21-year-old Seattle native Kateel finds himself looking back at his life’s journey with the nostalgic video for his latest single, “I Ain’t Forgot.” In the self-directed video, he plays an older version of himself, watching a VHS of some of the people he grew up with in the placed he grew up. Watch the video now below.
“’I Aint Forgot’ is about remembering where and what I come from,” Kateel told The FADER, who premiered the video, “The concept is: an older version of myself watches memories of my childhood on VHS. I show the real people and places I grew up around and give a taste of Seattle culture. We shot the video in the gyms and barbershops I went to. I wanted to capture the Teen Center Late Night scene. Late Night is an event that happens every weekend at Community Centers throughout the city from 7p.m. to midnight. It’s a place for teens to hang out, play sports, and stay out of trouble. Late Night really helped shape who I am today. Rest in peace to Glenn Hubbard, the leader of the community center I went to most.”
Kateel has been laying a strong foundation rooted in his dexterity as a rapper, singer, producer and live performer for the better second half of his life. First trying his hand at rapping in middle school, Kateel credits his interest in pursuing the craft to having music in his blood and being immersed in a variety of soundscapes early on. Born the son of a soul musician, who actively records under the name Jrod Indigo, Kateel witnessed firsthand what sacrifices come with the decision to choose a career as an artist and what work must be put in to best nurture a passion for music in a serious capacity.
In the past two years since making the decision to focus on his music career full-time, Kateel has gone on to add several accolades to his name, including opening up for Nas and Dave East, receiving support from veteran music executive Steve Rifkind and, most recently, inking his first record deal with Atlantic. From rapping poignantly about his experiences finding strength in his identity as a biracial artist to working tirelessly to ensure that everything he creates has soul, Kateel is winning over new listeners with each passing day by staying true to his artistry, authenticity and overall drive to put good energy into the world.