10 Things You Should Know About Kris Kasanova

Get the essentials on this upstart MC from Brooklyn.

10 Things You Should Know About Kris Kasanova - Since dropping his first mix tape, Long Way Home, in 2010 Brooklyn native Kris Kasanova has been emerging as another voice helping to bring NYC back to prominence in hip hop music. Garnering praise and respect within rap music circles and music blogs, Kris is the next BET Music Matters MC poised to explode. Need to know the essentials about this budding hip hop star? Well here are 10 of them.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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10 Things You Should Know About Kris Kasanova - Since dropping his first mix tape, Long Way Home, in 2010 Brooklyn native Kris Kasanova has been emerging as another voice helping to bring NYC back to prominence in hip hop music. Garnering praise and respect within rap music circles and music blogs, Kris is the next BET Music Matters MC poised to explode. Need to know the essentials about this budding hip hop star? Well here are 10 of them.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

Third Coming - In the history of hip hop music, Kris Kasanova is the third prominent rapper with a name that plays off the word “Casanova,” the sir name of an 18th century Italian explorer who was historically known as a ladies’ man. Kris’ moniker follows in the footsteps of rap pioneer and innovator Grand Master Caz and ‘80s Brooklyn rhymer Casanova Rud.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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Third Coming - In the history of hip hop music, Kris Kasanova is the third prominent rapper with a name that plays off the word “Casanova,” the sir name of an 18th century Italian explorer who was historically known as a ladies’ man. Kris’ moniker follows in the footsteps of rap pioneer and innovator Grand Master Caz and ‘80s Brooklyn rhymer Casanova Rud.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

Paid the Cost - The young MC paid for his studio time via a job at an insurance company. "I was just copying papers and running errands for whoever needed something,” he explained. “It was never a dream to go into insurance…. It was more of a matter of, well, this will pay for the studio." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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Paid the Cost - The young MC paid for his studio time via a job at an insurance company. "I was just copying papers and running errands for whoever needed something,” he explained. “It was never a dream to go into insurance…. It was more of a matter of, well, this will pay for the studio." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

No Job to Dream Job - Upon being downsized out of a job, Kris made the ultimate decision for his life’s path. "Honestly… rapping wasn’t something I thought I was going to do," Kris said in an interview. "I was thinking about everything else [to do]. Luckily, I linked up with the right producer and I had a lot of stories to tell." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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No Job to Dream Job - Upon being downsized out of a job, Kris made the ultimate decision for his life’s path. "Honestly… rapping wasn’t something I thought I was going to do," Kris said in an interview. "I was thinking about everything else [to do]. Luckily, I linked up with the right producer and I had a lot of stories to tell." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

Kris Kasanova on the inspiration for his single “Oh Lord":  - "I grew up in a real religious household. My grandmother’s a Jehovah’s Witness. And with them, everything is by the Bible and you can’t change anything. So I grew up with a conscience." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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Father Knows Best - Growing up in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Kris was inspired to MC from accompanying his father, who’s stage name was Don, to studio sessions to work on music with such artists as Big Pun and Mary J. Blige.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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Mixtape Buzz - After linking up with producer Ibe in 2010, Kris released his first mixtape, The Long Way Home, which instantly received critical acclaim from major music blogs.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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Mixtape Buzz - After linking up with producer Ibe in 2010, Kris released his first mixtape, The Long Way Home, which instantly received critical acclaim from major music blogs.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

Homeskool-ing - If Kris’s gear looks fly, it’s probably because it comes from the street clothier Flight Club, who the rapper partnered with to form Homeskool, a movement to showcase themselves as hustlers of the industry.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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Homeskool-ing - If Kris’s gear looks fly, it’s probably because it comes from the street clothier Flight Club, who the rapper partnered with to form Homeskool, a movement to showcase themselves as hustlers of the industry.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

New Era in NYC - With his critical acclaim and web buzz, Brooklyn-born Kris joins a steady growing movement of MCs bringing NYC back to youthful prominence in hip hop music.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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New Era in NYC - With his critical acclaim and web buzz, Brooklyn-born Kris joins a steady growing movement of MCs bringing NYC back to youthful prominence in hip hop music.  (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

Golden Age - Kris' latest album, 24K, was made, in part, to honor the golden age of hip hop music. "I kind of wanted to pay homage to the old hip hop," Kris confessed. "I use soul samples and you could play the music with what was out back then, like Raekwon, Big and Nas." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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Golden Age - Kris' latest album, 24K, was made, in part, to honor the golden age of hip hop music. "I kind of wanted to pay homage to the old hip hop," Kris confessed. "I use soul samples and you could play the music with what was out back then, like Raekwon, Big and Nas." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

"Oh Lord" - The video for his buzz-worthy song "Oh Lord" conflates worshiping god with partying. "I grew up in a real religious household," he remembered. "My grandmother’s a Jehovah’s Witness. And with them, everything is by the Bible and you can’t change anything. So I grew up with a conscience. I would think about things before I do it." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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"Oh Lord" - The video for his buzz-worthy song "Oh Lord" conflates worshiping god with partying. "I grew up in a real religious household," he remembered. "My grandmother’s a Jehovah’s Witness. And with them, everything is by the Bible and you can’t change anything. So I grew up with a conscience. I would think about things before I do it." (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

BET Approved - His debut LP, War Paint, not only received accolades from the industry, it earned Kris a place as one of BET's Music Matters artists. (Photo: HomeSkool Records)

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BET Approved - His debut LP, War Paint, not only received accolades from the industry, it earned Kris a place as one of BET's Music Matters artists. (Photo: HomeSkool Records)