We have the pleasure to introduce to you CAP creations artist and creator.
He has enlightened us with his authentic bars and original rap freestyles on Rareflavr's #freestylecontest, and he is back with a new single: "This Ain't No Game." Clearly he has insight into what makes rap authentic and unique. Here we can have a listen, provide feedback and simply enjoy.
Your freestyle game is on point we see you hustling dropping freestyles daily. What do you think is the key to having a fantastic freestyle?
FIRST OFF ITS AUTHENTICITY, GOTTA SPEAK ON THINGS YOU'VE LIVED THROUGH EITHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY. SECONDLY PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, THE MORE I WRITE, FREESTYLE AND CREATE, THE EASIER THE IDEAS FLOW OUT. (PAUSE)
What makes you unique as an artist?
PERSONALLY I TRY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH EVERY BEAT I HEAR. LIKE WHATS THE VIBE, WHATS THE ESSENCE, HOW WERE YOU ORCHESTRATED FOR ME TO ATTACK. I ALSO LIKE TO WORK “WITH” PRODUCERS, NOT “FOR” THEM. WHILE I HAVE NO PROBLEM WORKING FOR THEM AND DOING THE TRADITIONAL RAPPER/PRODUCER AGREEMENT, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PRODUCER HAD IN MIND FOR THIS BEAT AND BRING IT TO LIFE. EVERY PRODUCER IS AN ARTIST IN HIS OWN RIGHT AND CREATES BEATS WITH A VISION THAT HE SPEAKS WITH HIS INSTRUMENTS AND SOUNDS. IN TURN, I WANT TO SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE WHEN I GET ON THAT TRACK AND MAKE POETRY.
Tell us about "Ain't No Game." Who produced it? How did the track come about?
MY MAN OMEGA OF “2 RINGZ PRODUCTIONS” AND I WERE JUST HAVING A CONVO ONE NIGHT AND HE WAS JUST GOING THROUGH SOME BEATS HE DIDNT FINISH OR HAD JUST LEFT IN THE VAULT. THAT BEAT CAME ON AND INSTANTLY I JUST STARTING SPITTING AN ENTIRE VERSE IN MY HEAD. LIKE PEOPLE, SOME BEATS ARE TALKATIVE AND SOME ARE SHY. THIS BEAT WAS LIKE “YO WE FUCKIN OR WHAT?” LOL!!! SO I WAS LIKE HEY CAN I PLEASE HAVE THAT BEAT, I'D BE HONORED TO SPIT ON IT, AND HE WAS LIKE, “OF COURSE.” IF I REMEMBER RIGHT THE ORIGINAL NAME HE HAD FOR IT WAS STALLEY AS HE ENVISIONED IT AS THAT TYPE OF VIBE AND WHEN I RAN THE HOOK BY HIM HE WAS LIKE “YO THATS $$$.” THE REST IS HISTORY.
Where does this song fall in the category of some of your previous songs? How does this one compare?
ITS REALLY HARD TO COMPARE BECAUSE THIS IS MY FIRST OFFICIAL SONG I'VE DONE IN ABOUT 10 YEARS. AFTER TAKING A LENGTHY HIATUS TO GET MY FAMILY LIFE RIGHT, I'VE DECIDED TO JUMP BACK IN THE RING. I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PLACE IN MY LIFE AND MY WRITING REFLECTS THAT. THERE'S SONGS I'VE DONE FROM YEARS BACK THAT STILL HIT THE SAME AS THEY DID BACK THEN, IMO, AND THIS TRACK SHOULD DEFINITELY FALL INTO THE SAME CATEGORY YEARS FROM NOW.
If there was a single track to describe your style, present or past which would it be?
HMMMM, THIS IS ONE OF THE HARDEST QUESTIONS I'VE EVER BEEN ASKED AND I MEAN THAT SINCERELY. TRYING TO COME UP WITH ONE SONG THAT ENCOMPASSES ALL OF ME IS A GREAT QUESTION AND MAN AM I REALLY DEBATING LONG AND HARD ON IT. (PAUSE) UMMMMMM, I'D HAVE TO SAY “TEARS OF A CLOWN” BY SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES. THAT SONG IS ACTUALLY VERY SAD AND HAS SO MUCH DEPTH TO IT, YET IT HAS AN UPBEAT HAPPY RHYTHM TO IT. AS AN ARTIST SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO ADAPT OUR EMOTIONS AND EXPRESS THEM IN A FASHION THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY THE TRADITIONAL WAY.
