July 29, 2025 • 34 mins
Brooklyn, NY native/recording artist, Kai Ca$h, sits down with DJ Smallz for over 34 minutes, opening up about his past amongst a variety of topics. This interview was filmed on 4/15/25.
This interview contains opinions and ideas of the interviewee. It is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The viewer or listener should seek the services of a competent professional for expert assistance or professional advice. Reference to any organization, publication or website does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the interviewee or the interviewer. The interviewee and the interviewer specifically disclaim any and all liability arising directly or indirectly from the use or application of any information contained in this interview.
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(00:00):
Now, what is your opinion on ad libs in a song?
This is a very funny question tome because I don't do no ad libs
and none of my songs. I don't know if somebody told
you about that, but I actually do like ad libs and I think I'm
going to begin doing ad libs sooner or later.
But I I like ad libs a lot. I feel like for a lot of
(00:23):
people's careers, ad libs has made like certain artists that
we love. Like we can name a bunch of
different artists that have impeccable ad libs.
Some of our favorite songs we remember because of ad libs.
So I definitely, I fuck with ad libs a lot.
I just gotta, I've been trying to find my pocket with ad libs.
I haven't found the pockets yet.So I just don't.
I think I overthink it a lot, but I like ad libs a lot.
(00:45):
Now, have people noticed that you don't implement ad libs up
until this point in your music career?
Yeah. I think everybody has noticed
that I don't implement ad libs. It's funny that I had a
conversation with Don Cannon about putting ad libs in my
music. He was like, Nah, just stick to
what you're doing now so people can realize it.
(01:07):
And then later down the line when you start putting ad libs,
it's like, oh shit, he's finallydoing it.
So people have definitely realized though, it's funny.
It's always a funny conversation.
And what's been the reaction from other recording artists or
producers that have noticed this, and then also other
listeners that have noticed thatas well?
I think all the reactions are the same every time I finish a
(01:27):
verse or something like that because I usually like to do 1
take. I don't, I don't like to do in
and outs. I don't like to do double SI,
just like the pure lead vocal. And everybody's usually just
like why you don't do no ad libs?
You don't think it'll liven it up?
And I'm just like, I'm cool. It's usually some pushback, but
for the most part I'm pretty stern on how I feel about
(01:48):
something. So it's just like, I feel you,
but I'm not putting no ad libs on the song.
Now, anything else on the subject of ad libs while we're
at it. I'm having some ad libs so real
song other than that now. Now someone you referenced here
was Don Cannon who's part of theimprint Generation Now and you
(02:13):
are sporting a chain and pendantthat says generation now as well
during this interview. But let's talk about that for a
minute here. What's it really like being on
that imprint? I think a lot for me is fire
because I'm a real student of the game, so it's like I grew up
listening to Cannon and Drum being there.
(02:35):
It's like for me, just living out the childhood dream that
I've always had of being at an imprint, a label with some heavy
hitters that are like still monsters and just to see how
much they're still like on theirA game 20 years later.
It's so crazy to me. But it even being in the studio
(02:56):
angle a lot, it's like being in high school.
Damn, man. You run into so many different
artists and A&R is execs, peoplethat I've known from that long.
It's just like full circle moments and things of that
nature, but it's really like it's a dream come true.
Like that's that's the best way I can put it for myself.
I love it over there. Now, Speaking of those two, DJ
(03:17):
Drama and Don Cannon, do you recall the first mix tape from
DJ Drama? Maybe the first song Don Cannon
produced way back when. That's crazy.
The first song, the first time Iheard Cannon's tag was Go Crazy.
The remix though, with Hold on It, the first time I really
tapped into drama was I think itwas dedication three.
(03:43):
I was really young at the time. It's probably like O eight O 9
and I heard Dedication 3 and I really like that's when I really
started paying attention to gangsta grills and DJ Drama.
Like I'm pretty sure I heard thetag before, but Dedication 3 is
when I I really started tuning into the whole gangsta grills
wave and seeing how important he's been to the culture because
I started seeing and hearing gangsta grills and DJ dramas
(04:05):
name everywhere for real right after that.
Now, when it comes to GenerationNow and that imprint there, who
do you have the closest bond with?
