Kateel Talks About His NBA Playoff Themed Hit, “I Ain’t Forgot!”

It’s a dream come true for the former hoop star to hear his song play during the NBA playoffs!

Although, he’s only 21-years old, one conversation with Seattle, Washington native, Kateel and you can tell, his future is bright. The multi-talented, song writer/rapper also provides a hint of R&B and his latest project, “Mind Over Matters” showcases all of those talents. In 2017, Kateel’s high school basketball team was ranked #1 in the nation. Recently, his song, “I Ain’t Forgot,” landed a promo spot for the return of the NBA. You can hear it on EPSN’s edition of NBA playoff games, usually leading into commercials. Not bad for a hooper who is still chasing that NBA dream. Kateel understands, music is where his bread is buttered, but his determination is relentless, so don’t be surprised to see him in an NBA jersey one day.

During my recent conversation with, Kateel, he explains the impact opening up for Nas had on his approach to the game, we discuss his, “Mind Over Matters” EP and much more!

How are you doing?

Kateel: Man, I’m good. I’m out here in Vegas, just putting in some work and making some new music.

You’re on fire right now. I don’t know which is better, your song, “I Ain’t Forgot,” being the NBA’s playoffs theme song heading into commercials on ESPN or the fact that you are a baller and getting that placement in the NBA.

Kateel: I think probably the fact that I’m a long time hooper and I got a song in the NBA.

How did that come together?

Kateel: So, we met with the head of music, Manoj back in January. We really just played him the EP. Got to talk, chop it up and told him my back story. He loved the music; he loved the vibe. He was like, “Ya’ll seem cool. I would like to help you out on your journey.” And then of course the Covid thing hit and the NBA had to shut down. Everything was uncertain. I had completely forgot about that. I didn’t know what that was going to turn into. Then the bubble comes back, and ESPN is involved. He is the head of music for ESPN, so he was like, “The bubble is about to start back up. It’s split between TNT, ESPN and the different stations, but for every ESPN game, we can have it featured into the commercial leads.” At first, they just started off with the instrumental and it was only a couple of times. Then as it ramped up, it just seemed like it fit. I don’t know it’s some divine stuff. It’s hard to explain. You can’t really explain it. It just got better and better as time has passed. And also, they have two other songs that they play too from my EP, “Magic,” and “High Note.”

Living out a dream. Things in life never seem easy for you. You dealt with homelessness at one point pursuing your music dreams and right when things are looking up with the track being featured, the NBA shuts down. That being said, all things seem to work themselves out, and I’m sure it makes the successes that much more fulfilling.

Kateel: Absolutely! I just seen… you know the artist, Russ?

Absolutely!

Kateel: People be posting quotes and stuff and I seen him post this thing talking about how you can’t rush things and you can’t try to take shortcuts. At the end of the day you gotta put the work in and have those experiences and go through those battles. At the end of the day, you come out of it better. If you’re just handed something, you’re not going to really deserve it or feel like you deserve it or even be ready for it. I think all the adversity I have faced and will face is going to make me better at the end of the day. And it makes me who I am, so I wouldn’t take none of it back.

As I mentioned, pursuing music over basketball put you in some tough spots. Do you have any regrets?

Kateel: No regrets and I will say this, I’m a believer that, people can do anything they want. It’s just a matter of how and sometimes we just can’t decide when. I haven’t given up on hoops. Sort of like, J. Cole. He did the music thing and obviously made that the main thing and now in his life, he’s talking about going to the league. Which I support. A lot of people say it’s crazy, but I fully support it because, for someone in my position, it’s a huge inspiration. I will never give up on it because I am a hooper at heart, but definitely the music is my main focus right now. But it’s a blessing. I wouldn’t take nothing back. It’s turning out to be what’s meant to be.

Master P did it, so there is another inspiration for you as well.

Kateel: Yeah fasho. Thank you!

You’re from Seattle, Washington and you could really be the focal point of putting them on the map. They haven’t had a basketball team in quite some time. I’m sure you welcome the pressures of musically uplifting your town and state.

Kateel: I feel honored to be recognized in certain ways. I think also at the end of the day, it’s important for me to recognize the overwhelming amount of talent. A lot of people don’t really know what we got in Seattle. They will soon find out. It’s a lot of really dope names coming out of Seattle. Some people have already been doing their thing pretty big for a while, but just reaching different markets and stuff. I feel like collectively as an area, Seattle is really coming up. I’m very excited to be a part of that.

You have opened for Nas before. What was it like to get that type of experience and what did you take away from that situation?