What do you want the game to understand and know about CAP?
I AM AND ALWAYS WILL BE A FAN FIRST. I CANNOT PUT OUT SOMETHING THAT I DON'T FEEL IS WORTH LISTENING TO. QUALITY OVER QUANTITY AND I'M NOT GOING TO FIND SOME KIND OF GIMMICK AND FABRICATE SOMETHING TO EXPLOIT IT. MY MUSIC COMES FROM WITHIN, ALWAYS HAS, ALWAYS WILL.
If you had to critique your own style, how would you describe it ?
I WOULD CRITIQUE MYSELF AS A LYRICIST WHO WRITES MORE POETICALLY THAN LYRICALLY. EVERY VERSE I WRITE TELLS A STORY AND FOR ME THE STORIES NEVER END. AT TIMES ENDING A VERSE CAN GET AWKWARD BECAUSE THERES SO MUCH MORE I WANNA SAY BUT IVE RUN OUT OF BEAT, LOL. I ALSO REALLY LIKE TO LAYER MY STUFF, SO THERES A LOT OF “THIS MAKES SENSE FROM THIS STANDPOINT,” BUT IF YOU LISTEN TO SAY BAR 1 AND BAR 6 OF A VERSE THEY HAVE A REFERENCE THAT TIES THEM TOGETHER THAT YOU MAY NOT PICK UP THE FIRST, SECOND OR EVEN THIRD TIME LISTENING. OF COURSE SEEING THAT I CRAFTED IT, I KNOW EVERYTHING I INTENDED BUT THAT DOESNT ALWAYS MEAN IT IS PERCEIVED IN THE SAME FASHION, WHICH I UNDERSTAND. IT ALSO DOESNT MEAN IT WAS EXECUTED AS INTENDED, WHICH IS SOMETHING I'VE TRIED TO IMPROVE ON MORE AND MORE. AGAIN I AM A FAN FIRST AND TO STEREOTYPE EVERY FAN AS IF THEY LISTEN FOR THE SAME INTRICACIES THAT I DO IS JUST ASININE.
What is the music scene like where you are from? How has it evolved?
GROWING UP IN NORTH JERSEY JUST OUTSIDE OF NYC, THE MUSIC SCENE IS VERY DIVERSE. EAST COAST RAP HAS SUCH A DISTINCT FLAIR AND IMAGE ATTACHED TO IT. BUT FURTHERMORE ANY AND EVERY GENRE OF MUSIC YOU CAN IMAGINE IS OMNIPRESENT IN THAT AREA INCLUDING INTERNATIONAL ONES. SO MUCH CREATIVITY EXISTING IN SUCH A SMALL REALM IS UNREAL AND IS A MAJOR REASON WHY MUSICIANS COME FROM EVERYWHERE TO GET THAT EXPERIENCE. AS MUSIC HAS EVOLVED ITS NEVER LOST ITS FOUNDATION AND THAT FOUNDATION DOESN'T EXIST WITHOUT NY, AND SAME GOES FOR LA, ATLANTA AND DETROIT FOR THAT MATTER. SO FROM OPEN MICS IN UNDERGROUND SPOTS, TO CONCERTS ON BROADWAY, TO SELLING OUT MSG, THE UNIVERSALITY OF MUSIC IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE ON FULL DISPLAY.
Can you describe the ideal project that you'd want to create? Who, Where, When, Why, How?
