It’s October 26th around 2:30am ,The Heir Up There plays through my headphones as I go over my conversation with New Orleans native combo producer and artist Chase n Cashe. Listening to this mixtape has me anxious for the release of The Heir Up There 2,I’m sure you’ve seen the name Chase N Cashe often as he’s worked with the likes of Drake,Kendrick Lamar,Dom Kennedy,50 cent,Troy Ave,Lil Wayne,& Curren$y just to name a few. I had the opportunity to speak with Chase and get his thoughts on music,new generation of music fans,Twitter,not cheating the grind and the culture today. Below is the interview I held with Chase as fans all over anticipated this new product.
Siete F- You been putting in work for a long while,since you’ve been coming up,you’ve produced tracks all over the board from artists like Dom Kennedy,Curren$y,Troy Ave,50 cent,Kendrick Lamar,Lil’Wayne,& Drake,I’m a big believer in “Not Cheating the grind” in a time where people will use damn near anything for a come up,how have you stuck to it,not skipping any steps & kept it real for all these years?
Chase N Cashe- By not being desperate for money, attention, or opportunities that weren’t meant for me. I don’t force anything. I’ve done without so much at the same time I’ve been blessed to do many things people dream of doing.
Siete – I’m a deep advocate for everything that has to deal with the culture. Not many of my peers understand the culture,they might have an idea but they don’t understand the foundation and how important it is we keep the authenticity of the culture alive, To me it seems that keeping the culture alive is important to you,what would you have to say to people that don’t think “keeping” the authenticity of the culture is important?
CNC – I think the Culture is alive no matter what there’s just a space of where the culture is sleep or conscious of what they’re doing. A lot of times young kids are just going with the flow without being assertive with their thinking. Authenticity comes from being aware of what you’re doing and what others are doing. Everyone isn’t going to be built to help maintain or restore order of the OG ways and also some of those ways aren’t meant to return. Just gotta go hard and those who respect the culture will relate to you.
Siete- Do you feel that people sometimes sleep on your experiences? your wave sometimes goes unnoticed because you’ve kept it so thorough.
CNC – I don’t think they sleep on my experiences I just think they haven’t had the proper introduction to Chase N. Cashe. I’m a diverse individual that come across mysterious or nonchalant or even hypocritical because I’m passionate about how I live. Never afraid to make a mistake. As an artist I make music about my growth so if you aren’t growing you may not relate to me yet. As I mentioned earlier I’ve never done anything of desperation to get a look so I think that has played into me having to grind longer for the proper attention. One thing I can say is those who do know of me show the utmost respect especially in the streets.
Siete- I find myself introducing Chase N Cashe to a lot of so-called big hip hop fans,& I think it’s crazy that a lot of people still don’t know about you and your journey,where is Chase n Cashe at right now in his process? what’s next because you’ve done so much ,what new projects can readers be expecting?
CNC – What’s next for me is leveling up the Crown Bearers to MMG / Roc Nation status but not in the same mold as them just on the same level of hip-hop business. Rick Ross has motivated me a lot lately and helped me redefine how I want to go about the music biz grind. I’m dropping “The Heir Up There 2” on Oct. 27, 2015 and I’m sure that will help me venture off into a new space of business and touring which is very important to keep my brand growing as an independent. I want to tour the world in 2016 performing all the music from Gumbeaux up to now.
Siete- I read that you lived in the IE at one point,I myself currently live in Riverside California. when you were out here what experiences did you take from the area,& what are your thoughts on the music scene out here?
CNC- Yeah mane Fontana, Riverside, Santa Ana, & Rancho Cucamonga. Those places gave me space. I needed space away from the madness in Hollywood. Hit-Boy lived in Fontana so I would stay at his house and make music all day long. I think the I.E. will be a force in the next few years because Hit-Boy and Audio Push have done a lot to show that it’s more than a desert out there.
Siete- Off your mixtape The Heir up there,the track “Lights Down” is one of my favorite tracks ever. you said “shout out to everybody who did me a favor/rather it was being real or being a faker/rather it was being a giver or a taker/I don’t even hate ya/nigga it’s in our nature” those bars are very real especially for a generation filled with so many fake people,liars,& haters. you seem to expect the hate or the fakeness before it even shows its face,where did you get this thought process from?
