Barrett Tarr, AKA Kid Lennon quickly made his way into the hip-hop scene shortly after high school by building a buzz in the open mic circuit in Oklahoma City, where he grew up. After releasing the Blue Peace EP in 2016, he gained the attention of Shaquille O'Neal which landed him features on TMZ and Complex.
Kid has opened for artists like Lil Wayne, Migos, Lil Uzi, Ludacris and Bone, Thugs n Harmony as well as gaining a top 40 spot in the surrounding Oklahoma City radio stations. His creative energy and focus is delivering a positive message and looking at the world from this perspective having overcome a number of personal challenges. The Nuance Magazine got to pick his brain about his experience on the show and get some cool insights to his life!
What's the biggest challenge you had to overcome in music? On ‘The Cut’?
The biggest challenge I had to overcome so far was being raised in a state where there isn't much of a spotlight. Being raised in Oklahoma you quickly realize that being in the entertainment industry can feel swallowing. Some of the most talented people I've ever met come from OK, they just were never given the proper outlets to showcase their talent. With "The Cut" it felt like I had an opportunity/spotlight. I've always wished to spread my message and talent. I wanted to make sure I made something Oklahoma and myself can stand by and be proud of for years to come.
If you didn't become a musician, what would you be doing right now?
If I didn't become a musician I would be in the arts in some way. I actually taught art classes at an elementary school when I first moved to California. Art always has been able to help me maintain inspiration and financial stability so whether its teaching art, tattooing, or maybe animating for Disney like my mom always wanted me to do. I think no matter what, creating would still be my job in some way. Or teaching others to do so!
Describe the feeling when you found out you’d be on ‘The Cut’?
So stoked! To me, my goal has always been to spread this peace I've obtained on the biggest scale possible. I decided very young that if I'm gonna make music I would do it for a reason, not just to prove I could rap cause that's the easy part. Rapping is just counting syllables, putting a purpose behind the music is the hard part. That's when you have to dig deep in your soul and find the words to express things you've learned or always felt. I knew this show would test my ego, passion, and creativity to the fullest which is what I've always wanted.
What was it like collaborating with people you had never met?
I think when it comes to the collaborating part of the show I got very lucky. Errol Bangz felt like a long lost brother. Whether I got him or anyone else I rarely have had any issues catching a vibe with whoever's in the studio with me. We are all more alike than we are different, just have to come in with an open mind to be able to see that!
Did the presence of a camera crew add pressure to your creative process?
As a person who hated pictures as a kid, I've slowly learned to enjoy when cameras are around. Times always seem more beautiful and significant when looking back so it's going to be amazing to see this part of my life captured in such an aesthetic and professional way. It's easy to ignore cameras if you know you're being yourself at all times though, I aim to be authentic to my beliefs/values at all times so I never feel a need to put on an act when the camera is there. Just gotta be my weird ol' self and let the rest flow.
What was it like working with OG Parker?
It was such an honor to work with OG Parker even if it was briefly. He really has an ear for music that is so rare so to even be on his radar or to get any bit of advice from him is truly an honor. We got to play a little basketball in between shooting too, I hit my first airball of the day right when he got there and I'm not proud of myself lol OG if your reading this I swear ya boy can ball haha
What are your plans after appearing on ‘The Cut’?
In 2016 at a local open mic I was hosting Shaq came on stage with me during my song "Hippy Kid" which resulted in me being on TMZ, COMPLEX, and opening for many of my idols. I was asked the same question about my plans for everything after that then and my answer is the same 4 years later, "turn the wave into a flood". Life comes in waves of good and "bad" (as we perceive) but when the good comes we want it to last forever. For me, I'd rather slowly keep turning wave after wave of opportunities/lessons into a flood of peace that spreads throughout the world. I released my first album two weeks before the first episode of The Cut appeared so I'm excited to know that I will have so many new people hearing the album I've been working so hard on for two years. For those who haven't heard it yet feel free to checkout "Letters to Lennon" on my website KidLennon.com. I hope it brings a sense of peace and understanding to the emotions that are hard to speak about with each other. I love you all, don't forget to love yourself too.