C&C: What are five words that describe who Brown Suga is?
Brown Suga: down to earth – fun – fresh – soulful – artistic
C&C: What part of Germany are you from, and do you get a lot of love from people in other countries, especially the US?
Brown Suga: I'm from Koblenz, a small city,it's in Rheinland-Pfalz, between Cologne and Frankfurt. Through myspace I had the chance to talk to many great artists. Been gettin a lotta love especially from the states and I really appreciate that since 95% of the music I listen to is from the states. Once in a while I get messages from people all over the country who tell me that they love my voice and like I already said every single comment or compliment is appreciated. When you get those kind of compliments it makes you realize that your voice might be really universal and that there might be chances to accomplish something somewhere else.
C&C: How long have you been singing?
Brown Suga: Since day one everything I did was sing. I had to listen to a song a couple times and I already knew all the lyrics. Back in the day I used to browse through moms cd's and sang stuff like Whitney Houston, Salt n' Pepa and Tevin Campbell. When I was 13 I started singing and recording at the studio. Somebody I knew, who became a really close friend of mine, was the owner of the studio. He built the studio with other friends. He asked me if I could sing, at first I was a little embarrased cause I never really sang in front of somebody, only friends who always said that I could sing. So I went to the studio and sang Brown Skin" from India Arie and Heard it all before" from Sunshine Anderson. I was nervous ...like really nervous haha I still remember that, but he really liked my voice, so that's when we actually started workin together.
C&C: Do you write your own music? If so where do you find your inspiration?
Brown Suga: I wrote for myself but I never recorded any of my stuff. My people used to write for me. In the future I want to start improving my writing skills so I can finally do a project with all my own thoughts in it. So people can get to know me in another way through my music. I find inspiration in life. Life inspires me in many ways.
C&C: If you could collab with any artist dead or alive who would it be?
Brown Suga: Oh thats a tough question lol... There are like wayyy tooooo many ppl that I would love to work with. When it comes to Neo-Soul it would prolly be D'angelo, cause he always gave me a special feeling when I listened to his music, his beats, his voice.
Oh or Raphael Saadiq cause to me he is an amazing artist and I think his productions/voice and my vision of songs would match perfectly. But since I love rap I would definitly love to collab with more rap artists and that would probably be people like Black Milk, Little Brother or Slum Village. It's really hard to name somebody out of this whole list of artists that I admire.
C&C: Have you started going on tour with your music yet?
Brown Suga: No actually I haven't. Hopefully one day I will get the chance to do that. Touring with a live band would be my dream though =).
C&C: What projects are you currently working on?
Brown Suga: I'm connected to some great artists and producers who wanna work with me but since everybody, including me been pretty busy lately the projects didn't start yet. When everybodys time ain't that limited we will see how things turn out. What artists am I talkin bout?....suprise =)
C&C: What are your thoughts on the music industry right now? Especially neo soul and r&b artists
Brown Suga: Times are rough for music artists right now especially neo soul artists I think. Making money ain't that easy. I think its sad that many ppl have to get "commercial" to make money. I always listened to many underground artists and the fact is that there are many ppl you dont hear anything bout anymore even if they were signed to a major label. There are way too many ppl out there (in my opinion) who make money only cause they fit in the media not because they are highly talented. There are other ppl out there who really deserve this position cause talent should be respected and honored.
C&C: What else are you engaged in besides music?
Brown Suga: Music is my passion nd besides that I love another art. So since I'am a digital mediadesigner my other love is obvious I guess lol. Digital Art, Photography and drawing
C&C: How do you feel about the United States having their first Black President?
Brown Suga: One word: Evolution
There ain't even much to say bout this.. Changes are great hopefully things will work out good for everyone.
C&C: What special plans doe you have lined up for Valentines day?
Brown Suga: Spending time with my man, goin out, havin dinner together and just spend some quality time.
C&C: How can people contact you?
Brown Suga: Via myspace on wwww.myspace.com/brownsug4
C&C: Any last words?
Brown Suga: Happy Valentinesday to everyone!!!!
Check my myspace and tell me what you think... don't forget new stuff is coming soon =)
Love Brown Suga
Texas malika is an innovative woman with the heart of a king, hence why some call her King Texas. Yet she's filled with much compassion and dignitity that it shows through her work and pleasant conversation.
Cash&Caviar had the opportunity to vibe with Texas Malika about her passion as a photographer, her views on being a black woman in America and her plans for valentines day, so check it out right here on C&C!
