- LUIS PEREZ
- KEY NYATA Like being on drugs.
A lot has happened in the year or so since Key Nyata released his breakout lo-fi Two Phonkey and wrote and recorded his again-delayed, again-anticipated fourth album, The Shadowed Diamond—his latest collection of almost entirely self-produced space-Cadillac psych-phonk rap, due for release August 10. The local rapper turned 18 and graduated on time from Garfield High School this June—but not before spending his school year rocking venues from the Vera Project to Chop Suey to Neumos opening for some of Seattle’s biggest names, and touring with the internet-based rap collective Raider Klan, making stops at mega-festival Coachella and ultra-hip streaming showcase Boiler Room LA along the way.
Key Nyata half chuckles, half shakes his head at the term “internet famous,” but acknowledges his online origins and fan base—gained after Raider Klan founder Spaceghostpurrp posted a video for Key’s runaway hit (and still fan favorite at his shows) “Get High (I Wanna Smoke)” on his YouTube channel early last year. “It’s pretty cool, but it’s kinda superficial,” Key admits. “I’m not attacking any wave or trying to ride any wave, I’m just trying to be me and do what I do. I wanna have longevity.”