WHOZFIRE: The Story of Kayo and the Platform Changing Independent Music Discovery

Kevin “Kayo” Orsino is the founder of WHOZFIRE, a livestream platform where independent artists compete, perform, and get discovered through music reviews, tournaments, and live broadcasts. This is the story of how a kid from Toms River, New Jersey built one of the most unique independent music discovery platforms on the internet.

But WHOZFIRE didn’t appear overnight.

The platform is the result of years spent recording artists, organizing hip-hop showcases, learning the art of broadcasting, and building relationships in the music industry — including a long-standing connection with Shaquille O'Neal.

The story begins in a place where hip-hop wasn’t exactly part of the culture.

Toms River, New Jersey.

Growing Up in Toms River

Kayo grew up in Toms River, New Jersey in what he describes as a stable suburban household. His father worked as a high school principal and his mother was a third-grade teacher. The family lived in a four-bedroom home, taking vacations once a year and emphasizing education and work ethic.

“My parents were incredible,” Kayo says. “They made sure we had everything we needed.”

But while his upbringing was supportive, his childhood also came with a serious health challenge.

Kayo was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), a congenital heart condition that required multiple open-heart surgeries throughout his life, including another major surgery recently April 2023.

Because intense physical sports weren’t always possible, music quickly became the outlet where he could express himself. His dad introduced Celion Dion, Barry Manilow while his older brother introduced him to artists like The Notorious B.I.G., DMX, and Tupac.

But it was the influence of Eminem that made him look at music differently.

Seeing Eminem turn Marshall Mathers into “M&M” inspired Kevin to create his own version of that idea. That’s how the name Kayo was born.

The Basement That Changed Everything

Like many producers and engineers, Kayo remembers the exact moment music became more than just a hobby.

He was hanging out in a friend’s basement when he saw someone recording vocals using a program called Pro Tools.

Watching a rapper perform into a microphone and hearing the vocals immediately played back through a computer felt almost unbelievable.

“I couldn’t believe someone could rap into a mic and record it into a computer and mix it,” Kayo says. “From that moment I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”

Instead of finishing traditional 11th and 12th grade classes, Kayo enrolled in a vocational audio engineering program where he spent those final high school years learning recording and production.

He later continued his studies at Five Towns College in Long Island, sharpening his skills even further.

Years later, that same fascination with recording would lead to one of the most surreal moments of his career.

Mixing records for Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Gates, Gucci Mane, Bubba Sparxxx, Murphy Lee, DJ Luke Nasty, and many more.

Building a Hip-Hop Scene at the Jersey Shore

Toms River wasn’t known for rap music.

But that didn’t stop Kayo from trying to build a scene anyway.

After opening his own recording studio while working a traditional 9-to-5 job, he began building relationships with local artists.

Soon he wanted something bigger.

So he started organizing hip-hop showcases in nearby Seaside Heights, the famous Jersey Shore town known from MTV’s Jersey Shore.

For years, Kayo hosted rap showcases inside local clubs, bringing artists and fans together for performances that didn’t really exist in the area before.

Looking back, those events were the early version of the same mission he continues today.

Helping independent artists get exposure.

The only difference now is that the stage has expanded from local venues to livestreams reaching artists around the world.

Moving to Orlando and Entering the Industry

Eventually Kayo decided to start fresh.

He moved to Orlando, Florida determined to build a career entirely around music.

There he continued working as an audio engineer while expanding into artist management.

Through managing an artist, he eventually connected with Shaquille O'Neal after the artist collaborated on a song with the basketball legend.

Over time Kayo began mixing several of Shaq’s records and building a relationship that extended beyond the studio.

Shaq invited him to events, networking opportunities, and parties where he encouraged Kayo to keep building and stay consistent.

Importantly, Shaq never handed him anything.

Instead, he placed Kayo in environments where he had to earn his position.

That relationship would continue for years — long before WHOZFIRE ever existed.

The Idea That Sparked RoastNReview

While working inside Orlando studios, Kayo spent countless hours recording artists.

One day, producer Trak Formerz mentioned something that caught his attention.

He told Kayo to look into what TJ Chapman was doing online.

Chapman — known for managing B.o.B — had begun experimenting with live music reviews where artists could submit songs and receive feedback in real time.

