Track Seattle rapper Kateel’s journey in new single ‘I Ain’t Forgot’: Watch

Newcomer Kateel raps like he has some years in the game. His latest track, ‘I Ain’t Forgot’, feels like it’s being performed by a veteran. It’s well done, well produced, and the video is excellent. Kateel talks about his ascension to the top of the rap game and pays homage to his humble beginnings. This is a track that is well appreciated from an artist, it keeps the artist human and lets us fans know that we can guarantee that he will always be the kid from Seattle who is living his dream.

Kateel Barnett is bringing his talents into a storied history of conscious-driven hip-hop, laying a strong foundation rooted in his dexterity as a rapper, singer, producer and live performer. The 21-year-old Seattle native first began rapping in middle school, crediting having music in his blood for his drive to explore his talents early on. Born the son of a soul musician, who actively records under the name Jrod Indigo, Kateel witnessed firsthand what sacrifice comes with the decision to choose a career as an artist and what work must be put in to achieve such dreams.

With legacy artists such as Prince, Michael Jackson, D’Angelo, OutKast and Bob Marley soundtracking his youth, Kateel became a quick study to the greats, while also gravitating toward mainstream hip-hop heavyweights and molding his influences to include ample representation across genres such as indie rock, pop and reggae. In tandem with clocking hours in the studio at his school, Kateel also spent his time on the basketball court, helping carry his teammates to prestige. After his high school varsity basketball team was named No. 1 in the nation in 2017, he graduated, shifted gears away from his athleticism and relocated to Los Angeles with minimal savings and big dreams. While the path he chose wasn’t easy, even forcing him to deal with bouts of homelessness and directionless, Kateel built his character as a musician by busking in the street and finding ways to incorporate positivity into his daily routine.

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, 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.