’m kidding! …Or am I?!
Inside 312/702
“313/702” might be one of your most personal tracks. I had to look up the area code immediately — Detroit. No shit!? What age did you move from the 313 to the 702?
Yes, this song is truly one of my favorites because I’ve always loved storytelling through rap. To me, this record is a coming-of-age story about a kid raised in Detroit who eventually moved to Vegas when he was 10 years old.
Everything in that song is 100% true. Every story and every lyric comes from a real place, and I wanted the record to serve as a tribute to the two cities that live in my heart and helped shape me into the man I am today.
Speaking of Detroit…how are you feeling about the Pistons these days? The ‘80s Pistons were honestly one of my favorite NBA teams growing up — not even because they were the “Bad Boys,” but because they played basketball like it was football. The physicality, the mind games, Rodman rebounding like a psychopath…pure chaos. Were you even old enough to witness the Chuck Daly era in real time?
Soooo, as Detroit sports fans, we’re definitely people who are used to heartbreak and misery… but that also makes us appreciate and celebrate our teams even more because of how loyal we are.
As I’m answering this, the Pistons are down 3–2 against the Cavs, but honestly, it still feels good to finally root for a playoff team again. I truly believe we’ve got a bright future ahead.
As for those Bad Boys Pistons — I was born in 1990, so I didn’t fully witness that era in real time, but my dad always told me stories about those teams growing up. I basically lived vicariously through him when it came to that era of Detroit basketball.
I already know you’re rocking with the Lakers because the “King Shit” cover art for Desert H3at’s debut single release — that much was obvious 😂 — but outside of LA, are the Pistons still your squad at heart?
Oh, 1000%. According to Sports Law Section 4.2, Paragraph 4 of a rule I completely made up, you’re allowed to have a backup team as long as your primary team is the Detroit Pistons.
So yes, the Lakers are definitely my backup squad right now — mainly because King James plays for them — but that spot is always rotating depending on the era. I have absolutely zero shame in admitting that either!
Why Big Kev Deserves More Recognition
What stood out most to me after this Q&A wasn’t just Big Kev’s music — it was the level of intention behind everything he creates.
A lot of artists can make songs. Very few artists can create atmosphere, tell stories, and still make you feel like you’re sitting in the room with them while they’re speaking honestly about their life. That’s what separates Big Kev from a lot of today’s hip-hop scene.
Whether he’s talking about growing up between Detroit and Las Vegas, overcoming the fear of being seen as an artist, or putting together a full live-band performance instead of relying on backtracks, there’s a level of care behind his work that deserves attention.
And this is exactly the type of artist Dayclub SEAZN will always support.
Not because the algorithm says so. Not because it’s trendy. But because the music comes from the heart.
If you’ve been missing hip-hop that values storytelling, substance, smooth production, and real personality, spend some time with Big Kev’s catalog.
