Artist Profile: Pretty Kartier.

By: Smoove.

Introduce yourself.

My name is Pretty Kartier, some people know me as Karti. I’m originally from Columbia, South Carolina. Spent all my childhood and teenage summers in Zone 6. My parents were debating whether to send me to Norcross since I started blowing up on the basketball scene but I ended up going to high school in Columbia.

When did you start making music, why?

I went to college on scholarship to a major division 1 school. I didn’t like the college athletic systems so I decided to drop out of school and move to Houston TX. I majored in Computer Science so I got a job as a Software Engineer out there. After about 8 months, I was laid off from the job.

The next day, I was out getting a drink and I met some people and then that’s when I became a madam. 2 months into me moving to Houston, a DJ from Louisiana saw me out one weekend. We chopped it up for about 2 hours and he thought I was a rapper and when I told him I really was into computers, he told me “F*** that, you need to be a rapper” but I wasn’t trying to hear what he was saying because the computer gig was paying straight at the time.

When I lost the job, I decided I was going to start rapping. When I ended up moving from Houston back to Atlanta I started doing music full time. The rest of the details is in the music.

How would you define your sound? Who is your “average” listener?

If I had to give it a genre I would say it’s neo wavy. Like a mix between wavy and neo soul. I always say it’s mack music, roll up records, P Playlist. It’s very distinctive.

My voice, how I rap, my kontent, I got a highway, & I got multiple lanes I can be in on my highway. My average listener is somebody who is motivated.

They are patient with how they move. They like to take care of themselves and their people, they enjoy soul, funk, and can appreciate evolving art.

Who would you say some of your influences are in the music industry?

Larry June, Bootsy Collin, 2 Chain, Anderson Paak, just to name a few.

What is your favorite thing about making music and releasing it to the world?

I like giving people the experience. The ability to design clothes and events and themes all around a batch of songs is on another level. Being able to take a sonic experience and make it tangible for people.

I like the privilege of seeing new people catch on and then start supporting genuinely because they connected with my art. I didn’t have to convince anybody to listen; they found it and felt compelled to support.

What is your studio ritual?

I wake up at 6AM and write or record every day. Sometimes I may not write just to give my brain a break I might just use a day to go through beats and choose beats that could potentially be used.

What is your favorite song of yours?

Used 2.

Biggest lesson you’ve learned since the start of your career?

People are only going to take you as seriously as you take yourself. Whatever you’re 100% all in about, that is what people are going to grade you on. The moment you slack or miss a step, you start to chip away at your credibility.

What has been your favorite or biggest accomplishment this year?

I made a commitment to myself this year that I would take myself and my career exponentially seriously. I’ve been meeting all of personal goals and being 1% better every day. I increased my discipline. I stopped eating out.

I wanted to mold myself into the best version I could become and slowly but surely I can see subtle differences. I’m overly proud of that.

What's the theme song to your life?

Hussle & Motivate - Nipsey Hussle.