Kateel: Man… Steve Rifkind hooked it up for me. And when he told me what the opportunity was, I almost like… I didn’t believe it was going to happen. You know when somebody tells you something and it’s too good to be true. At the stage where I was at, I couldn’t believe that I would be meeting one of the G.O.A.T.S. Or at least just performing at the same venue on the same night. I opened up the show, the DJ announced my name. It was a small event at the Peppermint Club. Cool vibe. I did some hip-hop stuff and got in my R&B bag a little bit. I got a good reaction, but I was still figuring some things out and getting better as a performer and gaining my confidence, stuff like that. I got a cool response. My team told me that I did well. Then I went backstage, we had another artist that was performing from our team. Then Dave East came up and killed it. And I got to stand literally in the corner 10-feet away from the performances. So, getting to see that right up close… Dave East did his performance and then Nas comes out and I got to stand on the same stage as Nas and watch him do his thing. And that… you can’t put it into words. This is a real G.O.A.T. in the flesh right there. And I got to meet him and chop it up with him real quick. I let him know he was one of my favorite artists of all-time. I wish I would’ve rapped for him. I actually wrote a rap about not rapping for him (laughing).

So many young artists have so many talents now. You are no different, you rap, you do some R&B, you produce, song-write. How do you determine which one you are going to attack, or do you let the vibe determine that?

Kateel: I let it come to me naturally. It’s always just the vibe. A lot of people still figuring out the many things that I like to partake in. I’m actually a visual artist as well. I do all of my own cover arts. I also edit my own videos. I mix my own songs, with he help of some really talented engineers as well, but I’m trying to become as good as I can in all of the creative avenues. Yeah, I don’t know, I think nowadays, I obviously recognize the fact that I’m gifted. I have family members tell me that I can do anything. But I also think nowadays with the blessing that YouTube is, people can educate themselves and teach themselves how to do anything given that they have the time to do that. One of the things is, I have never been great at making money (laughing) because I was never focused on money. I was always focused on self-improvement. So, that’s what I spent all my time doing. Learning how to do things.

Your EP “Mind Over Matters” is so dope. I love the diversity. You showcase so many different sounds and levels to your talents. The main thing I love is how you detail your struggles, especially on, “Different Problems.” Why did you want to put it all out there from the get-go?

Kateel: I think because it would show people what type of artist I am and get the ready for who I will be going forward. I actually have a lot of music that is very vulnerable and strategically we’ve had to make sure that we deliver things digestive way. But I think it’s time to bring storytelling back. I think it’s time for people to know who their favorite artists are. That’s what I want to be. My biggest influences in hip-hop would be like the greatest storytellers like, Nas, Kendrick [Lamar], J. Cole… they are all great storytellers. Drake as well. I want people to feel like they know me through my music.

I’m sure it’s therapeutic for you. No easier story to tell than your own.

Kateel: Very! Yeah exactly. It’s dope to be able to give people my perspective. I feel like I’ve been able to heal things within myself and give myself new enlightenment and perspective, whether it be, I got something on my mind or on my heart. If I got a beef with somebody and then I write a song about it and squash it within myself, so I’m not holding on to that weight. Music is a powerful tool to do things like that.

My favorite song on the EP is, “Multimillionaire.” I love the way you decided to flow on that one. How did that joint come together because it had a very unique sound?

Kateel: I made that song in 15-minutes. My bro, Corbett… I pulled up to his studio in Cincinnati. He had invited some other Cincinnati people over because he’s trying to put his city on. So, he invited some other Cincinnati producers over. This kid, Internet Boy pulled up. Pulled out his laptop, played a couple beats. And he played that beat. And it was something different about it. It was kind of sloppy, it’s like he just played it on a drum pad, wasn’t trying to get it perfect and I loved that. But it was bouncy as well. I was like, “This is fire. I can do something with this.” I loaded it up, sat down for like 5-minutes, wrote out a lil hook and then just got on the mic and went and just kept going. It was just fun. We didn’t really overthink it. I did the adlib. In the beginning of the track, it sounds like horseshoes, but it’s really me jumping in the studio. I’m literally jumping before because I’m just getting hype about to spit my adlibs, about to spit my raps and stuff. That song is different. I was trying to lowkey have a little sloppy/drunken flow, but it works though.

Maybe that’s the key. I talk to a lot of artists and their dopest track or verse will be one they told me they came up with in 20-30 minutes. So, maybe not overthinking things is the key.

Kateel: Yeah! Don’t overthink it too much. Let it be a feeling. Let it be a vibe.

I appreciate the time; I’m looking for big things from you. Is there anything you want to add?

Kateel: Ah man, “Mind Over Matter!” Anything ya’ll wanna make happen, ya’ll can make happen, manifest what I want, “Magic.”

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