FOR ME AN IDEAL PROJECT INVOLVES AT LEAST 3 PEOPLE, MYSELF, A PRODUCER AND AN ENGINEER. NOW I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SOME FEATURES DESIGNATED FOR IT AS WELL BUT THOSE THREE HEADS HAVE TO BE A PART OF THE EQUATION. I HAVE A VISION OR FEEL FOR EVERY SONG I HEAR, AS WILL THE PRODUCER WHO CREATES THE VIBE AND THE ENGINEER WHO HAS TO FULLY BRING IT TO LIFE AND GET THE 3 VISIONS TO ALIGN. IDEALLY I'D LIKE TO SET A THEME FOR THE PROJECT, PRODUCE THE BEATS ON SITE WITH SOME INPUT FROM MYSELF AS WELL AS ME LAYING DOWN A FEW HOOKS FOR THE PRODUCER TO USE AS A MOLD TO CREATE BEATS AS WELL. BALANCE IS KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY PROJECT AND WITH 3 PEOPLE WE CAN WORK AS 3 PEOPLE COMBINING CONCEPTS AS WELL AS IN TEAMS OF 2 CREATING IDEAS AND AS INDIVIDUALS CREATING MOODS. THE DIVERSITY WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.
What do you believe are the main characteristics of a great rap/hip hop song?
FIRST AND FOREMOST AGAIN IT HAS TO BE AUTHENTIC AND MOST IMPORTANTLY NATURAL. YOU CAN'T SOUND LIKE YOUR READING OR LIKE YOU TRYING TO FORCE SOMETHING OUT OR BE CHOPPY WITH YOUR FLOW, IT HAS TO SOUND AS IF YOU ARE JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THE BEAT. IT ALSO HAS TO BE CREATIVE, WHETHER ITS THE RHYME SCHEME OR THE FLOW OR THE WORDPLAY OR EVEN JUST THE OVERALL CONCEPT. ADDITIONALLY THE PRODUCTION HAS TO BE ON POINT. I'VE HEARD GREAT BEATS NOT HAVE THE LYRICS TO MATCH AND I'VE HEARD GREAT LYRICS NOT HAVE THE BEAT TO MATCH. ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER CAN STILL BE A HIT, BUT WHEN ITS RECIPROCAL, ITS A CLASSIC.
Who is the greatest rapper of all time? Why?
IN MY OPINION ITS ANDRE 3000. FIRST AND FOREMOST HE IS EASILY ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE AND UNIQUE ARTISTS WE HAVE EVER SEEN PERIOD, AND NOT JUST AS A RAPPER BUT AS A MUSICIAN. HE PRODUCES A LOT OF HIS MUSIC WITH A VISION BEFOREHAND AND REALLY BRINGS IT TO LIFE. HE ALSO TAKES A VERY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE WITH HIS MUSIC, LIKE HIS VERSE ON “RETURN OF THE G,” HIS FEATURE ON “INTERNATIONAL PLAYAS ANTHEM” OR HIS TAKE ON A SONG LIKE “HEY YAAA,” THE ARTISTIC VALUE OF THAT SONG IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DONT UNDERSTAND OR APPRECIATE. I'VE NEVER HEARD HIM FORCE A VERSE, I'VE NEVER HEARD A SUBPAR VERSE, I'VE NEVER HEARD HIM COMPROMISE WHO IS HE ON A RECORD AND I'VE NEVER HEARD HIM MAKE A “COMMERCIAL” RECORD FOR A QUICK BUCK. I KNOW SOME MAY NOT APPRECIATE HIM IN THE SAME LIGHT I DO, BUT FOR ME ANDRE IS THE GOAT.
How has hip hop influenced your life?
HIP HOP WAS A WAY FOR ME AS A CHILD TO COPE WITH THE LIFE THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME. GROWING UP WITHOUT MUCH OF A FATHER FIGURE IN A BROKEN HOME WITHOUT ANY MONEY WAS HARD ENOUGH. ON TOP OF THAT MOSTLY EVERY ONE OF MY PEERS WAS FINANCIALLY STABLE AND HAD A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM AT HOME. WHEN I DISCOVERED HIP HOP THERE WERE SOME THING I DIDN'T DIRECTLY RELATE TO BUT WAS STILL A FAN OF SUCH AS THE GANGSTA RAP ASPECT, BUT THE REAL LIFE STUFF, THE TALIBS, COMMONS, TUPACS, NAS, OUTKAST, ETC WHO SPOKE OF REAL LIFE SHIT AND WHOM WERE MORE POETIC IMO, INSTANTLY TALKED TO ME AND HELPED ME TO GET THROUGH A LOT OF TOUGH SITUATIONS. ALMOST EVERYTHING I EXPERIENCE AND HEAR STILL TO THIS DAY COMES WITH SOME FORM OF A HIP HOP QUOTABLE.
