10KAY: Purpose Before Popularity

The Cleveland Artist Turning Real Moments Into Real Music

For Cleveland independent artist 10KAY, music is more than entertainment—it is a vehicle for truth, purpose and generational change. Born Kalimahshahadah Robbins, the rising rapper, singer, mother, military veteran, entrepreneur and creator is building a career rooted in authenticity rather than temporary popularity.

“10KAY is the performer, and Kalimahshahadah is the foundation that makes everything possible,” she explains.

That distinction is essential to understanding her journey. Behind the confidence heard in her music is a woman balancing motherhood, business, creative responsibilities and personal growth. Her goals extend beyond charts, applause and social-media attention. She wants to break generational barriers, create opportunities for her family and prove that an artist can remain genuine while navigating an industry often driven by trends.

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, 10KAY credits her hometown with developing the resilience and work ethic that guide her career. Cleveland taught her that talent may open a door, but consistency, dedication and discipline are what keep it open.

The city also gave her the freedom to embrace originality. Rather than confining herself to one genre, she moves between R&B, hip-hop and alternative soul, choosing whichever sound best communicates the truth behind the emotion.

“Sometimes a story needs rap. Maybe it needs melody. At times, my audience needs to feel that vulnerability,” she says. “Whichever genre helps unfold the truth—that’s where I belong.”

Music Drawn From Real Life

Nearly everything 10KAY writes is connected to something she has experienced or felt. She may change certain details to protect someone’s identity or make a story more universal, but the emotions remain real.

That commitment to honesty gives her music its foundation. She wants listeners to recognize parts of themselves in her records and feel understood through her words.

Her single “Tuesday” captures that philosophy. Tuesday has always been one of her most productive days, but it eventually became something greater—a symbol of discipline, momentum and the decision to keep showing up.

The record was created after 10KAY was unexpectedly put on the spot during a recording session. Understanding that every decision mattered, she used the moment to create a song filled with determination, hope and the belief that small daily actions can eventually transform a person’s life.

“Tuesday” is not simply about one day of the week. It represents a mindset. It reminds listeners that success is rarely built only during major occasions; it is created on ordinary days when people remain committed to their goals.

The single is available across major digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, TIDAL, Amazon Music and Deezer.

From Cleveland to International Recognition

10KAY’s music has also begun reaching audiences beyond her hometown and the United States. Her collaboration “Wo Lorlor Tae Remix,” featuring The Son, reached the No. 1 position on the Volta Trendz Top 10 Countdown during Week 36.

The international chart placement proved to 10KAY that music has no boundaries. It also reinforced her belief that listeners connect with emotion before language. Ambition, pain, love, hope and perseverance can be understood across different communities and cultures.

The achievement represented more than another career accomplishment. It expanded her vision and made her dreams feel even more attainable.

At home, her consistency has earned recognition throughout Northeast Ohio. She has been recognized as a featured honoree at Cleveland’s “26 Artists to Watch” showcase and received acknowledgment through the Legend Awards.

According to 10KAY, management rights to GoGetEmInc Entertainment were signed over to her after she won Manager of the Year at the 5th Annual Legends Awards in 2024. GoGetEmInc had already served as a meaningful platform for emerging artists, but 10KAY envisions developing it into something even greater.

Her long-term plan is to expand the company beyond the structure of a traditional record label. She wants GoGetEmInc Entertainment to develop artists, create opportunities and grow throughout entertainment and media while making an impact that continues beyond her own career.

Beauty, Brains and Bars

10KAY describes her brand through three words: Beauty, Brains and Bars.

Beauty represents confidence balanced by humility. Brains represents the knowledge, business awareness and combination of book intelligence and street wisdom needed to survive in the entertainment industry. Bars represent her ability to communicate honestly and powerfully through music.

Together, those elements form what she calls “a complete K”—an artist who understands how to remain tuned in to her purpose while tuning out distractions.

Her independence has taught her the importance of ownership, patience and boundaries. She understands that every opportunity is not necessarily the right opportunity. As her career grows, she remains committed to protecting her peace, valuing her work and choosing authenticity over the pressure to chase trends.

Motherhood, Military Discipline and Legacy

Motherhood completely changed how 10KAY defines success. Her goals are no longer centered solely on recognition or chart positions. She is working to create something her child can be proud of and opportunities that can benefit future generations.

