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Click above for full article! "Can You Hear Clarence The Kid Now?! CYHUN 2" San Jose artist, Clarence The Kid, wraps up the year with a captivating and thoughtful project in Can You Hear Us Now 2. The second installment in the series serves as a reflection of Clarence’s life being a young black man in America. The project features fellow USC artists and civil rights activists Kabwasa and Jamel. Records such as “All Black Lives” and “Keep Going!” showcase the chemistry among these artists and their uncanny ability to inspire new perspectives on these pressing issues. With production help from Roy Chase and Versus Beats, CYHUN 2 is a flawless project that features intense testimonials, melancholic beats, and personal anecdotes. Earlier this year, at the height of the BLM movement, Clarence recorded and released the first part in the “Can You Hear Us Now” series. Since the release back in April, Clarence has done plenty of growing not only as an artist, but as a civil rights activist. Having performed at multiple BLM peaceful protests throughout the year, Clarence’s message goes beyond just music. He stands for equality and the empowerment of black people everywhere. Clarence notes that despite living a straightedge life, he still fears the boys in blue. No matter where he turns he is faced with inequality. Clarence’s CYHUN 2 effortlessly pushes a progressive dialogue that not only resonates with Generation Z, but activated Hip-Hop listeners. The project is just as stimulating mentally as it is entertaining. For those of you that are unfamiliar, be sure to peep the project in it’s entirety below!
Click above for full article! "MadeByBlackSC Presents Clarence The Kid" Clarence the Kid is a 2020 graduate from USC’s Music Industry program. He grew up in San Jose where he admitted there were not a lot of creative outlets available to him. Writing acted as his coping mechanism. He started writing poetry and then eventually turned his poetry into rap. While at USC, Clarence the Kid was fascinated by pairing his music with visual aspects, so he picked up a minor in the School of Cinematic Arts. Currently, he is working on singing and also really enjoys marrying spoken rap with instruments. In San Jose, Clarence the Kid revealed he was a part of a small minority. He did not fully dive into his Black roots until he moved to Los Angeles. Using the rich culture of USC, Clarence the Kid aimed to amplify voices that are not usually heard. “A lot of people didn't have connections to Black people in San Jose. Media promotes certain artists and because of the representation of Black people in the media my music was not relatable. My music was much more internally focused and self-reflexive. I worked to feel accepted as an offshoot of a holistic art form.” While at USC, Clarence the Kid was one of the only Black students in his cohort of the Music Industry program. “It was frustrating. Right now, some of the most creative people are Black. There is an unspoken hierarchy of white people determining what to release for Black people.” Clarence the Kid disclosed that before releasing his EP “Can You Hear Us Now?” he had significant writer’s block. “Everything I was making wasn't the caliber I wanted. ‘Can You Hear Us Now?’ was created within one week during the peak of the protests. This past summer I was living in downtown LA and could hear the BLM protests as I wrote. The BLM movement has been giving more direction to where my voice lies in my music.”