Pk Delay | photograph by Alex Young
Pk Delay, a 24-year-old native of Pittsburgh's culturally significant Hill District neighborhood, sat down for lunch at the organic supermarket Whole Foods in East Liberty.
Forking salmon, broccoli and rice, Pk is "developing myself," while anticipating the path he will journey when his new album "Silver" drops April 22.
Pk Delay at Whole Foods | photograph by Alex Young
The rapper Pk Delay motivates himself by "keeping it raw all the time," he said. Both his music and personality move with a cool. His youth brings a smile to his face as he talks about playing the Fortnite video game. He calls it good friendship because it takes him back to his teenage years playing Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty online with his friends, like longtime friends and fellow musicians Deem, Fat Corey, Seas, Slicky Williams and Pet Zebra. "They're good guys," Pk said.
"You can always find a friend on the Internet," he said. It "makes the human experience a little bit easier 'cause this shit is hard, but it's fun though." He cautions to try not to be too deep in the 'net. "I feel like we're losing a lot of people to it," he said. "You lose your sense in the outer world. Un-plug real quick."
Although, Pk can't deny the benefit the Internet has had on his music. Past albums, like his "Dad" project, were so successfully promoted via Twitter. Remember when Pk Delay and rapper Trinidad James got into throwing Tweets about who was the original 'Dad.'
The official single of Pk's "Silver" album does well on Internet streaming platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify achieving over 160,000 plays on the "Fed Up" single.
Pk Delay "Silver" cover art by Ben Petchel via @pkdelay on Instagram
The success of "Fed Up" speaks to the quality of "Silver." This refinement drips throughout the new studio album. "Silver is in everything we need," Delay said. Pk upgraded the production value and the messages on the album. Also, he wrote songs. Proper verses with bridges and hooks plus more layers, synths and snares make "real music feel like silver."
Unlike quick, glitzy songs like "No Lil Pups" where Delay was on his lightweight, "'Silver' is me thinking. I took care of this one," he said. The record's lead single was mixed three times and mastered by E. Dan of I.D. Labs studio. The artist deal Pk Delay signed with Limited Funds lends a "helping hand," he said.
Other music like Nipsey Hussle's "Victory Lap" or alternative sounds like Fleetwood Mac or Passion Pit influence Delay's sound. "I like that chill shit," he said. He'd make alternative music himself, "but that wasn't my environment." Delay can relate to the "textbook get money, save money, double up," principles that feature in "Victory Lap" or even Jay Z's "4:44."
“Don’t be living outside your means, bro.”
As it comes to the 'Burgh's creative community, Delay offers more advice. "Stop thinking little achievements are big. Stop taking that five minutes of fame. Look at the grand scheme. There's way more to do," he said.
Fans of hip-hop in Pittsburgh should attend the "Silver" listening party at Threads On Carson in the South Side on April 21 at 7 p.m.
Pk Delay finished with encouragement. "Just know somebody needs you. Just find something to hold onto whether it's family or music," he said.
Threads On Carson
1511 East Carson Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
