From Harpo’s Stage to Sobriety—A Rapper’s Rise Through Faith, Freestyles & ‘Fake Smiles

Beats To Rap On Experience

Beats To Rap On Experience
From Harpo’s Stage to Sobriety—A Rapper’s Rise Through Faith, Freestyles & ‘Fake Smiles
Jun 28, 2025
Chet

How up-and-coming artist E-Kaine overcame addiction, channeled his journey into powerful freestyles—and prepared for his debut EP, Seven Deadly Sins.

This week on BeatsToRapOn Podcast, we welcome E-Kaine—a rapper whose journey from private-school outsider to street-tested survivor fuels every bar he spits. In this unfiltered conversation, E-Kaine shares:

🔹 Origins & Inspiration
• Growing up “different” and bullied in private schools, then finding kinship in Tech N9ne’s unapologetic authenticity at age 13.
• Writing his first lyrics at 13 and recording tracks by 15—long before the world knew his name.

🎤 Lunchtime Freestyles & First Performances
• How public-school lunch-break cipher sessions cemented his identity as a chopper.
• His first live show at The Chatroom in Highland Park alongside Tone Gotti.

🔥 Rock Bottom & Rebirth
• Falling into heroin addiction at 17 and living on the streets and in gang culture.
• The life-changing news of fatherhood in 2022 that ignited his sobriety and refocused his dream.

🙏 Spiritual Pre-Show Rituals
• Why prayer and faith set the stage for every performance—from small Lansing bars to the historic Harpo’s Concert Theater.

🎶 Music Milestones
• “Mittenflow” (early 2023 remix debut) that introduced his ferocious flow.
• “OnlyThingCertain”—a raw autobiography of homelessness and survival.
• “P.O.S.”—a fearless exploration of heartbreak and self-worth.
Let Me In EP (May 2024)—his first official seven-track statement of ambition and grit.

🎤 Going Off The Leash
• The TikTok freestyle “Off The Leash” that blew up overnight and morphs into a full record dropping mid to late July alongside his Lansing show.

🖋️ “Fake Smile” Origin Story
• From scattered journal entries on a piece of paper to a viral TikTok clip and soul-stirring single about depression, redemption, and raw truth.

👶 Life Beyond the Mic
• Balancing fatherhood (welcoming his second child) with a full-time job and a Music Production degree at the Los Angeles Film School.
• How he’s turning every challenge into creative fuel, because “without music, I wouldn’t be alive. Besides my children, music is my soul.”

❄️ Debut EP Preview: Seven Deadly Sins
• A seven-track deep dive into addiction, mental health struggles, family legacies and self-reflection—set to drop this winter with thunderous 808s and razor-sharp honesty.

Whether you’re climbing out of your own darkness or chasing big dreams, E-Kaine’s story proves that resilience, faith and relentless hustle can transform pain into purpose. Hit play, feel the energy—and get ready to go Off The Leash.

Connect with E-Kaine:
Artist Profile ▶️ https://beatstorapon.com/artist/e-kaine

Chat With Him Directly Here ▶️ https://beatstorapon.com/workspace-chat?start_chat_with=e-kaine

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Also find him:

SoundCloud ▶️ https://soundcloud.com/e-kaine
Spotify ▶️ https://open.spotify.com/artist/4JFKDXd7I6QIQJxtffqMoB
Instagram ▶️ https://www.instagram.com/therealekaine
TikTok ▶️ https://www.tiktok.com/@therealekaine
YouTube ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@therealekaine
Facebook ▶️ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092486183757

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