Tondrae Kemp

TONDRAE KEMP: Sun Money (Kwality Records) Tondrae Kemp began singing in church at the age of 10 in his native Baton Rouge. Then, inspired by hip-hop pioneers like Rakim and Public Enemy, he embarked on a career as a rapper. However, he soon realised that hip-hop had limitations and with real songs he could express so much more so he joined an acapella group called All 4 Love where he learned to expand upon his vocals – citing his influences as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, Donny Hathaway and Bob Marley. Simultaneously he began working on his own songs – a craft he polished at the University Of New Orleans and he soon became an in-demand feature of the Crescent City's music scene. Trips to Europe saw him recording with like minded musicians but on his return to the States in 2012 he released his first full solo LP – 'Sun Money', which is being re-promoted on the back of some high profile Big Apple Kemp performances and upbeat, underground cri...

Louisiana Cultural Vistas Magazine - Fall 2013  Sound Advice: Music Review by Ben Sandmel Louisiana rhythm & blues is often exclusively -and thus erroneously- associated with songs from the 1950s to the 1970s. Two impressive new releases demonstrate this genre's constant evolution. On Sun Money (Kwality Records), singer Tondrae Kemp deftly balances suave crooning with gritty urgency on a set of all-original material. A native of Baton Rouge, where he started out singing in church, Kemp launched his career in New Orleans. Sun Money reflects these Louisiana roots, along with subtle rap and hip-hop influences, and time spent in the New York scene's cutting edge. The result is a consistently engaging and well-paced album that calls for repeated listening. From a Louisiana cultural perspective, two songs, "Happiness" and "Say If You Want Me To Leave," capture the raw spirit of old blues records -such as Lightnin' Slim's "Hoodoo Blues"...