Meet hi-keif the Kitchen Ninja | Artist-Producer & Plant-Based Chefprenuer

We had the good fortune of connecting with hi-keif the Kitchen Ninja and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi hi-keif, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Simply, it was the only thing that made sense. To go a little more in depth, I had always been a relatively talented child in a raw state, and knew that all of my undeveloped creativity would bubble up and demand to be prioritized. It just clicked one day, that I’d rather bring order to my creativity than to use my creativity in someone else’s predetermined order. That’s really just a “creative” way of saying, standard jobs are not for me, and if I am in one, it is simply a means to support my creativity on my own terms. I ended up getting off of work and diving full steam into cooking or creating music to make myself feel better about people misunderstanding me and always feeling different. As a creative, it is already assumed that I am different, and thus became a more natural fit/home.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

As a musical artist, I’m in an interesting space of being a lo-fi/soulection type producer, while also being an acoustic-soul artist as a guitar player and vocalist. One thing that sets me apart is that I express through such diverse genres, that I don’t feel the need to stick to one.

As a chef, having solidified myself in the vegan niche with a focus on plant-based whole foods has garnered me the reputation of “the healthy guy with bomb food.” This a gift and a curse, as people often want less than stellar options in regards to health, while also acknowledging that they absolutely could eat cleaner if all the food was prepared the way I do it. Since my chef hat was the main priority by running my business Kitchen Ninja Services, I have learned that nothing worth doing is easy at all. Oddly enough, that’s why I chose the creative career, to be constantly challenged. Some of the challenges were just a matter of a mindset shift, while other challenges I have not yet overcome, as they highlighted a foundational fix that is required.

Overall, between food and music, I have been able to cultivate healing through food and frequencies for self and others. “Leave everything better than you found it!” — The Kitchen Ninja way has created a ripple effect that sheds light for anyone who sees that it is very much possible to sustain a healthy lifestyle that considers both self and nature in harmony.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Spiral (to show them what inspired me) and V-Eats. Tbh I’m a homebody, so me creating a local itinerary would be just about as fulfilling as the first sentence.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
More recognition for my guy Deonte Epps and The Duo: Sports and Stuff Podcast for being a day 1 supporter of my artistry and great friend! Also the state of Texas highway system, a lot of my ideas and musings in the beginning came from my time spent on 183, I-35, I-20 and 287!

Instagram: @say_hi_keif / @kitchenninjaservices

Twitter: @say_hi_keif

Facebook: @sayhikeif

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5flL4unRWvWVBGlF8pPkqg

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YTzY3SzUWctYdaArL79vN?si=5VChCY5TQQ-dbMQjkAk9aQ

Image Credits
@martey_tx on Instagram