The idea immediately clicked.

For Kayo, it planted the seed that would eventually grow into RoastNReview.

Choosing Independence

Around this time Kayo came to an important realization.

Artist management meant his income depended on an artist succeeding first.

And that model didn’t sit well with him.

“I didn’t want to make money only when the artist made money,” Kayo says. “I wanted to build something where I could rely on myself.”

That mindset pushed him toward livestreaming.

He began studying everything about broadcasting — OBS software, audio routing, streaming overlays, and production.

What started as curiosity quickly became an obsession.

The Birth of RoastNReview

In 2018 Kayo launched a livestream show called RoastNReview.

Artists could submit their songs and receive real-time reactions live on the stream.

Sometimes the music got praise.

Other times it got roasted.

The unpredictable energy of the show quickly attracted attention and clips began spreading across social media.

More importantly, Kayo discovered something about himself.

He loved broadcasting.

Betting Everything on Streaming

Behind the scenes, things weren’t easy.

At one point when his wife Maria became pregnant with their daughter Mia, Kayo had just $1,500 to his name.

Unsure what to do, he asked Maria if they should save the money.

Her answer changed everything.

She told him to invest it into the show.

Kayo spent $1,300 on a clearance laptop and streaming equipment and went all-in.

Some nights he streamed for hours with only five viewers watching.

But he treated those five viewers like five thousand.

“If one person bought a mix after the show, it was worth it.”

Turning Music Into Competition

Around 2020, Kayo realized artists didn’t just want feedback.

They wanted to compete.

That idea sparked the concept for music tournaments, where artists would battle song-for-song in bracket-style competitions similar to NCAA tournaments.

Fans could support their favorite artists while audiences voted on who advanced.

It turned music discovery into entertainment.

RNR Madness

In 2021 Kayo launched his first major tournament.

RNR Madness.

One of the biggest moments came when Shaquille O'Neal appeared alongside legendary producer DJ Premier to award $5,000 to the winners.

The concept worked.

The RNR Cup

Following the success of RNR Madness, Kayo launched another tournament called The RNR Cup.

Once again Shaq appeared during the finals.

By this point Shaq had already appeared on RoastNReview multiple times between 2019 and 2023.

But the biggest chapter was still ahead.

The Call After Surgery

In April 2023, Kayo underwent another open-heart surgery.

While recovering in the hospital, his phone rang.

It was Shaq calling on FaceTime.

Shaq told him he had been watching what he was building and wanted to do more with the platform once he recovered.

A few months later Shaq visited Kayo’s house in Atlantic City while he was DJing at Harrah’s Pool.

They went live.

Submissions flooded in.

It felt bigger than just another episode.

Eventually they decided to create a 10-episode series filmed at Shaq’s house.

The Birth of WHOZFIRE

As the show continued growing, Shaq suggested something important.

The name RoastNReview wasn’t big enough for the vision.

After countless late-night brainstorming sessions, they landed on a new name.

WHOZFIRE.

A simple question with endless possibilities.

Who really makes the best music?

The Full Circle Moment

Years earlier, the idea for RoastNReview had been sparked when producer Trak Formerz suggested Kayo look into what TJ Chapman was doing online.

Chapman — who managed B.o.B — had been experimenting with live music reviews.

Years later, during a WHOZFIRE tournament streamed from Shaq’s house, B.o.B appeared as a guest on the show.

For Kayo, it was a true full-circle moment.

The Vision Ahead

Today WHOZFIRE continues evolving into a global platform for independent artists.

Through livestream reviews, music tournaments, blog features, and collaborations, thousands of artists have already passed through the platform.

And the mission remains the same as it was back in those Jersey Shore showcases.

Create opportunities for artists who otherwise might never be heard.

Because sometimes all someone needs is one moment.

One performance.

One opportunity.

Or as the platform asks:

Who’s fire?

WHOZFIRE intends to find out.

About WHOZFIRE

WHOZFIRE is a livestream music discovery platform where independent artists compete, perform, and gain exposure through live reviews, tournaments, and collaborations. Founded by Kayo, the platform has featured thousands of artists from around the world and continues to expand opportunities for independent musicians.