King Kobraz has received widespread attention from students, administration and other fans, but there is more to the duo’s music of which others aren’t aware.
Musical duo King Kobraz is known around campus for its songs that have been played at several sporting events this year.
A video of “Feed Moncrief” has received over 110,000 views since it was uploaded to YouTube last November, and the duo released its newest video, “Tsuns of Gunz,” on Wednesday.
The two members, international studies senior Blake Pruett and English junior Patrick Haadsma, have known each other since high school. Neither of them were born in Mississippi, but they both claim it as home now.
They began their collaboration a year and a half ago.
“We never thought our music would have gotten so much attention,” Pruett said.
“Patrick had the dream though.”
Pruett said Haadsma had hoped all along that their song would reach a wider audience and eventually be played in the stadium.
James Taylor, Skeeter Davis, Elvis Presley and Kanye West are all among Pruett’s influences, but Haadsman has only one favorite group.
“I’ll keep it simple and say that all I listen to ever is Wu-Tang Clan,” Haadsma said.
Their inspiration comes from their everyday lives as well, citing their jobs as Tri Delta house boys as providing a lot of material.
“Most of our songs have basically just been us talking about what we see every day,” Haadsma said.
King Kobraz is releasing a new mixtape sometime around spring break that is not sports-related.
“Our music has a more springtime feel, more pop-hop,” Pruett said.
The likelihood of producing another sports song is slim, but there is one exception.
“If Robert Nkemdiche asked us, we would do another song,” Haadsma said.
The reward for their musical project has not been monetary, due to NCAA regulations that do not allow money to be made off a player’s name; however, the duo said they have made a lot of invaluable connections, which they hope will help them as they continue to make music.
“If a music career doesn’t work, though, graduate school is the next step for us,” Pruett said. “I’ll hopefully stay in Mississippi though. I love this state.”