Now? This could be somebody in front
of the scenes like you, like another recording artist on that
imprint. Or this could be somebody behind
the scenes like, you know, maybean employee of the label and
things of that nature. My closest connection right now
(04:27):
will have to be with Canon and then Joe.
It's Canon and Joe. Yeah, Joe's right here.
Yeah. I can't see Joe.
He is off. Camera to the side.
Of but now, yeah, it's Canon andJoe for sure.
And did you know either of thesepeople personally prior to
signing with GN? No.
No relationship whatsoever. And what's that bond like with
both of you 2? Are you able to describe that?
(04:52):
For me, and Canon is funny because Canon is like a Big
Brother in the industry for me, like he looks out for my
personal interests. He gives me advice when it comes
to my relationship to music, to,you know, when I'm feeling like
discouraged and just out of whack.
(05:12):
And it's like having a, a, a super mentor, a big bro in the,
in the, in the whole industry, which is somebody that's also
super legendary in the industry.So when I'm outside with him and
I get the chance to see how muchlove he gets, it's always like,
Nah, this is fine. Even though you did a totally
different thing than I did, I definitely aspire to be the type
(05:32):
of legend you are. And as far as with Joe, Joe
comes from a place of also beingan artist before he was an A&R.
And I get the chance to see how how far I can take it with
somebody that I just kind of metnot too long ago.
But seeing how much they care for me and my craft and my
(05:53):
profession and they they see thepotential in me and just
bringing the potential to life. So for me and Joe, it's kind of
like the same thing. He's just like a big bro in a
whole different way though. Like Canon is more so like music
personal. Joe is like, it's kind of the
same thing, but just different aspects of because Joe's music
personal as well, but it's like,I've been in your shoes before.
(06:14):
Let's do this, but also checkingon a personal.
So they both like big Bros in two different ways.
Now, hypothetically speaking, ifyou were stranded on an island.
With. One person from generation Now
Who would it be and why? Damn, damn damn.
(06:43):
Could be anybody on the imprint front of the scenes.
Behind the scenes. One person stranded on an
island. This is a crazy question.
One person, one person stranded.I got to take everything into
consideration. Eating, survival tactics, being
able to create. And I want to create.
(07:05):
Tom Hanks and castaway vibes. I'm a probably have to say damn,
might have to be late. And why Lake of all those
people? On Lake Lake, Lake's mind is
different. I feel like Lake will find us a
way if we're sharing on the island.
(07:27):
Like I'll be able to hold my own, but I feel like Lake will
be able to hold his own in a waythat's like far beyond what I'm
even thinking about. So I'm at the same lake.
OK, now let's rewind to Canon here for a second.
Yeah, when it comes to him, what's it really like working
with him? He's super like intentional.
(07:52):
I feel like Canon, he doesn't really care about much outside
of the music. Like whatever the product is,
whatever the project is, he's super passionate about it.
Any time I need can and he'll pull up to the studio and he's
like super hands on with whatever I kind of need his help
with. But even outside of me, like
when I'm getting a chance to be in his sessions with producers
or anything he has going on, it's just like you get the
(08:14):
chance to see how serious he is about everything that he truly
believes in. And that's what has, you know,
gotten him this far. I see a lot of myself, even
though I'm younger, I see a lot of myself in Canon because we
kind of we kind of operate the same way where it's just like if
it don't got nothing to do with what we want to push for it, we
(08:35):
really just don't care. It's, you know, it's a gift and
a curse. But I think that's probably why
we click so much because I feel like we're kind of similar in so
many different ways. But Canon and his work ethic is
just it's impeccable. And to to hear his stories and
see how many people work under Canon.
And it's just like for him, it'sjust like, I just want to see
all my people win it. It's always a great a a great
(09:00):
feeling to be, for one, a part of this imprint and to be able
to witness that because it's it's people that a lot of people
may not even know. Like Canon has had, you know,
hands in developing some of the the most legendary artist
producers, so on and so forth. And for him, it's just like,
yeah, to me, that's the coolest thing ever.
Now with all that being said, overall, zooming out, would you
(09:22):
say he's easy to work with or? Tough.
Nah. He's easy to work with.
He's not tough. He's a he's a, he's a tough
music critic. I give you that.
You don't want to handle bullshit.
The shit is weak. He's definitely going to either
tell you or he's not going to say anything at all.
But he's the he's easy to work with.
Not out of all of his characteristics, what do you
(09:43):
enjoy the most about him? Definitely his humor, like a big
kid in all honesty. Like that's why I said it's like
high school. So many elements to that
building in itself. Even the people there, it's just
like you really in high school. And how would you describe that
sense of humor he has? Is that like a dry sense?
It's like. Not it's like it's like a a
(10:05):
young *** you in school with type of sense of humor, like one
of your teammates or something like that.
You know, I don't even feel likehe older than me when I'm like
when we joking because it's likeyou know what to say, you know
what not to say, You know what'skind of in for the younger ***
you know, You know when you getting a little old with your
jokes, it's just like it's just super funny.
And just to be fair here, on theopposite end of the spectrum,
(10:28):
yeah. What's the characteristic of Don
Cannon you can't stand? I don't think I got to that
space yet. I'm uncovering what that is.
And winding down the questions about him here, what's the best
advice you received from him or most important thing you learned
being around him so far? Just stay the course, stay
(10:53):
focused. But the craziest thing is the
other day I had a conversation with him about what I was going
through just mentally and he waslike, yo, like, I get it.
I understand it. You're in a space right now
where it's just like life changing.
You're going through a lot of different emotions, but cherish
this exact moment because sooner, sooner than later,
you're going to wish you was able to, you know, feel the way
(11:15):
you felt today when it's just like it's on for real.
And aside from this new project that is set to release Cash
Rules, how many unreleased songsdo you have just with his beats
behind? I might have reached the 100th
mark on unreleased Don Cannon beats this year alone.
(11:38):
I think I've reached 404 hundredunreleased songs.
But I I might this is this mightbe like I might be going under
with 100. I ain't going to lie, because I
work with Candace so well, it's just like I'll send him an idea,
he'll send it back to me the same day.
Vice versa, I'll send him the verse back the day.
I get the idea and we have so many records.
(12:00):
It might it. I'm going to say at least 100 at
least. Now, Speaking of songs, what's
been your biggest song so far inyour music catalog?
Today is the West featuring O3 Greedo and King Kong's, but it's
currently it's being battle tested by this other song called
(12:22):
Helen Keller featuring CEO Trial.
Shout out to Trial. And why do you say, why do you
name each of those songs as yourbiggest at this point?
What's the metric scale? There literally just metrics.
But I'm going to lie a lot of the time, even being a part of
Jen now, right now, like all theinterviews and things of that
nature that I've done, a lot of people Remember Me and know me
(12:43):
from the West, which for me is just super legendary.
Like I don't ever look back at it.
Like, oh man, that song is old. Like, Nah, is is is working on
his way to being Thomas. If I can get a Thomas record out
of that, that would be amazing. But it's definitely how much it
has inspired people to tap into who I am.
(13:04):
Now, in regards to either of these songs here, yeah, are
there any unknown facts or stories that's never been
publicly mentioned before? Damn.
When it comes to either creatingthem, recording them, or
releasing those songs. I feel like I, I'm, I'm so
comfortable in telling these stories for the West.
(13:26):
I would say a story that people might not know is before Greedo
turned itself in, we was at a video shoot.
And my dad, he was like, he was damn near begging us.
He was like, yo can let just letme fly out to New York.
Yeah, shoot this video with whoever's the fuck y'all can
find before he goes to jail. Make it a bigger moment.
I didn't listen. I wish I had listened, but
(13:48):
that's probably the craziest story.
And Greedo and my pops that got into it that night as well.
It was funny. I probably just drove a Maybach.
Greedo was kind of coming out ofa spot and he was real close
coming out of the spot, and everybody just made a big thing
out of it and they had got into it back and forth.
But they ended up seeing each other the next day at some title
(14:09):
event and they kind of like, ***what's up?
They made-up. It was cool though, but that's
the fun fact about that song that I might not ever told
nobody. And for Helen Keller, Helen
Keller might have been my secondsession with CEO Trail.
We recorded that song and maybe like 2020, he was kind of on me
(14:31):
to put it out for a minute. We had so many songs.
I didn't really know if I wantedto put that one out.