C&C: So is kidtexas your nickname? What is the story behind your name?
Texas Malika: I actually robbed 'That Kid Texas' from a friend I know in Houston, Texas. Her name on AIM was That Kid Ca*** (I don't want to give out her screen name haha), and I thought it had a cute and fun ring to it. So, I pretty much took it from there, created the website in the beginning of 08' and it blew up from there. In any case, I'm not even going by That Kid Texas anymore. I am going to be 23 this year, so I'm not really a kid anymore. It's either Texas Malika Toussaint-Baptiste or King Texas from now on.
C&C: Toussaint-Baptiste sounds fly...
C&C: How long have you been into photography?
Texas Malika: I became interested in photography in 2003 while I was attending high school in Long Island. It became my passion in 2007, and that is when I bumped into the New Pop and joined the crew later on that year. Honestly, it was only in the middle of last year when I realized that I was totally in love with photography. I don't think you instantly have to be emotionally, spiritually, and mentally involved in something that you love to do. I think it takes time. Especially, since I'm still finding myself as a person and growing up every single day. When you grow, your art expands, which deepens your love for it. It's like an everlasting relationship.
C&C: Well said....
C&C: Since you have this deep rooted passion for photography is there anyone that you would love to photograph if you had the opportunity. The person can be dead or alive.
Texas Malika: You know, I was just thinking about this last night. I would have to say Nina Simone. On her Forbidden Fruit/Nina Simone at New Port album - she has a song named "You'd be so nice to come home to". I'd love to photograph her while she plays that song. The first time I heard it, I was so high that it was almost impossible to function in a normal way. The intensity of the song was so overwhelmingly beautiful that it was hard not to go crazy, especially when she began to sing! That is real love right there. I wish people sang songs like that now a days.
C&C: I will have to check that song out....... and Nina Simone is a legend in her own right she is truly gifted!
C&C: If you could work alongside any one photographer who would it be?
Texas Malika: I'd have to say David LaChapelle. He is such an unusual artist. I know he is hella popular, but there is a huge reason for that. His work is amazing and very farfetched. Unique and humorous. I'm sure it gets repetitive at times, but I want to smoke whatever he is smoking. That is what you call being creative and stepping outside of the box. Imagine producing one of his shoots? Imagine actually thinking about doing anything along those lines! It really takes balls to go out there and be creative. A lot of people try to be creative but then fear overcomes them and they end up doing the same thing they've been doing for years.
C&C: Yo David LaChapelle is the maaaaaaan! I remember he did some contest on MySpace awhile back you could win a photoshoot with him. Whoever won that was lucky!
Texas Malika: If I knew about that, I would of entered under 20 different names! haha.
C&C: lol
C&C: I’m going to start a sentence and you have to finish it.
C&C: Ready?
Texas Malika: Yes
C&C: Being a photographer gives me the power to...
Texas Malika: Speak to the world
C&C: New York Night Life is...
Texas Malika: Interesting, but not entirely for me.
C&C: I can't live without my....
Texas Malika: Music & camera
C&C: To be a King means...
Texas Malika: To pay homage to those before us.
C&C: Awesome, now lets talk about the history that we as Americans ... especially African Americans just made recently.... What did you remember most about Jan 20th?
Texas Malika: Man, that was amazing. I haven't looked but TreVz put up a four part video series of his travel to DC (New Pop). It was amazing seeing my parent's reaction. The energy in the air was extreme and fantastic. Imagine that, a president mixed with a color that is still solely hated in this country and looked down upon. It's interesting to say the least. I had a blast that day. Between the text messages from various people (including you!) and being with my friends watching the tube, it was nice being around loved ones for that moment. I also loved the fact that Bush got boo'ed.
C&C: lol Bush getting boo'ed was hilarious ,poor guy.
Texas Malika: Poor us, you mean. he was such a disgrace to this country (lol) they should of thrown his shit out of the white house window when he moved out haha!
C&C: hahaha
C&C: Its all good now because the change that we so desperately need is here.
C&C: Malika you are a strong black woman, what does being a black woman mean to you now since Obama is in office. and what do you feel we need to work on as Black Women in America.
