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photo provided by twofour54
When and why did you start performing? Actually I‘ve always wanted to be a musician and perform. I started it off as a hobby and did it just for fun. I’ve wanted to rap since 2005, but started it in the beginning of 2008. This is what I like to do and this is what I can do and have been getting a lot of positive responses from people. So I asked myself: why don’t I take being a musician as a career? Do you have someone in particular that you link your inspiration to? Tupac would be my inspiration as a rapper.
Khalifa Al Romaithi has chosen to look towards all the perks that his home has given him by becoming a unique and positive representation of his culture. Khalifa or ‘Kmulti’ (Khalifa’s stage name), is a local Emirati rapper based out of Abu Dhabi who has released two singles: “Ana Emarati” (I Am Emarati) and a collaboration with another budding artist, Manal Al Ahli, called “The World”. Having performed solo as well as opening for Snoop Dogg, Khalifa is a new artist stepping up to the plate to show everyone how respect for one’s culture is very important. Moving up in the world of music, Khalifa gives his opinion on the world we are living in through his music, and gives one8one a first-hand rendition of his opinion outside of his lyrics. He is truly an Emarati - represent.
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What was the first rap you learned? I began by listening to pop and R&B, mostly Sisqo. Rap started off when I was 15 or 16 and I used to listen to Puff Daddy, or P Diddy as he’s called today. Later on, I found Tupac and I liked his style. At first, I didn’t understand what he was saying or what the point of what he was saying was, but then I came to understand that he was rapping about life and how it keeps throwing things at you and how you learn from life itself. People enjoy listening to Tupac because he raps about those kinds of things, even though it’s not good to mention it using very bad language or in a very violent way, but you get to understand it. When I understood it, I liked it and he really inspired me.
How did you get the name ‘Kmulti’ from Khalifa? Eight years ago, they called me Coolio; they told me I looked like him. I gave up the name Coolio because it wasn’t my own name - it was another rapper’s name - and I had to find my own. So I used ‘K’ because it’s the first letter of my name from ‘Khalifa’. The M in ‘Multi’ stands for my second name, Mohammad, which is also my dad’s name. ‘Multi’ because it’s multilingual; I rap in English, I rap in Arabic, I sing in English and Arabic.
Do your family support you and your talent? Well at first they did - kind of. But now they fully support me.
“just imagine that you were dreaming about something you really wanted to achieve and one day it just came to you”
What are your fondest musical memories so far? Other than opening for Snoop Dogg in Abu Dhabi, one of my favourite experiences performing would be at my brother’s wedding; it was a happy day when I performed.