Who do you look to for inspiration? Any particular person outside of music?
SO MANY THINGS INSPIRE ME, BUT THE BIGGEST ONE IS MY MOTHER. THE SACRIFICES SHE MADE FOR ME TO HAVE SOMEWHAT OF A NORMAL LIFE AND THE WAY SHE NEVER REALLY COMPLAINED OR LET IT GET THE BEST OF HER NO MATTER HOW BAD THE LUCK GOT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN NEVER BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED. AS FAR AS MUSICIANS, ITS HARD TO PINPOINT A PARTICULAR ONE BECAUSE SO MANY ARTIST CAN INSPIRE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. FROM ONE-HIT WONDERS WHO FOUND A WAY TO BE HEARD EVEN IF IT WAS JUST FOR A BRIEF SECOND, TO MULTIPLATINUM ARTISTS WHO FIND A WAY TO CONSTANTLY CREATE RELATABLE CONTENT, TO THOSE WHO ARE UNDERGROUND WORKING HARDER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE MADE IT BECAUSE THEY ARE WEARING EVERY HAT AVAILABLE TO GET THEIR VOICE OUT. EVERYONE HAS A STORY TO TELL, BUT FINDING AN AUDIENCE IS WHAT SEPARATES THOSE EXPRESSING IT.
What would be some advice you'd give to someone who is just starting to make music?
FIRST I'D ADVISE THEM TO A. LEARN HOW TO TAKE CRITICISM AND B. LEARN TO ASK FOR CRITICISM. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS QUICK TO EITHER SAY SOMETHING LIKE “YO THIS WAS TIGHT,” BEFORE THEYLL EVER TELL YOU HOW THEY REALLY FEEL. BUT THEM TELLING YOU THAT WILL NOT HELP YOU GROW AS AN ARTIST. SECONDLY, WRITE, WRITE, WRITE! EVEN IF ITS SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY WILL NEVER USE OR A TRACK YOU WILL NEVER RELEASE, GET IT OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM SO YOU CAN PROCESS IT AND GROW FROM IT. YOU HAVE TO CONSTANTLY EVOLVE AND ADAPT IN THIS GAME AND THE MORE YOU CREATE THE EASIER IT'LL GET ON YOU DOWN THE ROAD. IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT THOSE 3 THINGS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO HANG AROUND AS LONG AS YOU PUT IN THE WORK.
What is some advice for the world?
BE YOU. NO MATTER WHAT LIFE HANDS YOU, BE YOU!!! AT THE END OF THE DAY YOU MAY NOT SUCCEED IN EVERYTHING, YOU MAY NOT REACH THE SKY YOU SHOT FOR OR YOU MAY BECOME A HOUSEHOLD NAME, BUT AS LONG AS YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE, THEN YOU CAN SAY YOU DID IT YOUR WAY AND HAVE NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF. I CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT KNOWING WHO I AM IS WHO I AM. THAT PEACE OF MIND IS PRICELESS!!!
Anything else you'd like to Add about "Ain't Know Game" any other future projects we should be on the look out for?
THIS IS JUST THE FIRST OF MANY TO COME. OMEGA AND I WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE TOGETHER AND WILL BE DOING AN EP DOWN THE ROAD WHEN SCHEDULES ALLOW. I BASICALLY WROTE THE SONG IN A MATTER OF MINUTES AFTER RECEIVING THE BEAT AND ALL LOVE TO OMEGA BECAUSE WITH THE QUALITY OF THE BEAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO DO MUCH TO MAKE THIS INTO A HIT.
Anything else you'd like to add?
KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR MY NEW LP COMING OUT TITLED “GREAT ESCAPES.” “THIS AIN'T NO GAME” WILL BE THE FIRST OF MULTIPLE SINGLES DROPPING SOON FROM THE PROJECT WHICH IS SLATED TO BE RELEASED IN JULY..
