Rising artist E-Kaine has just dropped his latest single “Fake Smile” – a raw examination of addiction, mental health, and the daily masks we wear. The track, which hit streaming platforms on November 8th, isn’t just another addition to his growing catalog; it’s a testament to how far he’s come.
The man behind the music, Elijah Eubanks, didn’t exactly stumble into rap by accident. His story began at 15, but the seeds were planted years earlier in private school hallways where he stuck out like a sore thumb. While classmates arrived in luxury cars, Eubanks watched his mother scrape together tuition payments. This stark contrast would later fuel his unflinching approach to storytelling through music.
Speaking about his new release, E-Kaine leans forward in his chair and doesn’t miss a beat: “Behind every fake smile, there’s a story waiting to be told,” he says, his voice carrying the weight of experience. “This song is a piece of my soul. It dives into my struggles with addiction and mental health, where I hid my pain behind a smile. Every lyric is raw and real, coming from some of my darkest times.”
The track itself is a masterclass in vulnerability. Clocking in at 3:08, it opens with gentle piano notes before diving headlong into territory most artists wouldn’t dare explore. Like his early inspiration Tech N9ne, E-Kaine brings raw honesty to this single, though his approach is distinctly his own – laying bare emotional struggles with unflinching authenticity.
Life has a funny way of forcing change, and for Eubanks, that moment came in 2021 with news of impending fatherhood. Instead of letting it derail him, he doubled down, enrolling in the Los Angeles Film School’s music production program. Now, between studio sessions and shows, he’s raising his kids solo – proving that sometimes the best inspiration comes from life’s biggest challenges.
“Fake Smile” isn’t just a one-off single, either. It’s part of E-Kaine’s upcoming EP “Tethered to Torment,” a seven-track project that promises to rip the band-aid off topics most people would rather ignore. He’s simultaneously crafting his debut album, though he’s keeping that title close to his chest for now.
For those looking to dive into E-Kaine’s world, his music lives on all major streaming platforms – Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music included. His TikTok presence exploded recently when one of his videos crossed the 100K mark, proving that authenticity still cuts through the noise. Local fans can catch him live at Mt. Pleasant’s VFW Hall, where he’ll be bringing these stories to life on stage.
Perhaps what sets E-Kaine apart isn’t just his ability to bare his soul on track, but his unwavering mission to reach others walking similar paths. “Without music, I wouldn’t be alive,” he admits, pausing for a moment before adding, “Besides my children, music is my soul.”
In a genre often criticized for superficiality, E-Kaine stands as a reminder that hip-hop’s greatest power has always been its ability to tell the stories others are afraid to touch.
Follow E-Kaine on Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, and SoundCloud for updates on new releases and upcoming performances.
