Over the past few years, Kevin Cossom has penned several hits for hip-hop and R&B's biggest acts, including Young Jeezy, R. Kelly, Rick Ross, Lloyd Banks, and Trey Songz. But after the rapid ascent of Keri Hilson’s “Knock You Down” to the top of R&B's Billboard charts, it became hard for Kevin Cossom, who wrote the track, to escape being dubbed as "the next big thing." Even so, Cossom devoted the bulk of his energy to writing for others, although being a talented singer in his own right.
Kevin Cossom’s work behind the scenes did not stop MTV.com from proclaiming the artist as “the man, and you probably don't even know it yet,” or XXL Magazine from describing his musical style as “Usher meets Justin Timberlake.” And adding my two cents to the chorus, I believe that if Cossom's pre-album EP is a small sample of what his debut will hold, then expect him to set the music world ablaze in 2010, just as fellow singer-songwriters Ne-Yo and The-Dream have done in recent years.
While the world patiently awaits Kevin Cossom’s grand debut, the singer-songwriter managed to squeeze some time out of his busy schedule and settle down for an interview with Clayton Perry — reflecting on his recent signing with Nate “Danja” Hills, what it takes to be a “new age rock star,” and his underground hit, “Hang That Over My Head.”
Recently, you became the first artist to sign with N.A.R.S. (New Age Rock Stars), the new JIVE imprint of GRAMMY-award winning producer Danja. Going off the title, I’m curious to know what you think it takes to be considered a “new age rock star.”
Rock stars are rebels. They don’t have any boundaries as far as to what they’re going to do. They let it all hang out, and a lot of them do their own way musically.
I feel like I do the same thing. You can’t put me in a box and say, “R&B is supposed to sound like this. If you’re going to do R&B, you’re going to continue doing R&B. That’s how it is.” I just feel like music is so much bigger than that. Music is the opportunity to do something and create something new with no boundaries.
Kind of like a canvas when you’re painting: you should be able to do what you want to do with it. I definitely am R&B but I am not afraid to take music to other places, explore different types of sound, or even explore the people that inspire me. I feel like a lot of people ask “Who inspired you?” And most of the time, they would name different artists that you wouldn’t even hear in their music. Back in the day when Rick James was doing rock ‘n roll – you might consider it pop. Prince, Jimi Hendrix. It’s not just rock.
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