Jared Aitken, better known as 8Kin, isn’t your average rapper coming out of Vancouver, BC. For him, music’s always been more than just a hobby—it’s the air he breathes. Growing up, he spent hours bumping Lil Wayne, trying to keep up with Eminem’s wild verses, and dreaming about the day people would be listening to his words the same way.
Now, that day is coming. And he knows it.
8Kin’s style is all his own. “The way I rap is my favorite type of rap,” he says, grinning. “I got some lyrics and flows that, even when I play my own tracks back, I’m sitting there like—how did I even come up with this?” It’s not cocky if it’s true, and one listen to his catalog makes it clear: this is an artist with something to say, and the skills to back it up.
There’s a raw energy in 8Kin’s music, but it’s not just about bars for the sake of bars. “I’m different because first of all, I’m from Canada. And I think I’m one of the hardest coming up—not just in Canada, but everywhere.” He’s got an uncountable number of punchlines, clever lyrics, and hard-hitting flows. Trying to pick a favorite? Good luck. But there’s one that sticks out for 8Kin himself—from the end of his song “Promise I Made”:
“They like ‘Damn He Raw Dawgg,’ but I stay protected!”
It’s witty, it’s bold, and it’s exactly the kind of bar that makes you want to rewind and hear it again.
For 8Kin, success isn’t about charts or clout. It’s about being heard. “To me, success is people listening to what I gotta say, and putting my name out there as an artist coming up in Canada.” And with every track, he’s making that happen.
March 13 marks a big milestone: 8Kin is dropping his latest single, “Thinking About.” He’s hyped for people to hear it—and if the cover art is any indication, it’s going to catch eyes as much as it catches ears. “I got a dope ass cover art for that bch,” he laughs. The energy is infectious.
Ready to tap in? Find 8Kin on Instagram at @tha8kin, and stream his music on all platforms under “8Kin.” One thing’s for sure: Vancouver’s never seen anything like this before.