“Alter your perception,” expresses Kast-A-Way, the Haitian all-star. “What you perceive is not always what you receive.” Truer words couldn’t have been spoken of this multitalented lyricist, who combines Reggae and Hip-Hop to create a style unique to only him. In the “Riddim & Rhyme EP”, Kast- A-Way provides a dose of this rare versatility.

Three years ago he teamed up with Fyngermade Productions out of San Antonio, TX and has seemingly been non-stop with the hits. The club anthem “Oxygen” produced by Fyngas (Lil’ Flip, Craig G, Paul Wall, DJ Kane) created a buzz in the south, where reggae is not exactly popular. The single went on to be featured on The Specialist album by DJ Double R. Kas is making headway in his push to be hip-hop’s new “dancehall king” by appearing on major mixtapes around the country and doing song collaborations with top artists like down south legend Paul Wall.

In 2003, Kast-A-Way participated in the “Stay in School Tour” developed by Fyngermade, which gave elementary and middle school youths a new look on education. Kas used himself as an example to tell a story of how even a ghetto boy, born from two Haitian immigrants, headed in the wrong direction can turn around and do great things. “It’s choice, not chance that determines your destiny,” states the well-educated emcee that has an honors bachelor’s degree with plans on carrying forward.

Born Keith Marc-Charles in Far Rockaway, Queens to a single mother, Kas is no stranger to the streets. Being raised between New York and the poverty-stricken capital-city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti influenced Kast-A-Way’s musical abilities and also his overall thought process. In his early teens, an unexpected move out to Miami prompted his interest in reggae music, where he picked up Patios. The versatile entertainer then soon developed a style that combined his talents as a skilled rapper and ragga dee-jay which gave him the rhyming tag of Da Illblooded.

Only one question remains. Is the world ready for the street-credited Illblooded? “The game is full of clones, it’s time for a change,” voices Kast-A-Way. The music world could certainly use a new instrument to showcase its creativity. As professed in his moniker, Kas will no doubt “project that technique.”