Brevin Kim: The ‘See You Next Year’ Interview

Photo by ONErpm Studios

Fill in the blanks: Brevin Kim is most likely to______?
Cal: Revolutionize. We’re blending a lot of genres and just making something that I feel not a lot of other people are making.  We’re the most likely to pioneer a new sound.

What’s changed for you in the last year?
Cal:
It’s tough to answer on the spot. But for me, right off the top, I would say I feel like we’re finally gaining some respect that we felt we deserved for being a part of pioneering certain sounds. I feel like this is the first year where all these years of work that sometimes feel pointless are finally starting to pay off. I see that people are recognizing us and that feels good. 

What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned about yourself creatively in the last 12 months?
Cal:
You gotta be patient. When we first signed a couple years ago, we had no idea what the music industry was like. You still gotta put the work in and can’t just expect things to happen. Above that, just be confident in your music. Because we’ve had times where we start to doubt ourselves. And when that happens, the listeners doubt too, because they can feel it. So if you don’t believe in it, nobody else is going to believe in it. 

What’s been the biggest risk you’ve taken in the last year?
Bren:
Always just sticking to what we do creatively. Sometimes the music we make can be a little too abrasive but I’d rather be different than just try to be regular mainstream artists that go by the numbers. So sticking to what we do, whether people need to catch up on our type of music or not. 

Photo by ONErpm Studios

What is it that you want to see in the world next year?
Cal: Less mass shootings and people getting along. Less haters on the internet. Everything’s so negative lately. Everybody just hates each other. It’s getting exhausting.

What’s the biggest goal on your bucket list in the next year?
Cal:
Continue gaining that respect. 

Looking back, what was your favorite year ever and why?
Cal:
7th grade, back in ‘08. I think he it’s when you first start liking girls and you’re not doing drugs or drinking yet, but it’s a great time. I miss the days when we didn’t know what rent and taxes were. Anxiety didn’t exist.

What’s the biggest secret you’ve kept this year?
Bren:
This project! It was so hard not to post a picture of us going to Mike Dean’s house or a video of us working with him. Now we finally can. That’s about the only secret I’ve kept this year.

Photo by ONErpm Studios

Grading Rap’s Recent Major Album Rollouts

  • Image via Publicist

    Fivio Foreign, ‘B.I.B.L.E.’

  • Image via Instagram

    Coi Leray, ‘Trendsetter’

  • Image via Sterling Ruby

    Pusha-T, ‘It’s Almost Dry’

  • Image via Freebandz/Epic Records

    Future, ‘I Never Liked You’

  • Image via Publicist

    Jack Harlow, ‘Come Home The Kids Miss You’

  • Image via pgLang/Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope

    Kendrick Lamar, ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’

The Best Albums of 2022 (So Far)

  • Image via Publicist

    Jack Harlow, ‘Come Home the Kids Miss You’

  • Image via Defcee & Boathouse

    Defcee & Boathouse, ‘For All Debts Public and Private’

  • Image via Publicist

    Leikeli47, ‘Shape Up’

  • Image via Publicist

    Curren$y & The Alchemist, ‘Continuance’

  • Image via Publicist

    Dreamville, ‘D-Day: A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape’

  • Image via Publicist

    YoungBoy Never Broke Again, ‘Colors’

  • Image via Publicist

    Toro Y Moi, ‘MAHAL’

  • Image via Publicist

    NIGO, ‘I Know NIGO!’

  • Image via Publicist

    Babyface Ray, ‘Face’

  • Image via Publicist

    Fly Anakin, ‘Frank’

  • Image via Publicist

    Ella Mai, ‘Heart on My Sleeve’

  • Image via Warner Records

    IDK, ‘Simple.’