Both motherhood and her military experience strengthened her discipline, intentionality and ability to manage responsibility. On any given day, she may be recording, attending business meetings, producing content and still ensuring she is fully present as a mother.

She does not view balance as perfection. For her, balance means remaining present and giving each responsibility the attention it deserves.

The public may see the performances, photographs and victories, but the journey also includes long nights, personal investments, missed opportunities and moments of self-doubt. There have been times when 10KAY had to choose long-term goals over short-term comfort.

Every sacrifice reminds her why she started. Every victory reminds her why she must continue.

Creating an Experience on Stage

10KAY wants her supporters to experience more than a collection of songs when they attend one of her performances. Her goal is for people to leave feeling renewed, inspired and personally connected.

She wants an audience to feel that it witnessed something real—not simply watched another artist perform.

That desire reflects the larger purpose behind her career. If someone leaves a 10KAY show believing in themselves more than they did when they arrived, she considers the performance successful.

The same philosophy shapes how she approaches her growing online community. Numbers may create excitement, but 10KAY believes loyalty is developed through consistency and genuine relationships. She wants her supporters to experience the full journey, including the victories, lessons, creative process and personal development happening behind the scenes.

What Comes Next

For 10KAY, this chapter is only the beginning.

Supporters can expect more music, bigger visuals, stronger collaborations and increasingly powerful performances. At the same time, she is expanding GoGetEmInc Entertainment so she can create opportunities that reach beyond her personal career.

Her ultimate goal is not merely to leave behind a catalog of songs. She wants to leave a legacy, a voice and a foundation that her family and community can continue building upon.

10KAY is proving that purpose and popularity do not have to compete—but when forced to choose, purpose will always come first.

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Limitless Magazine Exclusive: 20 Questions With 10KAY

1. For readers discovering you for the first time, who is Kalimahshahadah Robbins beyond the music and the 10KAY artist persona?

I am 10KAY, but ultimately, I’m Kalimahshahadah—a woman who believes purpose comes before popularity. I’m a mother, entrepreneur, creator and someone who is constantly working to become a better version of myself.

Music is one way for me to tell my story, but it does not define me. I care about breaking generational barriers, building something my family can be proud of, inspiring people to keep going when life gets difficult and proving that authenticity still has a place in this industry.

10KAY is the performer, and Kalimahshahadah is the foundation that makes everything possible.

2. How did growing up in Cleveland shape your personality, ambition and approach to music?

Cleveland taught me resilience. It’s a city where people work hard, stay grounded and don’t expect anything to be handed to them.

Growing up in the city showed me that talent alone isn’t enough—hard work and dedication are what make the difference. That mindset carries into every recording session, performance and business decision I make.

My city gave me grit, and that grit became part of my sound.

3. What do you want people to understand about the community you represent?

I want people to understand that there are incredible people everywhere chasing their dreams despite the obstacles in front of them.

Too often, people only hear about artists or communities when something negative happens. What they don’t see is the blood, sweat and tears that entrepreneurs, artists and young people put into creating opportunities for themselves.

That’s the side I represent—the people who refuse to give up.

4. How has Cleveland influenced your sound and work ethic?

My city made me comfortable with being myself. I don’t feel pressured to fit into one box because Cleveland truly appreciates originality.

It also gave me a strong work ethic. Around here, you learn that consistency beats excuses. That has become one of the most important parts of who I am, especially as an artist.

5. Why did you choose to blend R&B, hip-hop and alternative soul?

Placing myself into one genre or sound is something I would never do because emotions can be all over the place.

Sometimes a story needs rap. Maybe it needs melody. At other times, my audience needs to feel vulnerability. I blend those sounds because that is the most honest way to express what I feel.

If I had to choose the side that feels most natural, I would say whichever genre helps unfold the truth—that’s where I belong.

6. How much of your music comes from your real life?

Damn near all of it.

I may change certain details to protect someone’s identity or make a story more relatable, but every emotion is real. Remember, I’m the realest. I write from experience because I want listeners to hear themselves in my music.

If someone feels understood after hearing one of my songs, then I have met my expectations.

