Harris The KnowItAll

Harris The KnowItAll has never felt at home on Earth. A world of music is where he continues to find safe haven. From the depths of East Oakland, with a soft heart wrought in an environment that can easily breed hardness, Knowy’s music encompasses self-awareness far beyond his years. His production sound is an amalgamation of ethereal imaginings and aggressive surroundings, and his lyrics are an indelible and potent description of his experiences.  Poised, persistent, and patient, Harris The KnowItAll is positioning himself to become one of the most influential artists of his generation.

 Early on, there was recognition of his musical abilities, with Knowy performing at the Greek Theater for a crowd of over 3000 at his high school graduation. Through an Oakland music and media arts program called BUMP records, he went on to form the rap trio League510 who would tour in 2010, and eventually land on MTV with their breakout song and music video, “I’m On.” The group would go on to coin the term and sound of Oakland’s “Town Techno.”

 Citing influences for lyricism as Outkast, Jay-Z and Eminem, songwriting, melodies, and compelling vocal performances as Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson, and production style as Timbaland and Kanye West, Knowy’s musical palette spans several generations and subsets of musical culture. These influences would serve as inspiration as he branched out on his own, with group and solo performances at the SXSW Audible Treats showcase in both 2011 and 2012.  With consistent and notable appearances beneath his belt, Knowy caught the attention of Oakland radio personality and host, Leon “DNas” Sykes, who said “ Harris The KnowItAll is one of the dopest artists I know. Can’t say rapper because he can sing. Can’t call him a singer because of his production skills. His music has been genre-bending since before his time with League 510. Town Techno isn’t a sound; it’s a way of life. The growth I’ve seen over the past 8 years is only a glimpse into the greatness HTK is capable of with the right machine behind him.”

 Knowy’s allure wouldn’t slow down, as he continued to grow his local fan base with solo performances on the West Coast, eventually attaining the admiration and mentorship of Tajai (of legendary hip-hop group Souls of Mischief and collective Hieroglyphics). Of Harris The KnowItAll, Tajai dotes, “KnowItAll aka ‘The only Calvin Harris we acknowledge is a powerhouse. He has been perfecting his plethora of styles for years now and his maturity and ability both on the microphone and the boards is astounding. I have seen him grow, humbly yet steadily, for nearly a decade, taking his time to perfect his craft and absorbing influences from a huge variety of musical genres, styles, tempos, and movements. He may be one of the one of the most talented producers I know, and it is astounding that the music ‘game’ and industry ‘insiders’ seem to be completely unaware of what this guy is doing both on and behind the scene. I have no doubt that he will be a giant in this field and am patiently awaiting the world’s awakening!” Knowy would go on the 93 Still Infinity tour with Souls of Mischief, paying his dues as their merchandise man in 2013.

 To warm reception, Knowy released his first album, Weekend Rapstar, that same year. It was such an internal reflection of external observation and how they affect the human spirit and call upon its resilience. The sound of this project caused emotional and moral discussion among his peers, elders, and mentees alike, and created the haven for the listener that he had built for himself.

 Producing the song, “Mi Barrio,” that would help put international duo Los Rakas on the map, Harris The KnowItAll has amassed an impressive catalog of production credits as well.  Self-producing the majority of his debut album, and much of League510’s catalog, he has produced for International Songwriting Competition Winner, Dom Jones, hip-hop giant Zion-I, and a host of up and coming artists.

 Currently, Harris The KnowItAll is gearing up for the release of his next project, continuing to build his production catalog, and developing other young artists who seek his guidance and experience. You can find him at http://www.htkmusic.com.