  • Image via DTLA Records

    WiFiGawd, ‘Chain of Command’

  • Image via Atlantic Records

    Ravyn Lenae, ‘HYPNOS’

  • Image via Publicist

    Lucky Daye, ‘Candydrip’

  • Image via Publicist

    Black Star, ‘No Fear of Time’

  • Image via Publicist

    Syd, ‘Broken Hearts Club’

  • Image via AWAL/ Warner Records

    Omar Apollo, ‘Ivory’

  • Image via Tidal

    Rex Orange County, ‘Who Cares’

  • Image via Publicist

    Bad Bunny, ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’

  • Image via Publicist

    Latto, ‘777’

  • Image via Tidal

    42 Dugg & EST Gee, ‘Last Ones Left’

  • Image via Freebandz/Epic Records

    Future, ‘I Never Liked You’

  • Image via Tidal

    Buddy, ‘Superghetto’

  • Image via Publicist

    Lil Durk, ‘7220’

  • Image via Publicist

    Yeat, ‘2 Alivë’

  • Image via Publicist

    Saba, ‘Few Good Things’

  • Image via Columbia/Erskine Records

    Harry Styles, ‘Harry’s House’

  • Image via Publicist

    FKA Twigs, ‘Caprisongs’

  • Image via RRR Music Group

    YL & Zoomo, ‘In Memory Of’

  • Image via Publicist

    EarthGang, ‘Ghetto Gods’

  • Image via Publicist

    Mike Dimes, ‘In Dimes We Trust’

  • Image via Publicist

    $NOT, ‘Ethereal’

  • Image via Hvmor Records

    Redveil, ‘Learn 2 Swim’

  • Image via GDF Records/The Freeminded Records/EMPIRE

    Jay Worthy & Larry June, ‘2 P’z in a Pod’

  • Image via Publicist

    Benny the Butcher, ‘Tana Talk 4’

  • Image via Publicist

    Action Bronson, ‘Cocodrillo Turbo’

  • Image via Publicist

    Koffee, ‘Gifted’

  • Image via T.C.F Music Group

    Che Noir, ‘Food For Thought’

  • Image via Tidal

    Blxst, ‘Before You Go’

  • Image via Backwoodz Studioz

    billy woods, ‘Aethiopes’

  • Image via Publicist

    Conway the Machine, ‘God Don’t Make Mistakes’

  • Image via Publicist

    Denzel Curry, ‘Melt My Eyez See Your Future’

  • Image via Publicist

    Rosalía, ‘Motomami’

  • Image via Tidal

    Earl Sweatshirt, ‘Sick!’

  • Image via Instagram

    Gunna, ‘DS4EVER’

  • Image via The Weeknd XO, Inc./Republic Records

    The Weeknd, ‘Dawn FM’

  • Image via Blacksmith Recordings/Motown Records

    Vince Staples, ‘Ramona Park Broke My Heart’

  • Image via Sterling Ruby

    Pusha-T, ‘It’s Almost Dry’

  • Image via pgLang/Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath/Interscope

    Kendrick Lamar, ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers’

Fana Hues: The ‘See You Next Year’ Interview

Photo by ONErpm Studios

Fill in the blank: Fana Hues is most likely to ______?
Star in a film. I want to go and expand on my hues and really get into my acting bag and fully dive into that part of storytelling. I really be out here acting. I’ve been doing it for years and years but I haven’t gotten my one film yet. So it’s only a matter of time.

What’s changed for you in the last year?
Access, I’ve had way more access this year to resources in order to execute my visions.

What’s been the biggest lesson you’ve learned about yourself creatively in the last 12 months?
I don’t know anything at all. I’m still learning.

What’s been the biggest risk you’ve taken in the last year?
Packing up my stuff and putting it in storage and just going on tour. Breaking my lease for the house, that was a goddamn risk. I was like, “Dang, am I really gonna figure this out while I’m on the road?” That was a risk.

Photo by ONErpm Studios

What do you hope these next 12 months mean for you and your career?
I hope that next year, I continue to solidify my position in music in general. I want to experiment more. And I want to free myself of the box that I put myself in creatively sometimes. That’s what I’m hoping for next year, for sure.

What is it that you want to see in the world next year?
I would like to see people start treating others as human beings and not have everything be so transactional.

What’s the biggest goal on your bucket list in the next year?
This debut album. It sounds like, “Oh, of course.” But it really is. I’ve been planning this debut album, conceptualizing it for like six years now. So I am, I’m ready for that.

Looking back, what was your favorite year ever and why?
I would say 2012 was probably the best year for me. Growth-wise and it’s when I started really tapping into my voice. I was 16, you know?  It absolutely still sticks with me. That summer particularly. Channel Orange had just come out. 

What’s the biggest secret you’ve kept this year?
I’m really tryna think. What’s a secret that I kept this year? I don’t know, I have no secrets. 

Photo by ONErpm Studios