interviewing Khalild Rasheed aka Kokoa Leaves C.E.O. of SilverBack Records

Kokoa Leaves

Kokoaleaves grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and always knew rapping would be part of his future. Like most young talent, he started rapping at age 5 and he never stopped. Street kid to rap artist was a natural transition, writing his first rap at 12, had his first live performance at 15 and joining his first group at 16.

Now at 35, “Street Religion” is what he calls his current music style. Life has its lessons it wants to teach and after being locked up for six and a half years on three felony charges, now it’s his time to let it all out.  Everything he speaks on from guns, drugs religion, incarceration, he lived all of it.

After incarceration, rejection from family and friends he almost gave up music. But he recorded a verse with a relative, putting all his pain and rejection behind it and the city called out to him, called him to come back to his passion.

Rakim has always been one of his major influences, because he is a Muslim and a thinker.Islam plays a huge role in Kokoa’s life giving him strength and drive to continue the path he began at a young age.

He has opened up for major performing artist’s all over, including R. Kelly, Salt  Pepa, Twista, Tech-9, SWV, Too Short.