Josh & Ty Jenkins / cosmicArms

cosmicArms is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based electro-hip hop duo featuring brothers Josh (aka Kemo) and Ty (aka Ci) Jenkins.

They have had a passion for music since they were young, and with multiple style influences, they have created a blend of hip hop and electronic music.

The duo recently released a new single titled BTTC (Back To The Club) and are currently working on an upcoming full length album.

HalfKorean.com had a chance to talk with cosmicArms to find out more about their background and music.

Hey guys, so let’s start by letting us know what’s your mix?
Ci: ¼ Korean! Our Korean comes from my father’s side of the family. Our grandmother, Pokcha Kim, is 100% Korean.

Where were you born and raised?
Kemo: We were both born and raised in Philadelphia.

What are your current occupations outside of music?
Ci: As of right now I am Child Care/Mental Health Worker at a residential behavioral rehabilitation center in Plymouth Meeting, PA. My job is to oversee the kids who live on the units as part of the institution’s program to teach kids who have been traumatized values and better behavioral management.

Kemo: Currently, I am in construction (and teach a little piano on the side). I’ve been building and fixing up houses since I was very young with my dad. So naturally, that’s the occupation I fell into.

Do you speak Korean?
Kemo: I speak some Korean. I am not bad at it, but I’m also not good at it. I can read it very well, I just won’t be able to translate everything I read (이상해? ㅋㅋㅋ).

Ci: I was very into Korean around the time I attended Penn State. I wanted to learn about the culture and the language as much as I could. Up until that point I had never thought about the culture that my grandmother grew up around. I took Korean language classes for a year and a half where I studied the language and also the culture. I reached an intermediate level in the language and was looking to take it further. Unfortunately, my major was not conducive to that and sadly have not retained most of what I learned in those classes.

Growing up, what were your mixed Korean experiences like?
Kemo: Always bowing to my parents before bed! My dad always made us do this every night for years. It wasn’t until I was older that I realized what it meant and where it came from. I thought everyone in America did that. Haha. There was also visiting my grand mom who I didn’t realize was Asian until I was older. She always counted numbers in Japanese or Korean. She knows martial arts and pressure points and always bought us really ugly sweaters for Christmas. And I was always heavily into Korean Dramas. My brother and I saw our first drama (Yellow Handkerchief) when we were really young and I loved it. I’m not sure if it’s because I am part Korean that I was always drawn to them. Now, that is all I watch.

Ci: Kemo pretty much summed up what our experiences were like growing up. I think it’s pretty humorous, though, that neither of us knew what it meant when our father taught us to bow to him when we were younger. It was just sort of something that he showed us and we naturally continued. Everything else Kemo described is spot on.

Have you been to Korea? If so, when was the last time? If not, do you plan to try to visit soon?
Kemo: Unfortunately, I have not been yet! I do have plans to go sometime this year. I have friends in Korea that I need to hang out with and go Karaoke-ing with!

Ci: I have not been to Korea but definitely plan on going sometime in the future. I think the main reason I’d want to go is to take our grandmom back. To my knowledge she has not been back since she came to America such a long time ago. I think it’d be nice if she could visit her homeland again.

Tell us what “cosmicArms” mean?
Ci: The name “cosmicArms” originated when Kemo and I were coming up with ideas for the name that we would have when we ventured into Electronic music. We’d originally been heavy into hip-hop, jazz and classical but wanted to try something different. For this particular venture we wanted to have a name. We came up with the idea that we’d make the music but we would never show our faces, only our arms. We figured if we ever shot videos that we would never pan above our necks and that we would be two anonymous guys. That’s the original concept of “cosmicArms.” As we started making music and posting it online, we were actually contacted by Anthony Fletcher of Bluleaf Recordings with whom we eventually signed a deal. As we continued to work on our album we panned out the concept of the group and the whole “arm” idea was tossed but the name remained. That’s why we are named “cosmicArms.”

Any special meanings behind your names (Kemo & Ci)?
Kemo: No meaning really, just a long history. Back in 9th grade my friends and I used to do graffiti and that was the “nick name” I came up with. It’s been with me for a long, long time now.

Ci: Ten years ago is when I first started to write songs. Josh had already been producing music for a group of our friends at the time who were already writing music. When I started to write I began joining them in recording so I had to come up with an artist name. I was considered the “nerd” or the “smart one” of the group so I took that and came up with the name “Cientifik” pronounced scientific. About 4 or 5 years later I figured it would be easier to shorten my name so it became Ci (pronounced “sigh”).

Have your parents and family been supportive?
Ci/Kemo: They have been very supportive! From the beginning when we first started showing an interest in music they always gave us the encouragement and support that we needed to continue to get better. Even today they always come to our shows and video shoots.

How long have you been making and recording music?
Kemo: For about 15 years now. We started out recording songs on our karaoke machine. We used it so much that we broke all the “play” and “record” buttons on there from using it so much. It was so much fun.

Describe your style of music?
Ci: Our tagline, if you will, is “Electronic meets Hip-hop.” We take everything we’ve learned growing up creating hip-hop music and blended it with elements from electronic music. It wasn’t something that we’d originally looked to create but as we worked on our album it just happened. Our music includes Kemo’s influences of jazz, classical, and hip-hop production fused with synths, pads, high-paced drums and driving basslines that are ever present in electronic music. On top of Kemo’s productions I add my lyrics and attempt to blend them seamlessly in between the music that he composed to create something that we think people would really like. What you have in the end is not a bunch of music genres smashed together but a meshing of multiples genres that work well together.

What/who are some of your musical influences?
Ci: As a hip-hop lyricist originally my main influences are Verbal (lyricist from Japanese group m-flo), Talib Kweli, Common, Mos Def, A Tribe Called Quest, Queen Latifah, and Nas.

Kemo: As a producer, my biggest influence would have to be Dj Taku from M-flo. There’s also BoA, who I’ve been listening to since her debut. Pharrell from The Neptunes. Nobuo Uematsu, who is a video game composer.

What kind of goals do you have as a recording artist, both long and short term?
Kemo: Our short term goal is to start touring, even if it’s small tours, and to be picked up by a bigger label. The label we are on now is really good, and for the last year or so they have been working with us and helped us accomplish a lot of things. And now that all the prep work is done, we are trying to make a big push this year. We believe that we have the talent, discipline and musicianship to make it in this industry. Our long term goal, as well as our overall goal, is to be successful. We want to be able to make a comfortable living just doing music. We don’t have to be super rich or super famous, but if we are able to quit our other jobs and continue doing music, and continue to make a good living for the rest of our lives, then that’s mission accomplished.

Anything else you’d like to share?
Ci/Kemo: If you would like to know more about us you can visit us at any of the social networks listed!

Facebook: cosmicArms | Twitter: @cosmicArms | Reverbnation: cosmicArms

Any final words to the mixed Korean community?
We think it’s great that there’s place for anyone of Korean heritage, no matter the mix, to get together and share their unique stories and experiences that they’ve had in their lives. It’s awesome that this community exists because sometimes all someone needs to know is that there are others out there like them. We want to congratulate Dave for creating something that creates joy and hope in people. Even better is that it’s open to people of non-Korean heritage also! Those who are interested in the language and culture are welcome to be a part of the community as well. We hope that Mixed Korean continues to thrive and we wish David all the luck in the world. Also, thank you for the opportunity to interview with you!

Thanks to Josh & Ty (Kemo & Ci) for the time that they took to share their experiences and music.