Based in Los Angeles and Columbus native, Kovei is an alternative hip-hop artist who creates a musical tapestry that stands out in a crowded genre. Through his introspective lyrics, Kovei aims to explore issues affecting his community and shed light on what it means to be brown in today’s America.

Set to the style of psychedelic jazz and dance music, Off The Yayo envelopes the listener in a story of contradictions and broken promises as Kovei explores his experiences within a group of close friends beset by addiction. Featuring heavy latin guitars and desi rhythms, Kovei constructs a dark, fast-paced vibe that brings his audience into the seedy clubs and house parties where his world began to fall apart. Accentuated by west coast style production, Kovei shows his range as an artist as he dives into a serious subject matter through a moody, pulsating track.

Addiction in the brown community can be a highly divisive issue. “A lot of desi folk need to know they ain’t alone and that it’s not a problem to reach for help. For me this is just an issue in my community I’m really passionate about and it’s something I’ve always wanted to help make better in some way.”

Kovei’s sound draws influence from his Indian roots, jazz, and culture-defining hip-hop artists including Kendrick Lamar, Vince Staples, SVDP, and Abhi the Nomad. His cultural identity is a huge part of who he is and bleeds into his music, whether it’s desi percussion, melodies, or lyrics.

Off The Yayo is out now on all platforms.