ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: High Karup$hin
High Karup$hin started as a bunch of cousins from The Brook, freestyling and vibing every day. Our first album DBOAN made waves from the East Coast to France and the UK, leading to three shows overseas. Influenced by Bruce Lee, Tyler, Travis, and Krule—we're all about raw energy and sharp wordplay.
How did High Karup$hin come together and what’s the story behind the name? Was there a moment you all knew this was going to be serious?
We cousins, and we all from the same place so we was together everyday, and there would be times we’ll put on instrumentals smoke and freestyle. And a day came where we told each other we should form a group, and that’s when we started brain storming for a name and we landed on high Corruption stylized as “high karup$hin”. We was young at the time, like 15/16 so it never had a meaning we just thought it sounded cool, so we stuck with it. I will say overtime the name started to build character and make more sense now than it ever did. And the moment we knew things was getting serious was when we released our first album “DBOAN” on Halloween 2015. It started making waves on the east coast of America, and 5 months into dropping it made its way to France, and some of the UK. Giving us enough exposure to get 3 shows booked in France April 2016, 2 in Paris, and 1 in Lyon. When we got back to America our fanbase grew a lot.
Growing up in The Brook, what kinds of sounds, artists, or even just everyday things shaped the way you make music today?
We always had a open ear for music, so no matter the genre if the song was good it was getting played, we feel us experimenting with new sounds in our earlier years helped shaped how we make music today. We from the tristate area, back then when we was coming up we always talked about having our music known on a wider scale.
You’ve put out projects as a group and solo — what’s the secret to balancing the team energy while still building your own lane?
Even with us putting out separate singles and projects, during the making of these songs we in the studio together, and everyones giving ideas.
If you had to pick one song that feels like the heart of High Karup$hin, what would it be and why?
We released a song called “Ghost” on our 2nd album we dropped in 2019 titled Guerrilla Glue, in the song we’re describing the beauty of struggle, and hardships, and how it can make you or brake you, and in our case it made us stronger. I feel us staying true to our craft is what’s pushing us forward.
Your style is described as experimental hip hop. If you had to compare High Karup$hin’s sound to something totally unexpected — like a movie, a meal, or even a place — what would it be?
We would say 2 movies, “boyz in the hood” and “the cell”.
Who’s someone from outside hip hop that heavily influenced the way you guys think about music or creativity?
We would have to say Bruce Lee, his famous interview where he goes into talking about “water” is one of our favorites.
When you’re in the studio, who’s the wild card? Who’s the perfectionist? Who’s the one always trying something crazy?
We would have to say the whole group, as far as perfectionism there’s been times in the past where we would be in the studio for 5 hours straight, and only leave with 2 songs done. because we would keep rewinding it back and listening thru to make sure everything sounds ok, and also seeing what we should add or take out.
If you could only pick ONE artist — any era, any genre — to collab with the group, who’s getting the call?
We each have different people who we always wanted to work with, but the person who we all jive with would have to be Pharrell, his production and vocals is always a home run.
What's one High Karup$hin song that you think got slept on and deserves way more love?
Another song on our album Guerrilla glue called “accubanker” it’s one of our favorites, though we never shot a music video to it, we might have to in the future.
What’s something about your creative process that fans would be surprised to learn? Any weird rituals before recording?
When we in the studio, sometimes we write the song, and other times we just freestyle our way thru every track, we’ve been doing it that way since we started.
West Haven isn’t always the first city people think of in music — do you feel like being from there gives you a chip on your shoulder when you're putting music out?
We feel as artists it’s important to move around, don’t feel like your state, or region is the world, because it isn’t. But on the flip side of things, stay grounded with your people.
You’ve already dropped huge singles like "Lucre" and "4th Dimension" — what's the energy you're aiming to bring with your next releases?
Majority of all the new material we’ve been working on is hype/energetic.
When it comes to numbers — streams, videos, shows — what’s a stat or moment you're really proud of so far?
We released a single and music video to our song “run it up” that’s now at 15k on YouTube
If High Karup$hin could throw a dream festival, who's headlining with you? (You can go all out — living, legends, whatever!)
We would have to say, king Krule, Travis Scott, and Tyler the creator.
For someone who just discovered you today, what’s the perfect first song or video to dive into the High Karup$hin world?
Definitely our whole album guerrilla glue, it’ll give you everything that’s H^K, from lyrics, production, and wordplay.