Today we’d like to introduce you to Krate Digga.
Krate, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my love of music in elementary school with West African drumming. In middle school, I became very active in Hip Hop culture through engagement with a drug & alcohol prevention group for teens. Once in undergrad, I began learning to DJ & unexpectedly my career as a DJ began just 6 weeks later.
Over the decades, I’ve shared stages, concepts, and influenced culture with many great artists in various circles from music to art.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been smooth sailing. Whether it was breaking into the local ecosystem or breaking out to wider audiences, intentional & consistent work has always been the minimum requirement. Technological & cultural developments are added facets that must consistently be navigated. Additionally, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, and Detroit are all regional neighbor cities with professional NFL, MLB, and/or NBA teams. The ecosystems of these cities offer certain opportunities that are harder to develop in Columbus. Strategic & consistent engagement must remain a priority when seeking market growth in my opinion.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My mission is quite simply to improve the quality of lives. I use music as the vehicle for that mission, intentionally through the prism of Hip Hop culture. Hip Hop culture like many others is a culture that lives & grows based in part on the contributions of generations before. So, whether I’m bringing light to musical selections that became the sample material for some of our favorite songs or whether I’m engaging with students to use music production as a creative outlet, it all sits within the concept of Sankofa; meaning to reach back & bring forward. The many generations that have given so much to this culture that has done so much for me are owed that respect, reverence, and elevation.
Any big plans?
I have quite a few projects on deck but one of the most exciting is an artist residency in Taiwan. As a Hip Hop Ambassador with Next Level USA, I’ve been teamed with several other Hip-Hop artists that will do some teaching, mentoring, cultural exchange, and performances with participants in Taiwan. The original residency was set for October of 2021 but the restrictions of COVID forced a rescheduling. We’re hoping that late summer of 2022 is a go for us.
Along with that, I’m working on a new stage production. It’s not part two of my previous one; however, there are some conceptual continuities.
Contact Info:
- Email: Krate@KrateDigga.com
- Website: https://www.kratedigga.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/kratedigga
- Facebook: Facebook.com/djkratedigga
- Twitter: Twitter.com/kratedigga
- Youtube: YouTube.com/soundchampz
Image Credits
John Ray
Janeen Holmes
Krate Digga
Kevin Rigby