7. How has motherhood changed your priorities and definition of success?

Becoming a mother completely changed how I define success. It is no longer only about charts or recognition—it is about creating a legacy my child can be proud of.

Motherhood, just like the military, made me more disciplined, more intentional with my time and more determined to build generational opportunities instead of temporary success.

8. What has been the greatest. challenge of balancing motherhood, music and business?

The greatest challenge is making sure every role receives the attention it deserves.

There are days when I’m recording music, handling business meetings, creating content and still making sure I’m fully present as a mother. It isn’t always easy, but I’ve learned that balance is not about perfection—it is about being present.

9. How did you become involved with GoGetEmInc Entertainment, and what is your long-term vision for the company?

Management rights to GoGetEmInc Entertainment were signed over to me after I won Manager of the Year at the 5th Annual Legends Awards in 2024.

GoGetEmInc has served as one of the biggest platforms for upcoming artists. Long term, I see it becoming more than a record label. I want it to develop artists, create opportunities, expand into entertainment and media and become a company that leaves a lasting impact.

10. What does “Beauty, Brains and Bars” mean to you?

Beauty reminds me to carry myself with confidence while remaining humble because appearance will only take you so far.

Brains are something you must have in this game we call the industry. Knowledge and a business mind matter just as much as talent. That is where both book knowledge and street smarts come in handy.

Bars—I give that. Bars represent my ability to communicate honestly through music.

Together, they represent a complete K: when real moments meet real music. I’m not just any artist. I’m someone who is tuned in and knows how to tune out.

11. How did Tuesday become symbolic to you?

Tuesday has always been my most productive day. I love a good Tuesday!

I realized that success is not built only on special occasions. It is built on ordinary days when you decide to keep showing up. Tuesday became my reminder that discipline creates destiny and motion cannot stop.

12. What was happening when you recorded “Tuesday,” and what did you want the record to capture?

I was put on the spot, and I understood that every decision mattered during that session.

I wanted the song to capture determination, hope and the belief that small daily actions eventually change your life. Listen to it on all platforms—I bet you’ll agree.

Turnt on a Tuesday! I don’t even drink, but it was definitely a day to remember. “Tuesday” was never only about one day—it is a mindset.

13. What sacrifices have you made behind the scenes?

People see the performances, but they do not always see the sacrifices.

There have been long nights, missed opportunities, personal investments, moments of self-doubt and times when I had to choose long-term goals over short-term comfort.

Every sacrifice reminds me why I started. Each victory reminds me why I must keep going.

14. How did it feel to see your music achieve international chart recognition?

Seeing my record reach the charts and connect with international listeners reminded me that music has no boundaries.

It was a proud moment for the entire team and a major personal accomplishment. It showed me that honesty can translate across cultures. That achievement made my goals even bigger and my dreams much more vivid.

15. What did that international success teach you about music?

It taught me that people connect with emotion before they connect with language.

No matter where someone comes from, they understand ambition, pain, hope and perseverance. Music speaks a universal language—especially when love is involved.

16. What did your industry recognition mean to you?

Those recognitions meant a lot because they showed me that consistency gets noticed.

At the same time, I see them as motivation, not the finish line. I am grateful for every opportunity, but I know there is much more work ahead.

17. What do you want people to feel after experiencing a 10KAY show?

I want people to leave feeling renewed, inspired and connected.

I want them to feel as though they did not simply watch a performance—they experienced something real. If someone walks away believing in themselves a little more than they did when they entered, that is a successful show to me.

18. How do you plan to turn your growing audience into a genuine community?

Numbers are exciting, but community is built through consistency and genuine connection.

I want supporters to feel like they are part of this journey. That means sharing the victories, lessons and creative process while building relationships that last longer than a viral moment.

19. What is the biggest lesson you have learned as an independent artist?

Being independent has taught me the importance of ownership, patience and boundaries.

Not every opportunity is the right opportunity. I have learned to protect my peace, value my work and trust that remaining authentic will take me further than chasing trends.

20. What is next for 10KAY?

This is only the beginning.

Fans can expect more music, bigger visuals, stronger collaborations and performances that continue to evolve. I am also expanding GoGetEmInc Entertainment because I want to build opportunities beyond my own career.

My goal is not only to leave behind songs—it is to leave behind a legacy and a voice.