By Jillian Cready
Kievan Boudreaux-Bostic used to upload rap songs he made to online streaming services and then delete them, as he was embarrassed that his friends would notice. Not anymore.
Having been writing music since he was 10 years old, the Trinity University junior has come a long way. He has just released his latest album, “Priority,” on all major music platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify.
“Kiev has been amazing to work with. Our creativity flows effortlessly when we’re together in the studio,” say his producer, collaborator, and friend, Richard Herrera. “Priority” was the first album they collaborated. “We’re transparent with each other on every subject from edits, effects, to royalty rights. I enjoy seeing us both evolve as artists and creatives.”
Going by the stage name, Kiev, Boudreaux-Bostic, a Houston native, draws inspiration from varying artists such as Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, A Tribe Called Quest and OutKast. Besides rap, he also enjoys listening to The Beatles, Tame Impala, and anything R&B.
His main inspiration, however, is his daily life and experiences. He wants his songs to spread messages of positivity, “but also understanding that there are a lot of things that go on in this world and a lot of things that affect me personally and affect people around me,” says Boudreaux-Bostic.
His experience at Trinity has also made its way into his music, which reflects his life as a student at the small liberal arts college.
“Trinity has some good things and bad things. Sometimes I feel like our administration, they hear us but they don’t listen. There is a lot of push back from Trinity students, you know, knocking on that door, knocking on that door,” Boudreaux-Bostic says. “My music is just another way to continue knock on that door, and to continue to make change for people who are going to come after me.”
At the same time, being a full-time college student poses challenges to pursuing a music career. “Balancing music and school and just everything can be a big time commitment,” Boudreaux-Bostic says. On top of that, he also faces the battle to balance “making the kind of music [he] wants to make and then making the music people want to hear.”
The best part of pursuing a professional music career thus far has been the great people he has met, Boudreaux-Bostic says. He also went through some struggle in terms of making money, as the rap scene in San Antonio is not quite robust.
But that is not going to stop him from advancing in his music career. “Kievan is really passionate about his music, so he stays pretty focused on getting to people who will help him get the opportunities he deserves,” says Trinity junior Kezia Nyarko, who is Boudreaux-Bostic’s creative director.
Boudreaux-Bostic has big goals for himself and his music. “My goal for this year is to drop my album Ambrosia, which should hopefully be coming in May. My other goal for this year is to have 1,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. My biggest goal is to put my friends in positions where they can also succeed.”
Perhaps fundamental to reaching these goals is Boudreaux-Bostic’s belief in being a genuine artist. “Understand that people can sense your energy. It’s much easier to be who you are. If you are who you are and you are authentic in your music, people will flock to it because people want something that’s real."
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