Kamaiyah

“Keep it Lit”, rap recording artist “Kamaiyah” was born and raised in Oakland, California. Influenced by some of her favorite artists like Missy Elliot, Aaliyah, TLC and Conscious Daughters; Kamaiyah created a niche for herself in the west coast music scene. With a range of musical compositions that defied genres, Kamaiyah blended quick and witty lyrics, melodic tempos and hard basslines that disrupted the female-rap categories as a note-worthy contender.
Her debut single “How Does it Feel” premiered in late 2015 solidifying her spot in the ranks of one of the year’s best songs rated by Pitchfork and NPR. She went on to releasing her freshman album March 2016 entitled, “A Good Night in the Ghetto”. Continuing accolades of Rolling Stone’s “40 Best Rap Albums of 2016”, and The Guardian’s “15 Best Mixtapes of 2016” stamped the female rapper the “The Queen” of the bay as showcased in global media outlets.

Generating RIAA Platinum Records like “Why You Always Hatin?”; a hit single from YG’s 2016 album “Still Brazy”, Kamaiyah went on to sign with Interscope Records. On June 13, 2017, Kamaiyah was named one of the ten of XXL’s “2017 Freshman Class” alongside other notable rappers such as: A Boogie wit da Hoodie, PnB Rock, Playboi Carti, Ugly God, Kyle, Aminé, MadeinTYO, Kap G, and XXXTentacion.

With a host of other notable albums like the self-released titles “Before I Wake” later in 2017, “Got it Made” in the spring of 2020, and “Oakland Nights” in the same 2020 fall season, Kamaiyah began to understand the value of independence in the music industry and decided to maintain course under her own labels Grnd Wrk and Keep it Lit Records. Her career has generated millions of fans and streams across the globe and has collaborated with rap heavy-hitters like Drake, ScHoolboy Q, The Migos and more. Kamaiyah remains a playlist favorite to date and still finds the creative drive to pair rhythmic production from music creatives with nostalgic flair like “Harry Fraud”, to a slick chorus line in singles like “Thru the Week” familiarized in the 2023 NBA playoffs.

Kamaiyah, coined the Bay’s “Queen of Rap”, remains one of one in her genres and has since released her current album “Another Summer Night” and is set to go on tour beginning March 2024!