Hip-Hop · US · Active since 1966

K7

High-octane 90s party rap that fuses swing samples with dancehall rhythms. It is pure, unadulterated energy for the center of the dance floor.

Browse Catalog
Intro

K7 delivers a high-voltage blend of hip-hop and dance music that feels like a New York City street festival in mid-July. The sound is defined by its relentless pace, characterized by rapid-fire vocal deliveries and heavy, syncopated drum machine patterns. It is music that refuses to sit in the background, demanding movement through its infectious hooks and bright, polished production.

What truly sets K7 apart is the seamless integration of diverse influences, from the brassy swagger of 1930s swing to the rhythmic bounce of Jamaican dancehall. Coming from a Latin freestyle background, Louis Sharpe brings a melodic sensibility and a rhythmic complexity that many of his hip-hop contemporaries lacked. The frequent use of group call-and-response vocals creates an inclusive, celebratory atmosphere that makes every track feel like a live performance.

For the uninitiated, Swing Batta Swing is the essential starting point. It captures the peak of the mid-90s crossover era where rap, pop, and club music collided. Whether you are looking for a nostalgic trip back to the golden era of Tommy Boy Records or just need a high-energy soundtrack for a workout or party, K7 provides the perfect rhythmic jolt.

Louis Sharpe (born August 25, 1966), better known by his stage names K7 or Kayel, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. K7 is the frontman of TKA, the best-selling Latin freestyle group in history. He is signed with Tommy Boy Records. In 1993, K7 released the album, Swing Batta Swing, which featured three singles that reached pop radio: "Zunga Zeng" (produced by Frankie Cutlass), "Hi-De-Ho" (also notably on The Mask film soundtrack), and K7's biggest hit, "Come Baby Come", which reached No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. K7 worked on the air on Manhattan radio stations Hot 97 and WKTU. K7 released another album in 2002 called Love, Sex, Money. His most recent album, The King's Agenda, was released in March 2009 and is available on iTunes. K7, along with the other members of TKA, continues to tour and perform in nightclubs around the U.S.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA →
Our Catalog3 Albums · 1993 · 2019
Known ForWeighted across the artist's discography. Tap a trait for examples.
Adjacent Artists
Betty Boo
Betty Boo

Shares playful, energetic, confident (moods); sample based, studio polished, drum machine (production style)

Yannick
Yannick

Shares pop rap, dance-pop, disco (subgenres); sample based, studio polished, hi fi (production style)

A
Ak'Sent

Shares festival, urban night, summer (atmosphere); confident, playful, energetic (moods)

KT
KICK THE CAN CREW

Shares playful, energetic, confident (moods); rap, nasal, harmonized (vocal style)

Gerardo
Gerardo

Shares studio polished, drum machine, sample based (production style); confident, playful, energetic (moods)

Ant & Dec
Ant & Dec

Shares playful, energetic, confident (moods); studio polished, maximalist, drum machine (production style)

Sammy Adams
Sammy Adams

Shares playful, energetic, confident (moods); festival, urban night, summer (atmosphere)

MC Hammer
MC Hammer

Shares sample based, studio polished, maximalist (production style); playful, energetic, confident (moods)

Madcon
Madcon

Shares playful, energetic, confident (moods); dance-pop, pop rap, reggae fusion (subgenres)

AB
Another Bad Creation

Shares playful, energetic, confident (moods); summer, festival, urban night (atmosphere)

A
Ak'Sent

Shares reggae fusion, pop rap, maximalist, drum machine (signature)

Betty Boo
Betty Boo

Shares pop rap, dance-pop, joyful, maximalist (subgenre)

Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →