BLACKSMOKE (KMB): Building an Independent Music Empire Under Pressure

BLACKSMOKE, also known as KMB (Kitchen Music Beats), music has never been a gamble. It has always been a craft shaped by pressure, patience, and ownership. A Midwest-based producer, recording artist, and founder of Blacksmoke Records and Blackmoney ENT, BLACKSMOKE represents a new generation of Black-owned, producer-led artists who refuse to sacrifice control for visibility.

Long before his name appeared on WorldStarHipHop or alongside major collaborators, music was simply part of life.

“Music was always around me growing up, playing in the house daily, at parties, family get-togethers,” he recalls. “It became part of who I was early.”

From Artist to Architect

BLACKSMOKE entered the industry first as an artist, spending years networking within underground circles and learning the business by observation rather than shortcuts.

“I was in the rooms, building relationships, watching how things really worked,” he explains.

Production came later, and with it, a shift in power. Learning to produce was not about expanding skill sets. It was about independence.

“Once I learned production, I no longer depended on anyone else to create or move my sound. That’s when ownership became the focus.”

That transition reshaped his identity. BLACKSMOKE became not just a rapper, but the architect of his own sound, catalog, and brand. 

Kitchen Music Beats: Pressure Creates the Product

The name Kitchen Music Beats is not branding flair. It is philosophy.

“The kitchen is where things get tested, heat, timing, mistakes,” he says. “That’s how my music is made. Raw, honest, no shortcuts.”

This pressure-driven approach defines his sound. Gritty realism paired with cinematic production creates records that feel lived in rather than manufactured. His storytelling reflects survival, hunger, doubt, and persistence, themes pulled directly from real life.

Scaling Independently Without Permission

With over one million verified views and streams, BLACKSMOKE’s catalog proves that independence does not mean limited reach. His mindset, however, has always remained grounded.

“Belief and stubbornness,” he says plainly. “I stayed consistent and treated music like a business, not a gamble.”

That discipline paid off when his breakout record “Take Off” featuring Boosie Badazz surpassed 1.19 million views on WorldStarHipHop, marking a defining moment for an artist operating outside traditional label ownership.

“It wasn’t overnight success,” he says. “It was validation. Proof that betting on myself wasn’t crazy.”

Credibility Over Hype

Collaborations with artists such as Boosie Badazz, Bizarre of D-12, C-Bo, Rich The Factor, and others did not come from chasing trends. They came from consistency and respect.

“Longevity comes from respect,” BLACKSMOKE explains. “Credibility is built over time, not hype.”

Those relationships reinforced his belief that ownership and discipline outlast momentary attention.

Ownership as the Endgame

As a producer-led artist, BLACKSMOKE is clear about priorities.

“Trends fade. Ownership lasts,” he says. “I focus on long-term value, not short moments.”

That philosophy extends to his distribution deal with EMPIRE, which provides global reach without creative interference.

“They handle distribution, not my creativity,” he notes. “I keep control of the music and the brand.”

Blacksmoke Records and Blackmoney ENT: Infrastructure for Independence

Founded with intention, Blacksmoke Records and Blackmoney ENT were built to protect artists from the very deals that once trapped generations before them.

“The goal is structure, ownership, and leverage,” BLACKSMOKE explains. “For artists who don’t want bad deals.”

The labels represent more than music releases. They represent infrastructure.

Defining a Legacy

When asked how he wants BLACKSMOKE to be remembered, the answer is clear and measured.

“As someone who built his own lane, musically, culturally, and as a Black-owned business,” he says. “Independent, disciplined, and real.”

In an industry often driven by shortcuts, BLACKSMOKE stands firm on fundamentals: ownership, consistency, and pressure-tested growth.

Every record reflects that journey.