Texas Malika: First and foremost, women need to realize how beautiful they are, how beautiful we all are. In a society where "beauty" is defined as skinny, LIGHT SKINNED, or white with blue or green eyes - it's hard not to look in the mirror and judge yourself harshly. We are all human. However, there needs to come a time when we break away from that mold and love ourselves for who we are. Women need to work together instead of going against each other and bickering. You don't know how many times I've heard men say that black women in power are always bitches, black women aren't really attractive, black women are selfish and money hungry: its rather disgusting.
Texas Malika: The fact that it is 2009 and Obama signed a legislation granting women and men equal pay for the same work is great, but sad at the same time. Something like that should have been signed plenty of years ago. Hopefully, Obama keeps his word and makes more changes not only concerning women's rights, but also homosexuals but that's a different story right there. Nothing harder than being a black GAY woman in America! Christ.
C&C: You made some valid points just now, we as women definitely do need to come together and eliminate the hate and learn to work together. We can be just as powerful. Its about Completion NOT competition.
C&C: On a lighter note…
C&C: Have you made any special plans for Valentines day yet?
Texas Malika: That day will be spent alone. Sucks.
C&C: How can people get in contact with you?
Texas Malika: People can hit me up at texas@thatkidtexas.com or twitter (http://twitter.com/KingTexas). Twitter is the new form of text messaging
thatkidtexas.com
Heather is a down to earth NC native who has a strong love for music, family, church, and especially H.E.R. For those who may know she is the creator of her blog H.E.R which is like a diary for everyone to bask in her musical tastes and visions. Cash & Caviar took the time to kick it with Heather to get a feel of who she is and what makes H.E.R so special.
C&C: In a few words who is Heather and what does she represent?
H.E.R: Heather is a small town girl from the south, fell in love with a genre not meaning to and never left it alone after she did.
C&C: You're from NC where artists and producers like 9th Wonder, Anthony Hamilton, Little Brother birthed their music. Compared to NY, do you feel artists in NC have the same type of outlet to gain the recognition that they deserve? And have any local artists caught your attention lately?
H.E.R: Being in NC is tough, I was so happy for 9th when he grabbed production on the Black Album. We have a few motorcycle dance, fur boot, song artist around here but they haven’t built a foundation like LB and 9th, but it’s really hard if you’re from here. For one it’s the south, and to me we’re known to birth some ignorant but fun music.. so if you can creep out of that category and work long and hard enough you could reach a 9th, Anthony Hamilton, LB level. No one local, has caught my ear.
C&C: Its evident that music has played a major inspiration to your blog. H.E.R, so tell me, what else sparked the idea to create your blog?
H.E.R: If you don’t know me, I probably won’t spark a conversation about hip hop with you or even join in on if a discussion is happening. I don’t know whether it’s me being shy, worried someone might look at me like “yeah right” or that I’m just too nervous to have a polar opposite opinion than what the group is having (which is the case most of the time especially down south). So a blog really lets me act as if I’m writing in a diary or to someone who won’t bash my opinion.
C&C: Where do you see H.E.R in 5 years?
H.E.R: Living in NYC, maybe at a record label, magazine, maybe juggling a few different projects and being very happy about it, promoting and helping artist that I believe in. I’m actually in a partnership that’s in the works with something now that I’m looking forward to, not to be rich, but to be happy. Who knows. I’m ready to start this journey in ‘09 though!
C&C: Blogging can seem like a 9 to 5 depending on the time and dedication put into it, but what is a day in the life of H.E.R when the monitor is shut off.
H.E.R: Hanging with my mom or my dad, playing in the kitchen, looking at pictures, writing down any quote I cross that I want to remember forever on a receipt, napkin, cell, my hand. Calling and checking on my best friends that live thousands of miles away. Church, work, eat. I really don’t go out that often around here. People I went to school with think I’ve been gone for awhile, when I really just stay secluded. If I’m watching TV 77% of the time it’s on the Food Network channel. I talk on the phone too sometimes I’m quite boring.. no really, I’m pretty simple.
C&C: Name your top 5 underground artists.
H.E.R: Drake, Cudi, Currency, Wale, I like B.o.B., Dom Kennedy, Mickey Factz.. shout out to Melo-X, U-N-I, Theophilus London and everyone else I’m forgetting!
C&C: Who do you think we should be keeping an eye on in 2009?
H.E.R: Kid Cudi, Consequence, Drake, Wale, & Mickey Factz.
C&C: The female emcee, where do you think her place is in the rap game now?
