Gawd Status

Gawd Status aka King Kashmere and Joker Starr are an unconventional producer/MC duo, who showcases a versatile and eclectic, killer and off-kilter sound that lies in between the worlds of hip-hop, psychedelia and soul.

Confounding categories, Gawd Status originated from the UK hip-hop scene, with the duo initially meeting at a King Kashmere’s Raiders Of The Lost Archives launch party back in 2008, joining forces a couple of years after. Slough resident Kebbie Conteh aka Joker Starr solo career ranges from the AA single “Raw Spittage / The Anthem” (2001) to his most recent LP ‘G.A.W.D’ (2019) which demonstrates Joker’s flair for originality as an MC.

While King Kashmere, as well as being a talented producer, is known for being a legendary UK MC in his own right, most notably for lending his vocal talents to producer Dr Zygote (aka The Maghreban). Together they form Strange U, releasing on the prolific Eglo Records and esteemed UK label High Focus (who have released music from Ocean Wisdom and Rag’n’Bone Man), plus picking up praise in The Ransom Note, The Quietus, The Wire and on NTS. Individually the duo have supported the likes of AZ, M.O.P, Kool Keith, Necro and Phife Dawg.

Their debut album ‘Firmamentum’, covers topics of madness, slavery, the rise of A.I., false Gods, the transmutation of matter, Joker Starr elaborates, “I will always talk about different modes of creation, God, Spiritual beliefs and theories. Firmamentum touches on a bunch of theories ranging from flat earth to aliens”. King Kashmere adds, “production-wise, the sort of psychedelic vibe is something it just grew into… it’s pretty interesting how art can grow and shape context over time”.

Gawd Status’ ecstatic genre-defying LP is a record formed on their own terms: “We are versatile enough to be able to jump in and out of any subject matter, tempo, and genre that we want. It keeps the Gawd Status experience feeling like a journey where you don’t know what to expect from the twists and turns.” Joker Starr explains.