Surprise from the Leschi guy

Photo courtesy of artist

ONCE BITTEN. Local rapper K. Coats will soon release his debut album.

Sometimes it is the quiet kid who has the most to say. It is just a matter of finding the right vehicle for expression. K. Coats, an 18-year-old who lives in Northeast Tacoma, has found his voice in rap music.

K. Coats began writing songs four years ago. He has been a rap fan since childhood. “I have always loved poetry. Expressing myself to music just made sense,” he said.

K. Coats is busy recording his debut album, “Surprise From The Shy Guy.” The title refers to the response he gets from people who know him when he reveals he is a rapper. Many have a hard time believing it due to his low-key personality.

“All through school I have been pretty quiet,” he remarked.

His parents were a bit surprised but supportive. His siblings have offered much encouragement. “They are glad to see me doing something I like doing,” K. Coats said about his relatives.

He has about 50 original songs. He will put between 16 and 18 on the album, which he hopes to release by the end of June. A true Tacoman, he will have a picture of Tacoma Dome on the cover.

Some of his songs are inspired by his own emotions. “I see rap as a way to express myself,” he said. Politics and current events are other sources of inspiration. “I see myself foremost as a political rapper,” K. Coats remarked. “I want to make you think.”

K. Coats is a member of Puyallup Tribe and attends Chief Leschi, where the student body is nearly all Native American. While some other local Indian rappers have lyrics and music steeped deeply in their Native culture, K. Coats feels he offers a different perspective with his material. “I try to reach out to everyone, not just Native Americans,” he said.

K. Coats will enroll at Tacoma Community College in the fall. He plans to earn a degree in business. If he does not hit it big as a rapper he may pursue a career in management at a tribal casino.

He has already gotten a start on the business side of things regarding his musical career. Earlier this year he founded Epod Entertainment to promote himself and other hip-hop artists. For more information visit http://www.epodent.com

He enjoys listening to underground rappers such as Atmosphere, Aesop Rock and Sage Francis. He is impressed by the intelligent, independent approach they take to their music. “They do not play what a record label tells them to play,” K. Coats said. “I do not want people to dumb my music down.”

The rapper’s real name is Kevin Coats, so his hip-hop moniker is simply a derivative of that. “I wanted to keep it me, not hide behind some alias,” he remarked.

Like many local rappers, he finds it is difficult to get gigs, especially for a young guy just starting out. He is getting about 100 people a day visiting his website, http://www.myspace.com/kc253 and listening to songs he posts on it.

“It feels good to know people are listening,” he said. “Hopefully once the album comes out there will be more interest.”

K. Coats recently wrote a song as a tribute to his school, titled “Goodbye Leschi.” He no doubt will perform it during his graduation party, which will take place at Puyallup Tribal Youth Center, located at 5803 N. Levee Rd. in Fife. It begins at 6 p.m. on June 13, a few hours after he receives his diploma. The event is open to the public.

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