Paid In Full

Kino PIF interview
Detroit-
-How was it in your eyes being raised n a city like Detroit, especially Joy Road ?
Detroit is a place where our culture supersedes us. I saw a lot with my dad being one of the people who showed me a lot of things early outside of just being in my environment. With my dad hustling a bit, I saw the nice cars with rims, tvs, custom paint jobs , bankrolls and jewelry early on. So, I was definitely influenced as a child. My family is from Joy Rd, my parents grew up in the neighborhood as well as myself for some time. That’s when I feel I learned and picked up on things you have to do, or carry yourself, to survive. We moved around the Westside a lot growing up. I never stayed in the same place long at all. But when i talk about joy rd I’m representing for myself and family from the neighborhood.

-Early life schools you attended?
Malcom X academy ( W Chicago & Livernois)
Barton Elementary (Joy Rd & Ohio)
Ymca (7 mile & Lahser)
Garfield Elementary (Westland)
Nsoroma (Oak Park)

-What is it really like going to UofD Jesuit ?
Rigorous curriculum, very structured. Detention and suspensions for tardiness, or the slightest behavior issue. The brotherhood was the best thing to come from there.

- why you go there ?
My mom forced me to go there. It wasn’t an option.

- was that shit that hard that you had to keep cheating on yo work?
Not necessarily hard where I had to cheat for not understanding, but more so my time management was poor at the time, so I always did everything last minute (which didn’t work there). The school trains you to be great with managing time , sports , and academics. So with me not handling it correctly, I was cheating because I was always playing catch up.

-did you go to school with any notable Detroit ppl,
Notable Detroit People, the most notable athlete would be Cassius Winston. As far as just school friends I attended school with the Randazzos ( Randazzo Fruit Market)

-If it wasn’t rapping or hooping, what would you be doing ?
I would be an architect

-your Son, how has his life made you change ?
It made me realize that failure isn’t an option. I’m living for his reputation as well. If his father is a slouch, it will fall on him. Whatever I do out here falls on him, so I need to make sure I’m reputable .

Connecticut -

-How was that out there? It’s seems like that’s where you met yo day2 Nigqas?

Post University was terrible . But yea that’s where I met the bros, we all hooped. They’re all from NY though. At the time we were just teammates. Waterbury, where my school was, was pretty boring so we traveled to different cities out there for any entertainment.

Chicago -

-did you do much outside of school ? Other than hoop n make music

Other than hoop or make music I was jugging. Having to keep money in my pocket to finance the stuff I wanted to do. I started rapping in Chicago and that’s when we first took that Miami and Vegas trip when I was in school so that type of stuff costs. In order to maintain without asking my parents for bread I had to go get some cheese to support my music.

Music-

-How do you feel about working with other artist ?

I’m open to it for sure! I don’t send out songs to other artist because I feel like when I like a song, I don’t want anybody on it. But I’ll hit the studio wit my other artists quick!

-West side baby or When push comes to shove ?
Westside Baby

-Where did the name Kino PIF come from?
My sister made it up, besides the fact that my middle name is “Kiano” so just take out the “A”. And PIF which is Paid in Full , which is our brand.

-Do you ever think about the most popular Paid in Full(The Movie), By the name being so similar ?
All the time, but our brand is more on the wave of ALL MONEY IN. It’s about getting a ROI. Making sure you’re getting out what you’re putting in. That’s why I say $TAY PAID. Get ya monies worth at all times! When you’re out here putting in the work make sure you got something to show for it at the end of the day!

-Jnoir the producer? Tell us how yall meet
That was my basketball teammate when I transferred to IIT in Chicago. I used to be around him making beats and engineering when he got his refund check,and bought all of the studio equipment. That was before I started rapping . So just being around him, I started messing with the music, and it’s grown to this.

-What was the first song you made that made you feel like you can really rap?
The first song I made where I felt like I could really rap
One of the few that stand out right now is Alone. I made it in 2017. But When i feel like I really could do music and pop, “Everywhere I Go” i think.

-Wat song you got out you feel is your biggest ?
“Be Cool” with Babyface Ray is definitely my biggest song.

-do you feel like ppl look at you a certain way because you went to private all boy school, finished college, etc?

Absolutely ! I feel like they discount the work I put in, I feel like they see me as silver spooned. I feel like they look at me as a liar or exaggerator in a way. Because when you look at my life, I’m not somehow who HAS to rap. I chose to turn down Corporate America and basketball. I had a high 5 figure salary awaiting me after school. So many people definitely downplay my music based on my experiences and opportunities.

-Life since music started what has changed for you ?
The first thing that comes to mind is my family. I deal with a lot of jealousy in my family because of this. Surprisingly, this early in my career lol. Other than that, life has been pretty tough with trying to always stay consistent with something that hasn’t paid me back, yet. You have to be borderline insane to believe in something and chase it so hard, when the chances of reaching your dreams are slim to none. And with me getting older and starting a family, I feel like I gotta put it all on the line for it to work out, and it will.