Kevin Richie, Jr., also known as Kwalified, emerged from the underground hip hop scene in Hawaii in 2010. He eventually made a name for himself performing at local shows in downtown Honolulu, also known as “Our Kaka’ako,” an emerging art scene for budding artists. The MC’s debut album ,” We Makin Music Doe” was released in 2012 which projected the Hawaii hip hop onto online streaming platforms. From rapping at small events, Kwalified eventually began hosting showcases at Hawaiian Brian’s, Nextdoor, Downbeat and the Republik, which solidified his roots in the hip hop community of Hawaii. His latest release is #smokeforever. Listen in for fun and stoney jams. Follow Kwalified on Instagram at @kwaliisill and on Twitter at @YungPapaKwali