H.E.R: Sad to say but I really don’t like to listen to a female rap. I can do Jean Grae, because to me she is poetry. The female emcee is at an okay place, to me, shout out to Amanda Diva!
C&C: What does being a female in America mean to you now that Obama is in office?
H.E.R: Same song, if I we’re to be gay, God forbid, I might feel more empowerment lol but it feels the same. I’m still proud to be an American woman (cues in Lenny Kravitz).
C&C: Who and what keeps you motivated to do what you do?
H.E.R: My mom, she really makes sure to let me know I can do anything I want to do, Deemehlow, Lindsay, Paola, the people who follow my blog, and an old love of mine. What… faith, the thought of actually living in NY after wanting to since I was 15, music, and chasing a dream that I’ve been looking to find.
C&C: Valentines day is near, any plans with a special someone?
H.E.R: I’ve hated valentines day every single year. Lol except 10th grade.. lol but that doesn’t count anymore. No plans, never do I ever have plans.. last year me and my bff spent it together, this year idk what I’ll do.
C&C: Is there a quote that you live by that you would like to share with the world?
H.E.R: A good woman knows her past, understands her present and forces toward the future. A good woman knows God. She knows that with God the world is her playground, but without God she will just be played.
Kick it with H.E.R
Khrysis who is a part of NC's own The Justus League talks about how Little Brother's track titled "The Getaway" came about, why he feels the over use of 808's are played out and that he'll sample anything and that means even the shirt off your back! Check out this Cash&Caviar interview with Khrysis(The Animal).
C&C: How long have you been producing?
Khrysis: I’ve been taking it seriously since I was like 19 so its been a good… its been a good 8 years now…. my first placement was Master Ace the name of the song was “The Grind” it was from the Long Hot Summer album I want to say that came out in 04’so yea its been a good 5 or 6 years then The Away Team album came out so yea its been awhile.
C&C: Do you think you’ll be a producer all your life??
Khrysis: Probably not I will probably move on to something else afterwards but as of right now like that’s my main concentration right now its producing records and putting records out. Of course I plan on creating my own situations as far as labels and stuff like that but that’s later on in the future but as of right now I’m concentrating on getting placements and getting my project done.
C&C: So when it comes to like producing and making beats what do you like best about sampling?
Khrysis: What do I like best about sampling? basically just having something that’s old and making it new ya know taking a old refreshing familiar sound and updating it to where a younger audience can rock to it and just being creative with that.
C&C: When it comes to making your beats and without giving to much away, what is the method to your madness?
Khrysis: Have fun, that’s basically what it is, if you not having fun making music you don’t really need to be doing it whether your sampling or playing keys and its not fun for you and if your not getting some kind of enjoyment or fulfillment out of it then yes its going to be forced and the people can tell if something is forced they may not be able to say oh it sounds forced but they know something’s not right so its not going to be enjoyable so therefore you got to have fun and keep it creative as possible.
C&C: You produced a few songs off of Little Brother’s Get Back Album ?
Khrysis: I just did one, “After the Party”
C&C: So you didn’t do “The Get Away”?
Khrysis: Oh yea that was for Get Back but it didn’t make the cut. It made the mixtape that they put out shorty afterwards.
C&C: Would you explain how that song came about?
Khrysis: I was on tour when I made that beat. I made the beat on tour, we was on tour with Dilated and they had a day off actually in Durham and Little Brother had a show in DC so what I did I was just like Yo let me hop on the Dilated bus they gonna be in Durham so we can get some music done and I made that beat , I made like 5 beats that night on the way here. I stayed in the back of the Dilated bus and just cranked out like 5 beats. One of the beats was “Sum of Me” which ended up on the last Away Team album and Evidence hopped on that and I played the rest that was left for Phonte and he was like yea let me get that. It was intended to be the intro but they ended up using umm [Khyrsis starts humming a tune] they ended up using that one instead I don’t remember the name of the song off the top of my head right now it just completely slipped my mind.. Yea [laughing] shoutout to illmind though that was a ill joint. It’ll come to me like some random point of the interview then ima just blurt it out [laughing].
C&C: Are there any artists that you won’t sample for any particular reason, that you just won’t touch?
Khrysis: Yea… well… no…no. there used to be a point where like oh you can’t sample this person because they’ll sue or you can’t sample this person because they’ll sue. after awhile it just started getting to the point where I was just like, why the hell not? Ima have fun with this sh*t. If I know I can make a dope ass beat out of a record why am I going to limit myself. I say f*ck it, I’ll sample the shirt off your back if it sounds good [laughing]
C&C: Is there anything that you feel is being overused or oversaturated when it comes to sampling?