CNC – I get the thought process from what I’ve experience from people within my own nationality / culture as a young “black” man. I’ve met people outside of my culture who’ve taken to me faster than people from my own city because they’re so used to seeing the same thing that when they see something new they don’t even view it as something new. It’s an odd thing. I wouldn’t even call it so much fake as I would call it inexperienced. When you are unfamiliar with things you can tend you stay away from them although it could be beneficial. So my whole reason for that song is to say I’m not blaming my people for why they’re that way cuz I was once that way but I worked hard to change. I want them to work hard to change.
Siete- As one of your followers on Twitter,I see that you tend to drop off gems daily,do you think that some of the newer generation is lost and needs guidance? cause it’s a lot of “monkey see monkey do” without even thinking these days.
CNC – I don’t think they’re lost but I do think they need guidance. The youth will end up where Allah wants them to be. I’m just here on Earth to be an example for how to apply the principles of the universe to your lifestyle so you can better yourself with time. No one is gonna get to where they want to be in a year it’s gonna take a lifetime. I use twitter to engage and let people know to use their time wisely.
Siete-I attended Grambling State University,and coming from California it was a big culture shock but I appreciated everything about Louisiana. From the Bayou Classic & my time out in New Orleans I fell in love with city,what about New Orleans and the music coming out of there would you like to share with people who may not know anything outside of No Limit,Wayne and Cash Money?
CNC – Soulja Slim is the greatest thing to come out of our city. If you’ve never heard any of his music please get it. Reality raps. His music is so visual it can be scary. Soulja Slim’s music kept me all the way away from the N.O. streets haha.
Siete- What was the focus of this new project ?
CNC- To continue to build upon what I’ve been doing positively with my energy. I think the music will show how focused and positive I am and that it’s not just a Twitter front.
Siete- We know you have set a foundation earlier in your career with forming Surf Club & working with Hit-Boy what is it like working together now in 2015 after each of you have had your own individual success? Do you guys look back at the years and the grind ,what’s the vibe like when you two are working together?
CNC- Everything is the same musically and personally just more mature. A lot of people think Surf Club broke up but that isn’t true. We weren’t a label we are friends so things happen and you go separate ways but always come back together at home. Everything is all love and fun. I love him.
Siete- We spoke about your tweets earlier and how they seem to hit home a lot and Come off as guidance for the newer generation–I see that you have released a visual book full of tweets and photos called “Life is Good & Generous” how did that come about ?
CNC- The book came about from fans requesting a book so I figured out a way to do it in my own style without having to be an actual author or writer. It’s a motivational coffee table book. Something to look at and get good energy from.
Siete- Again I like to go back to your tweets because they are very interesting,they give an insight to your music. your commentary on certain things are always on point,do you think you’ll have a vlog coming out or have your snapchat turned into more of a wave that documents your movements and the things you go through day to day?
CNC- I wish I could say yes but I’m not say no either. Everything in my life is natural. It’s hard to capture it on snap chat or on camera until I’m at a certain level to have cameras around me all the time. Can’t have cams everywhere yet.
Siete- The music you put out speaks to the young guys of today. There’s a sound for everybody,your music isnt heavily drug related,or flashy you keep it down to earth. The beats you choose your entire wave is very different,you can’t compare Chase n Cashe to anybody out right now. What do you feel separates your sound from everybody else ? What can you credit ?
CNC- The separation is the detail. I tend to talk about the same things as the rappers I was inspired by but I actually went out and lived some of those lyrics they wrote and damn near all the lyrics I write for myself.
I find ways to reflect on what I’ve done and how’s it’s affected me and I try to make it a lifestyle moment to live by musically. You may never live it but you can just relate to it in your own way. I was never the biggest drug dealer but I’ve always been an avid hustler and dot connector. You can tell that I’ve been around in my music.
Chase N Cashe newest project The Heir Up Their 2 is out today featuring Le$,Hit-Boy,BankSkee,& Troy Ave. Download the project from the link below
Words by – Siete F 
