Montgomery rapper Kashiyuana cooks in the studio — and the kitchen

Montgomery native Neyuana Davis should be at least four people.

After all, she's a rising rap music artist known as Kashiyuana, who has a new single "Petty Betty" set to release on Saturday, Jan. 15.

When she's not recording at Studioland in downtown Montgomery, she's one of the city's most creative culinary entrepreneurs.

Davis owns and is a chef for Exquisite Dining On The Go, a catering business that works primarily in seafood. She's also a baker who owns Exquisite Sweets N Treatz.

She sees all her works as art that flows from the same place within.

"The food, the music pretty much all goes together," Davis said.

On top of all that, she's a mother of five children, ages 13, 12, 8 and twin 6-year-olds.

"Especially for a mother of five, you have to respect her dedication and her grind," said music producer OG Rolla of Prattville. "I know it has to be hard, but she definitely makes it work, and you can’t do anything but salute her for that."

Davis said she sees a part of herself, and her arts, in each of her children.

"My first two, they love to cook," Davis said. "One of my twins, and my 8-year-old, they love to sing."

Writing her way to Kashiyuana

Like many rappers, Davis started out writing poetry and short stories as she grew up in Montgomery's Ridgecrest community. After graduating from Sidney Lanier High School in 2006, Davis attended Alabama State University for two years.

"I ended up having to quit because I got pregnant," Davis said.

Wanting the life of a recording artist wasn't an instant thing for Davis. She's a naturally shy person, so stepping into the spotlight wasn't an easy choice. She only began to pursue it in June of 2021 under the independent label Pretty Gangstaz Ent. LLC. In that short time, she's released five singles: "Ruffless," "Hood Ass Chic," "Pressure," "Throw Da Money" and "Fighting Demons."

"I wanted people to hear my stories that I was writing," she said. "In order for me to get it out, I just started rapping. I didn't know how to put it out, other than to do it through the music. That gave me a way to be more vocal."

Montgomery producer Noah Baker said Davis is already making some big moves. "I mean as soon as she dropped her first single, she's been getting booked all over down South," Bakler said.

She describes her upcoming "Petty Betty" release as a "female song."

"If you know how women are, we can be kind of petty," Davis said. "It's basically about two women going back and forth about a guy."

An EP project is in the works, possibly for release by spring break or summer.

"Love the amazing work she is doing and I can see her going far in her career," said Shaman P, a Tallassee recording artist. "Wouldn't mind doing a feature with her."

Fiyah Comer describes Davis is a great artist who is easy to work with. "I think she has a bright future ahead in whatever she does," Comer said.

Davis is also going to be part of Baker's next Alabama Massacre 18 project, which brings many artists together to give verses in one huge song.

"It's a good opportunity. I appreciate Noah for helping me," Davis said.

What makes a Kashiyuana song unique in her eyes is the honesty behind the lyrics.

"I'm an emotional rapper," Davis said. "I rap based off of my feelings. I put a lot of feeling into it. This is the real that you get from me when you listen to my music."

Along with her music talent, Baker described Davis as an amazing mother who loves her family. "If she's not working, she's spending time with her kids," Baker said.

Eventually, Davis' artistic dream goal would be to come back full circle and write all the time.

"I think there's more money in writing than actually being a (music) artist," Davis said. "If I could get to the point where I could be behind the scenes and write, that's more so me than being on the scene, even though I know that I can do it and my voice is unique."

So where'd her Kashiyuana name come from? Part of it's from her first name, Neyuana.

"I put 'Kash' in front because I'm a hustler. I like to get money," Davis said.

Links to all of her music and artist social media can be found at linktr.ee/Kashiyuanamusic.

Food entrepreneur life a must for Davis

Kitchen skills have always been a part of Davis' life, but the idea of working under someone else simply wasn't a possibility for her. She knows who her best boss is: herself.

Both of her Exquisite food businesses have been building in Montgomery for a few years now, though not in a commercial brick-and-mortar setting. Customers contact her by phone or social media, and then pick up their orders the next day. Davis also delivers for major catering events.

Review after review of her "Exquisite" offerings repeats the same things: "The food was simply delicious ..."; "The flavor was awesome all the way around ..."; "I will definitely be ordering again."

Her first step into the food business was though baking, in her Exquisite Sweets N Treatz in 2015. Here, she offers a variety of sweets, treats, cakes — cheesecakes, bundts, pound cakes, red velvet, drip cakes, cupcakes — and more.

"I tried some of her cakes and it was delicious," said Montgomery rapper Trick Elmoe, who has worked with Davis on music projects.

She also caters entire sweets tables.

"Everything is pretty much custom," Davis said. "I can make a cake out of anything." And into anything, for people wanting cakes shaped like specific items.

Exquisite Dining On The Go, which she started in 2019, is packed full of seafood offerings, includinga lobster burger and loaded lobster fries, crawfish and shrimp boil, and crab legs. She's also offered steaks, a variety of side dishes and signature sauces.

"Everything on the menu is a top seller," Davis said. "I sell out of everything, every day."

Baker described Davis' food is amazing. "I've told all my friends and co-workers about her food, and everyone felt the same," Baker said.

Preorders are a must, given her busy schedule. She uses social media to post her menu for the week, with the times she'll be working. Customers order by 4 p.m. for food to be picked up the next day.

So does she sing while she cooks? Sometimes, yes. As she works and listens to instrumentals, recipes for new songs start to simmer.

"I'm coming up with a new song in my head," Davis said. "I'll stop and I'll jot it down, so I don't forget."

For orders, hours or to learn more, call or message Davis at 334-324-9635. You can also get in touch by messaging her on Facebook (@exquisitesweetz and @ExquisiteDiningOnTheGo) or Instagram (@exquisite_sweets_n_treatz and @exquisitediningonthego).

Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel at sheupel@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Montgomery rapper Kashiyuana cooks in the studio and the kitchen