Author: Ann Marie Trietley
I’m riding the royal blue UB Stampede bus from South Campus to North. My friend Jamie Catania (JaceBeats, Natural Ingredients) and I are discussing the nature of creativity and inspiration. I’m about to be introduced to the three UB students merging their campus radio show with the Buffalo music scene.
Currently, I’m feeling old as Vivian Huang (aka Skye), Jakeem “Kino” Daniel, and Mustafa Ahmed lead me through their dormitory. I haven’t seen doors with whimsical name banners and college mailboxes since Obama first got elected. Finally, we stumble upon an interview-appropriate nook, and sit down to chat.
The trio originally hail from different parts of New York City. They fused together naturally while pounding the campus pavement, and eventually learned they all have a passion for music and creative collaborations. Huang (“Skye”) and Daniel (“Kino”) are the two hosts of the Kino & Skye Show; Ahmed handles backstage and social media operations.
“We are working on getting people that we know from back home to work with us,” Daniel says, gold frames contrasting with his dark beard. Daniel once interned at Bad Boy Records and grew up alongside members of the Underachievers (who currently craft beats for the likes of Joey Badass) in Flatbush, Brooklyn.
“One thing I’ve realized is that there’s a certain Buffalo sound,” Daniel continues. “It sounds like Southern bounce music to me. I appreciate it, and would love to bridge the gap and keep the sound going.”
Huang is a petite girl with a major sense of style. Tonight her long, blonde Streetwear Barbie-esque braids are pulled into a side pony. Her neon yellow Nike sandals glow under the table. She is working on learning guitar, and is putting together a fashion/photography project with hip-hop artist Chase DeNiro.
“Besides the music, the show will feature conversation topics and opportunities for students and others in the community to discuss and connect,” Ahmed says. His cap spells out the word “Compton” and I can’t help but think of Tupac. “It’s not specific to music; it’s media relevant.”
Rather than make the radio show all about the music, it is obvious that the focus is on creativity and aesthetics as a whole. Also, they would like to reach out to local radio stations and bridge the gap between college stations and the public.
Some local hip-hop artists the trio plan on featuring are Westside Gunn, Esther Dee aka Hadasssah, Chase DeNiro and Fernandough the Poet. Other up-and-comers providing inspiration include Daja Cat and JahMula, who Ahmed describes as “not just a typical rapper …he went through common struggles, but he has always kept his eyes open and never limited himself.”
“We have a plan,” Daniel says. “We are going to keep on grinding. The vision is to make it something bigger than us, and have created something that we built from the ground up.”
You can tune in every Thursday from 9 to 11pm at www.WRUB.org or listen on the Tune In Radio app by searching WRUB.
Follow Kino & Skye on Instagram @KinoandSkye.