Khrysis: Nah…. not right now no. The high pitched voices was getting kinda played out but then everybody kind of shy away from it and moved on to different sh*t samplig different sounds and stuff like that. Now drums okay I have a problem when it comes to peoples drums I have a problem. I think the over use of 808’s is getting kinda played out with me but other than that… and what makes it funny is I actually have a song with Evidence right now where I used an 808 kick but I used it MY way and I guess the problem isn’t the fact that people are using 808s…. their using them all the same way. It’s the same technique on every f*ckin record, every time I turn on the radio that’s just getting played out with me I don’t have a problem with 808s its just the way people use them and they all sound the same.
C&C: Whats a rule that you live by when it comes to music?
Khrysis: Keep it fun and keep it funky, it comes from the heart. Its real simple its natural it should be natural. You can’t force a feeling, you can’t force the way people are going to feel when they hear something either their going to feel it or their not. If they don’t feel it then you might have to go back to the drawing board and give them something that they can feel . Music should evoke feelings and emotions and things of that nature so that’s the number one rule when you tap into and emotion that people can feel and wouldn’t mind enjoying that feeling. Even if your doing a sad song there should be that light of hope and inspiration that makes people want to move and get up off their feet. Whatever it is if you hear a beat so good it makes you want to fart [laughing] its just that serious though. It should evoke a feeling and emotion and you should be able to attach an event to what you heard. Everybody has a song like yo I was here when I heard this song or I was there when I heard that song. Especially when your able to tap into that then yea that’s what it is.
C&C: Are you working on any projects right now?
Khrysis: Yea I just finished Legacy’s album he’s with HOJ [Hall Of Justus], working with Pooh..he’s about to drop a couple of projects. He’s working on “Delightful Bars” right now. I’m working on a lot of HOJ projects right now. Sean Price.. He’s back in the studio, Evidence is back in the studio. HOJ projects, Evidence, Sean Price and then my album.
C&C: How can people get in contact with you?
Khrysis: You can hit me up at myspace/khrysisbeats. Im on twitter…
C&C: Everybody’s on twitter!
Khrysis: Everybodys on twitter now…I love Twitter, Twitters the jump off, that sh*t is fun… Twitter on Superbowl Sunday was crazy! Its great for events and its wonderful marketing and network tool. Twitter.com/khrysis hit me up for beats khrysis.beatz@gmail.com
Cash&Caviar is bringing to you Sample Thursdays where we get into brief discussions with artists and producers about the art of sampling and their views.
The art of sampling is used among a wide array of producers and aspiring artists a like. Its more than just finding an old record and adding a few kicks and a snare. Every individual has their own unique process in sampling and making that special record that’ll last a lifetime. Diplo who is a well respected DJ, producer and songwriter talks briefly about sampling and his role in M.I.A’s “Paper Planes”
How long have you been producing?
About 5 years
In regards to sampling how longs does it take you to find that right piece from a song to use? For some producers they may skim through the music or even take the time out to listen to the whole song before they know exactly what they want to use.
I’m always collecting records and keeping ideas stored in my head or my itunes.
It is said that in the creation of M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" You, Switch, and M.I.A came together to make this song, how did that come about?
Ha. it was just me.. a loop I had for ages, and then I connected a sort of half ass snap beat on it and looped it in. Me and Mayas APT for a couple of hours and she started to sing some melodies on it.. used an old hook and I redid the hook with sound effect.. and then we recorded the proper vocals in London . where we heard some kids in the street and got them to jump on the record and then we wrapped it up.
In the art of sampling who is an artist do you feel people should just NOT sample even if they tried.
None. Its all in the way you can flip it ..sampling has become an art in certain ways... like the way Jay Dilla does it .. but I think that you take something too obvious and not work too hard on it its a lil bit lazy.
What projects are you currently working on?
M.I.A. Shakira. lil Jon. Santogold and my solo record as well as an all dancehall album with Switch.
Any advice for the sampling rookies out there?
Go to old record stores or flea markets. .vinyl and CDRs that looks curious should be investigated .. and learn about old music! everything from blues to heavy metal has some redeeming values and can sound fresh if u add a snap beat to it.
Diplo's MySpace
