Kyhil was born Thomas Smith, on May 24, 1974 and was raised in Nashville TN and four years in St. Louis MO. After returning to Nashville during his high school days, he re-established his friendship with James Springer, who helped promote Kyhil in talent shows around Nashville. Once out of high school, Kyhil along with his cousin and friend began a rap group called Modern Day Playas in 1992 and recorded a five song EP in which included the song “Yall Boys Think Ya Ballin” which got local radio play from 92Q and also landed (MDP) a writing job with Bushwick Bill of the Ghetto Boys. In 1994, Kyhil did ghostwriting on Bushwick’s “No Retreat No Surrender” album and along with Bushwick was the opening act for the Smoking Grooves Tour in which included a then very young Mya, Wyclef Jean, Public Enemy, and the Black Eye Peas. When the deal fell through he returned to Nashville not discouraged but determined!!!
Like Jay –Z playing the sample track in the studio in a trance, he can invent an entire rhyme in his head and commit it to memory without ever writing it down. After scoring some underground success from winning freestyle battles and performing with his 8piece funk band (VCSB) in and around town, Kyhil learned from other rappers who got raw deals from the music business and started his own label named after his first daughter Klassik, (Klassik Cinema Entertainment) with friends Cory and Kyria Duncan. Once his first album “Rap Rhythm and Blues” was finished in 2003, it sold 3000 during that summer and featured the song “Everything I Do” which was number 1 or 2 on the top 8 on 106.7 that whole summer. The anticipated sequel “Life” was released in 2005 and sold 8000 copies. To this date Kyhil continues to form new connections like NashvilleRadio.biz in which he co-host with his partner Hypeman Rick and together have started a television show Kyhil is the host called “Not Just Country” (www.NJCTV.com) which aired on UPN March 2006. The platform is for bands and artists in & around Nashville to not just be heard, but seen as well. With this and two independent films under his belt he doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon.
Russell Simmons told Kyhil; “Make the streets in his city call him and he would come find him”. That is exactly what he is doing and if Russell doesn’t find him someone else will!!
