Introducing: KAHUKX

Australia's platinum powerhouse KAHUKX has teamed up with the UK’s rising rap sensation LeoStayTrill for a cross-continental hit, “FRANCE.” Out now, the anthem fuses KAHUKX’s bilingual flow and LeoStayTrill’s infectious energy, creating a global sound that breaks boundaries. Produced by Hargo—known for his work with Central Cee and Digga D—the track captures a high-energy, bilingual blend of English and French. “FRANCE” isn’t just a song; it’s a statement piece bridging Australia’s vibrant rap scene and the UK’s pulse, marking KAHUKX as one of the first Australian rappers to make waves in Black British music. With this track, KAHUKX is staking his claim as a true innovator, blending heritage and hip-hop on a global scale.

1. You’ve made significant strides in bridging the gap between Australian and UK rap. How has your French heritage influenced your music, especially in your latest track "FRANCE"?

My French heritage is what gives me a little ‘X factor’ when it comes to music , so when I came up with the hook , it was only right to add some French into it . Especially with the song being called France , the only way to do it justice was to add some French . So by being from a French background , it has definitely helped my career in being able to attract new audiences to not only myself , but the Australian scene .

2. "FRANCE" is a collaboration with LeoStayTrill, blending diverse cultural and musical backgrounds. How did this collaboration come about, and what was it like working together in both the UK and Australia?

The collaboration was an organic one ,  set up by both the artists and the teams ; being AURA ENTERTAINMENT and the FLYSTR8 team . Myself , AURA and FLYRSTR8 had all linked up previously and decided it was mutually beneficial to get both artists in together and see what could be made of it.

When we first got in the booth in the UK and heard the beat, both the verses came naturally and it was a quick writing period before we started recording . Once we had recorded and everything was on point , we knew we had a hit on our hands and started discussing ways we could make this a big statement between both the UK and AUSTRALIA . In the end we decided the best way was to fly LEO and the FLYSTR8 team down to AUSTRALIA.

AUSTRALIA was crazy , having different things to do each day, we definitely showed them how we do it in AUSTRALIA and we'd do it all again ! The video we shot was also crazy so we're excited for our audiences to see it.

3. Your rise in the music industry has been rapid, with multiple platinum and gold records at just 20 years old. What challenges have you faced in adapting to such a fast-paced career, and how have you navigated them?

There are definitely a lot of challenges in the music scene , but more so changes that everyone has to adapt to , and some are harder than others. There's always phases that the music scene goes through , for example ; the sample type beats , the 50 type cent beats , and nowadays it's all about finding that pocket or creating a new one that people will be attracted to. I feel the music scene in 2024 has changed drastically in a way where it's more about content creation and hitting your promotion from every angle possible to make your music more prominent , and that's the adaptation I've found the hardest personally. Regardless of the problems me and my team face we always find a way to make it work , and with this and having the right intentions , it's bound to.

4. The UK drill scene has a distinct sound. As an Australian artist, how did you approach blending your own style with UK influences while still staying true to your roots?

I've always taken the UK scene as inspiration when it comes to music , especially after seeing artists like Central Cee etc . I just had to find my own way of making the music where it can appeal to various audiences around the globe whilst also staying genuine to my Australian roots and heritage and I feel like over time I've curated my sound to do just that . 

Especially with the new music I have coming , I feel the UK audience will increase dramatically whilst also keeping my fans in Australia happy knowing that I'm putting on for them. Who knows , maybe I'll end up moving to the UK to properly make my mark .

5. With global recognition and your recent signing to Virgin Music Group, what’s next for you? Can we expect more cross-continental collaborations or perhaps new genres you’re looking to explore?

The next year (2025) , is all about bridging and enforcing the bridge for AUSTRALIAN & UK music . This includes multiple cross Atlantic collabs , multiple music videos in the UK and just being amongst the UK scene in general . We might even have a UK and AUS EP coming.

I wanna show the AUSTRALIAN scene that we CAN have music that resonates on a global scale and we CAN be global artists even though we have a smaller audience to start off with . If you can see it and you believe it , it will happen … love