When Kansas City hip-hop artist Krizz Kaliko looks at a bus, he sees an American melting pot.
He sees a single place where the community congregates as one, each rider facing their own unique set of challenges.
That’s why he chose a RideKC bus as a rolling soundstage for filming a new music video for the new song, “Stop the World.” The video debuted March 29.
“The bus represents the world,” said video director Jason Cantu. “We’re just really trying to have a good message that you’re not alone.”
The video features Kansas City rap artist Tech N9ne playing a homeless man. At one point during the video shoot at the Crown Center stop, a real bus rider mistook Tech N9ne for a homeless person and dropped a couple coins into his cup. The famous Kansas City rapper returned the favor, giving the rider a $100.
“She cried when I gave her the $100 bill,” Tech N9ne related on Instagram. “She thought I was really homeless! I had to show her the cameras across the street! She looked at the hundred and said is this real?” (more below)
The song’s title, “Stop the World,” was originally part of a phrase Kaliko used when life would get incredibly hectic. “Oh my God, stop the world and let me get off,” he would sometimes tell his mom.
The song reflects some of the very tough emotions experienced by everyone.
I got the nerve to smile
Ain’t been happy in a while
I only laugh to hide my pain
I got nothin’ left to give
There is no way for me to live
To get to the sun
Gotta go through the rain
The presence of people from so many walks of life made the bus a natural setting for his message, according to Kalico.
“You are not alone,” Cantu said, “and ultimately that’s the voice of the video and the song.”
