Hip-hop artist brings more than just a musical message to town

Krizz Kaliko is bringing his unique brand of hip-hop/country music - and some mental health talk - to town as part of the Wrangell Cooperative Association's Bouncing Back program.

He will give two free concerts on Tuesday, May 20: a student-only performance at 2:30 p.m. at the high school, and a community show at 6:30 p.m., also at the high school.

He will then participate in a roundtable mental health discussion with community elders, moderated by Peter Adams of the WCA, at the Nolan Center at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 21.

The federally funded Bouncing Back program is in its first year.

Kaliko, whose given name is Sam Watson, experiences vitiligo, a condition that causes skin to lose its color in patches. He discovered that while most calico cats, identified by patches of color, are female, a very few are male, which became the root of his stage name.

Kaliko has steadily gained notice and has worked with Grammy-nominated hip-hop artists Jelly Roll and Tech N9ne. He's currently preparing to launch a 90-day tour in June, "The Long Way Home," with Overtime. He's also the voice actor for Dinobot in the "Transformers: War for Cyberton Trilogy."

Growing up with vitiligo, he experienced bullying, which led to additional mental health struggles. But according to his wife and manager, Crystal Watson, "music became a relatable outlet which allowed him to express his anxiety, his depression - it almost acted like therapy. It was a place to release those emotions."

Unlike a lot of hip-hop, which often is an expression of braggadocio, Kaliko's music embraces his lived vulnerability. Lyrics like "Stop the world. Let me off," and "Is anybody listening? Right now I'm real low," give voice to the weight of real hurt and depression.

There is also hope, as in this lyric from the song "Creature," when he sings: "There is beauty in what was damaged." Kaliko often interrupts his performances to take time to talk to the crowd, to process the kinds of emotions that rise up out of his music.

While his music reflects his struggles, it's important to remember, Watson said, that there is a difference between Kaliko as a performer and as an everyday human being.

"He still has his moments; it's not all sunshine every day. But he grounds himself by recognizing that negative moments are indeed 'moments,' and it will pass."

Music is one outlet for his journey, an artistic outlet. Both Watson and Kaiko also depend on their faith to support them. Before a concert, Kaliko and his team will circle up to pray. While hip-hop often incorporates offensive language, Kaliko is mindful of his music: "This will be 100% a family show, a clean show," Watson said.

The roundtable will be an opportunity to highlight different coping skills in dealing with trauma and stress. It will not be a formal presentation, but an open opportunity for questions and answers with local elders and Kaliko.

Afterward, Adams, the WCA Bouncing Back program administrator, plans a bonfire at the City Park shelter, and is inviting local musicians to come and play their music with the visiting artist.