KenTheMan is one of the many rising stars who will be spotlighted at the 2022 BET Hip Hop Awards, which will air on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
In fact, KenTheMan, real name Kentavia Miller, will get the chance to show off her skills in the form of a “digital-exclusive” cypher alongside Armani Caesar, Nana, Navelle Hice, OT The Real and Yung Pooda, according to a BET press release.
Ahead of the world viewing her digital cypher, many want to know:
Who is KenTheMan?
Let’s go over 10 things that everyone should know about the budding female rap star.
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KenTheMan is from Texas
KenTheMan’s story began in Texas back in 1994.
Specifically, the 28-year-old hails from Houston, TX, aka H-Town, the city responsible for the likes of greats such as Beyonce, Debbie Allen, Megan Thee Stallion, and more.
KenTheMan describes herself as a “Northside baby,” according to the Houston Chronicle. She attended Westfield, Dekaney and Eisenhower high schools in Houston, and as far as where she plans to plant her roots when she makes it big, Ken says Houston will forever be home.
“They always ask me, ‘where do you think you will move?’ And I always say, ‘I think I’m going to get my house here and then travel,'” she tells Okayplayer. “I just like that it’s kind of low-key. It’s not a low-key place like nightlife, but I’m saying living, it’s real chill.”
Big fucking Houston in this bitch 😛 pic.twitter.com/o0zO0jHfxb
— Daddy Ken (@imkentheman) November 26, 2020
She created her rap name "by accident"
As for her killer stage name, “KenTheMan” wasn’t exactly the rapper’s first choice.
“I came up with my name by accident actually, since ‘Ken’ wasn’t available on SoundCloud. I added my usual ego at the end not thinking it would stick,” she told the New Music Houston Outlet. “My friends and associates told me to keep it because it fits and it’s something that would always keep conversations, so here I am living up to it!”
She further explained her name to the Houston Chronicle, noting, “I just typed it in on SoundCloud. Then, people started telling me when I rap that I have this dominance in the booth, this aggression that a man would normally have. I really do feel like my alter ego is a masculine force. I talk about girl stuff, but it’s in a way that a guy would express it.”
So, it all worked out in the end, as KenTheMan feels like her name fits her overall vibe.
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She began dropping music as a way to diss her ex-boyfriend
While KenTheMan started rapping back in high school as a fun pastime, she began to actually drop tracks after she was done dirty by an ex-boyfriend.
“We would freestyle in the car. One day when he was in the studio, I ended up writing a verse. And it sucked, of course. I didn’t know how to record or anything,” she told the Houston Chronicle. “Then, he broke my heart. So I made a real song, and I dissed him.”
“I was so taken back by how he did me,” she added, according to Vice. “He made me into a rapper.”
As she turned her heartbreak into a game-changing remix of “Chiraq,” it’s safe to say that KenTheMan got the last laugh in the end!
KenTheMan dropped out of college to pursue music
Upon finishing up high school, KenTheMan tried out college, but she ultimately chose to prioritize a career in music instead.
“After high school I dropped out of college, twice. I actually went to college the second time to get more experience in music, thinking maybe being uncomfortable would bring out more in my music. That didn’t work out the way I planned, so I figured that I would just see where music could take me,” she said, according to the New Houston Music Chronicle.
She notably had an agreement with her dad that if she didn’t “make it” in the rap game in a couple of years, she would go back to school, XXL reports.
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Her breakout hit was penned while DoorDashing
Thankfully, Ken had her big break on the heels of a poppin’ track called “He Be Like,” and the story behind this track is pretty iconic.
“I got [a DoorDash] job so I could write in the car. I would get home from my waitressing job at 2, 3 in the morning and be tired. I was like, ‘I need something where I can write,'” she recalled, the Houston Chronicle reports. I literally wrote [‘He Be Like’] while I was Door Dashing in a nice neighborhood.”
She went on to build off of this success and deliver projects like What’s My Name, “No Panties” and “Join Em.”
She's a XXL Freshman
Shortly following the takeoff of her rap career, KenTheMan was honored with a major accomplishment: being named a XXL Freshman.
She was specifically part of the publication’s 2022 Freshman Class alongside other stars like Nardo Wick, Doechii, Kali and Saucy Santana.
She has been influenced by some of the greats
While speaking on this artist’s career, we have to acknowledge some of the rappers who she drew inspiration from.
“Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, Tupac, Eminem,” she said when asked about who she grew up listening to, according to XXL. “I kinda explored on my own and discovered the artists that I fell in love with. Lil Wayne [was my favorite]. He’s very intelligent, his wordplay. The metaphors [are] what really stuck to me.”
“His mind crazy. I was really drawn to the fact that this man could really think of anything, and put it to a rhythm,” she added of Lil Wayne, noting that bumping his music has helped drag her out of writer’s block.
KenTheMan Reveals Why Her Favorite Rapper Is Lil Wayne & How He Has Influenced Her – https://t.co/mt4U1SxLXI pic.twitter.com/P8IBb2Hoqq
— Lil Wayne HQ (@lilwaynehq_2) September 16, 2020
KenTheMan also further elaborated on how Nicki Minaj impacted her, noting that the “Did It On’em” artist helped her really commit to rapping.
“She woke up something in me. I just started speaking and manifesting, ‘I really want to rap,'” she said, the Houston Chronicle reports. “I was trying to find myself. I found myself in music.”
“I was a Nicki girl. I grew up on Nicki Minaj,” KenTheMan told Power 105.1.
She has an affinity for pop music
Aside from rap, KenTheMan is also known for being a total pop stan.
“I’ll never get on the aux because I’ll put on some pop music, and people will be like, ‘What the f**k is this,'” KenTheMan shared during a 2020 interview with Vice.
“I don’t think I’d ever cross over fully, but I do want to bring pop into hip-hop. No matter what I get on, I’m gon’ always be grimy. I’m gon’ always be ratchet,” she proclaimed.
As for who some of her pop favs are, the outlet reports that she loves Ke$ha and Paramore.
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She's a straight-up homebody
While her music may lead one to believe that KenTheMan keeps it poppin’ all the time, she prefers to just chill and recharge rather than party it up.
“I be in the house all the time, I guess. I’m so boring. I like watching TV and reading books. I’m glued to these books. I really love the house,” she shared, XXL reports.
“It’s so funny, every time that I’m at an appearance or something, they [will say], ‘What you doing next?’ [And I’ll respond,] ‘I’m going home!’ I’m boring. I be going to the house. I’m boring when I’m there,” KenTheMan added.
She further spoke on her love of just chillin’ at home during her sit-down with the Houston Chronicle.
“Laying in the bed watching TV. That is my happiness, even when I’m on vacation. I can’t wait to get home to get in my real bed. I’m so boring. People would never get that from my music,” she told the outlet.
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She has a son
Finally, we have to acknowledge that — on top of being a rap star — KenTheMan is a mother, too.
During a recent sit-down with Blavity, she spoke on an important life lesson that she hopes to impart on her 9-year-old son.
“I would just tell him to keep trying different things until you find something that you’re in love with because it makes your life easier when you actually like what you’re doing,” she shared, noting that she personally struggled to find something that she “felt passionate about” back when she was younger.
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Shoutout to KenTheMan, and we look forward to seeing what else she accomplishes (and learning more about her)!
