Exclusive Interview: BooKoo Beats Artist, C.Y.

 

myspace.com/cyurhighness

myspace.com/themostcold

www.bookoobeats.com

MickiB:  Give me a little background on C.Y.

C.Y: I was a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. I decided moved out to Houston due to a lot things going on my personal life. Friends were moving out of town and there was trouble with the law involving my friends. It was just time for a change. And shortly after moving to Houston, I began taking rap more seriously.

MickiB: How did you get your name? What does it mean?

C.Y: C.Y is short for Cymon like “Simon Says”…it’s my birth name. My mother’s name is Cynthia.

MickiB: Describe your style. Where do you draw your inspiration?

C.Y: My inspiration comes from art. I would describe my style as artistic.

MickiB: Who would your style be comparable to?

C.Y: Definitely, Nas, one of my idols in the game, also, Dungeon Family, the Atlanta sound. Still current &trendy, but it has depth. Touches on subjects that our society tends to sway away from.

MickiB: How do feel you have grown musically since your start in your music career?

C.Y: I have grown a lot. I take a more active approach about being a student of the game. I am really not in competition with other local artists.

MickiB: As far as your career, what is the ultimate goal? Do you care about the Grammy or is it strictly about the art?

C.Y: Nah, I can’t say I would not want to win a Grammy; but it is not all about the limelight. I am more interested in my music. I have children; I want to leave my music behind for my children.

MickiB: So you make music for children. Your music is not so far our there that children are not able to listen to it?

C.Y: I consider about 85 to 90% of my music to be made for a mature audience. But I would definitely want my kids to be able to listen to my music when they get to be a more mature age. I do have a future vision in making educational hip hop to reach the youth through our music.

MickiB: It is awesome, you are taking the position that you would like reach out to our youth.

MickiB: Do you make music for yourself? For other artists?

C.Y: Well to be perfectly honest with you, I have sort of a tribute song to the pioneers in the game. But, I really don’t make music for other artists.

MickiB: How did you hook up with BooKoo Beats?

C.Y: I first hooked up with BooKoo Beats when Alverez [producer and CEO] was working at a large chain retail store and I came in to pick up some equipment. We ended talking and setting up a future meeting and I recorded something with a couple of other guys. We went from there.

MickiB: When you are writing, how do you write?

C.Y: I usually listen to a track first. It is always what the beat gives me that determines how I will approach it. Sometimes it is a spur of the moment type thing or I write in pieces. Sometimes, in the moment, we even record in vehicles or at each other’s homes.

MickiB: If you had a chance to work with any producer who would it be?

C.Y: It would definitely be Alverez of BooKoo Beats also, DJ Premier and the Neptunes.

MickiB: So you would be definitely open to work with a fresh and new talented producer with no national credits.

C.Y: Absolutely, that is what we need, that type of guy. Man, definitely. Because you know never know you may be making the next Dr. Dre.

MickiB: What is your favorite song or project to date?

C.Y: Right now my personal favorite is, “You’re Not Exactly Black”, which will appear on my upcoming project. We have not totally decided on the name of the album yet. This upcoming project is scheduled to drop sometime this summer (2009).

MickiB: How did you come up with the concept for this track?

C.Y: Being the person that I am, I’m always thinking. I think it is a misrepresentation, when we consider ourselves black people. No disrespect to the people that do. I like to teach my children we are brown Americans, not black Americans, African Americans, but brown Americans. I thought this could open people’s eyes. Just be conscious of the fact we are equal.

MickiB: What are your feelings of the state of hip hop today, in 2009?

C.Y: It huh, is very lucrative. A lot of people are eating off of this thing. I do hear a lot of negative talk. I think this is just a cycle. It sounds to me like progress. MickiB, “positive progress”.

MickiB: With all those ringtones, digital downloads, what do you think about the digital downloads, ringtones and internet as it pertains to music industry and hip hop?

C.Y: It gives you more opportunity to have access to more listeners. The internet is very helpful.

MickiB: In the music industry today, you can not think in terms of the art, the music, you have to know the business aspect of this industry. So, where do you see yourself as it pertains to the business side of the industry?

C.Y: I am definitely interested in production and writing.

Related Eartodastreetz

• C.Y. “Race For Space” PPR 101 Conference (10/17)
• New Music: “Get That” – C.Y. (Snippet)