K.One is the future, firmly on the upward climb to his peak as a solo artist. K.One AKA Kaleb Vitale has risen from relative obscurity to his current profile as one of the country’s most prolific hip hop artists. He’s achieved in a year something that has taken others many years to do. His debut album Far From Home exceeds all expectations as it says in the lead track Right Here. Don’t be surprised if he has multiple nominations at next years VNZMA’s, but don’t wait until then to listen to this album.
K.One has built a solid work ethic and spent long hours polishing his musical craft through the underground Hip-Hop scene - the same breeding ground for top local talent in years past: David Dallas, PNC, Mareko and Scribe. Illegal Musik caught wind of the young MC's talents through these underground channels and the label’s head Patriarch AKA Mark Arona was sufficiently impressed by K.One’s rhyming and story-telling ability that he took him on board. An opportunity opened up on the DJ CXL and J.Williams track My Love’(The Remix) that gave K.One a shot alongside the virtuoso, Scribe. This was the start of the transition from young unknown in the studio to being a true Master of Ceremonies in his own right. Showcased in She’s a Killer which has been a huge hit with K.One at the helm, as a twist in fate the single feaures J.Williams as his backing artist.
A year on, and the sacrifices made to pursue his dreams documenting the journey through songs like So Long a mid-tempo jam with stunning piano about trying to heal a fractured past and culminating in the release of his freshman album. We Ain’t Gonna Stop featuring Tyson Tyler and Ethical, is like a personal reflection, K.One saying he has always wanted to write and produce a song like this.
The album as a whole has some amazing songs like the sexy fist pumping, club thumper Bring That Beat Back featuring Illegal’s own Brooke belting out the power ballad hook, and beautiful Walking Away featuring Jason Kerrison from OpShop are brilliantly captivating and capture K.One at his finest. K.One utilizes his musical diversity to create variety, integrating euro-pop and heavy syntheziers to Motown choirs that make you swoon in Can’t Take That Away the ironically seductive Murder, while still having a solid base in the Hip Hop Category. Never continues mixing genres with Junipahlaying the backing vox sounding a lot like Chad Krugar from Nickleback. And a fast tempo Did It For You’featuring Young Sid and Huz, talking about the pressures of the industry and coming out the other side stronger.
Towards the end of the album K.One slows it down and gets emotionally real, Hero featuring. River Jordan, is a sweet genuine song about breaking down barriers and Thank You featuring Che Fu| a love letter to the ones he cares about, great lyrics and production that properly demonstrates his voice. There really is something in there for everyone.
All the tracks combine to form pieces of K.One’s musical journey. Far From Home is a deeply satisfying album, assembled like a musical brick house: solid from top to bottom each song is strong enough to be released as a single. With the first 5 singles already released it is a brilliant success for the kid from Masterton.
K.ONE Unleashed
K.One AKA Kaleb Vitale has risen from relative obscurity to his current profile as one of the countries most prolific hip hop artists. Heʼs achieved in a year what's taken others years to do. With his debut album just around the corner the young artist continues to exceed expectations.
Kaleb Vitale was based in Masterton (Wairarapa region) making a living in the Forestry industry as a Silviculturist in conditions both challenging and dangerous. He built a solid work ethic in this environment and spent long hours honing his musical craft.