But he was right. I kid you not.
I don't know what the vision was, but he's like, bro, just
put this song and I'm telling you.
And once he did it, it was just like it was.
It was up from there. Now, can you explain to the
(14:53):
audience, yeah, everything they need to know about cash?
Rules, cash rules started off asthe commencement.
I'm not even going to go deeper into that discussion, but that
was the first title of the project and I kind of got swayed
away from that idea, that title.It was just like, a lot of ***
(15:16):
ain't even going to understand what that word means.
I just didn't feel like dealing with, you know, the, the
politics behind all of that. So in the process of us figuring
out what the name of my first project would be, we might have
came up with some of the shittiest names ever.
I don't remember them all, but Iknow one day we just sitting in
(15:38):
the studio and I'm just like, oh, cash rules everything around
me. You know, cream is just the
first thing, but I'm just like, cash rules.
What the And then there's just like a whole light bulb and it's
basically it was it was easy forme because of course my name is
Kai Cash, simple and plain, but deeper than that.
Cash is like a filler word. Cash being anything kind of you
(16:00):
deem important, whatever helps you get through your day-to-day,
whatever rules in your life for this family, faith, creativity,
you know, art, passion. Cash is just the filler word for
that. So I just made it, you know,
relatable to everybody else outside of, you know, me too, in
my own horn and saying I rule. Now, do you consider this body
of work an album or a mixtape here?
(16:22):
What's the difference these days?
This like AEP mixtape album? I feel like it's all kind of the
same shit nowadays with DS PS But I must say it's a mixtape
because with my album I'm going to be a lot more intentional and
and thematic. So yeah, I'm I'll give it, I'll
give it a mixtape. Now when it comes to mixtapes,
(16:44):
some have a DJ host them, some don't.
In this Case, No DJ. Not yet.
I wasn't ready for the Gangster Grill show just yet.
I feel like it's just cliche. I just signed in your first
project because it's DJ Drama onit.
Don Cannon produced all the beats.
It's like, come on. But has that been something
that's been talked about? Yeah, a lot, but not it's like
(17:05):
it's talked about a lot with people that are not in the
situation like yo, you need to get A tag and you need to like,
no chill, I know what I'm doing.Relax, let's just drop first.
But what about within the organization?
Has there been any talk of a gangster grills or so on and so
forth. John keeps thinking I'm a
because I keep telling him I want to do a gangster grills.
(17:26):
He's like, yeah, the happy artist that gets here.
They say that and then they get too big and they never do the
gangster grills. I want to do the gangster grills
my next project. So we're going to do the
Gangster grills my next project.And your reference to this
earlier, but just for clarification here for those in
the audience, this is your debutproject under Generation.
(17:47):
Facts. I'm super hype.
Now as far as the artwork here, can you explain the concept
behind that? So really like my moniker has
always been the elegant fella, right?
And I just peeped when I shot that cover art, like most of my
cover art is with me in a suit sitting down somewhere.
(18:07):
I think it just like second nature became my vibe.
But it's like it just felt luxurious.
It felt rich me sitting in that chair, me having a suit on the
way I'm sitting. I actually had money tucked in
my in my suit jacket and I had money in my hand while I was
sitting down. And we had a bunch of other
shots. I'm going to release mad at the
(18:28):
photos from the shoot, but it was just like more of a
aesthetically pleasing, aesthetically definitive type of
photo. Then they're like, Oh yeah, we
did this for that and that it wasn't all that extra shit.
It was really like this felt fly.
This felt luxurious. It felt like with the project
sound like this will be running with.
(18:49):
Now in regards to this body of work, are there any unknown
facts or stories never publicly mentioned before here could be
in regards to creating it, recording it, or releasing it?
Cash rules were supposed to comeout in July, right?
(19:10):
We had a single, we had a, we had a great single.
Oh my gosh. I'm not going to mention who
didn't clear it, but they didn'tclear it.
We had to move forward and that pushed the project back a few
months, damn near a year. Come to find out, it was a lot
of songs that I had on the project that needed clearance.
You know, it was, it was just a lot of limbo.
(19:31):
I didn't know nothing about this.
I'm new to the systems. I was just putting shit out.
So for me, it's just like, damn,I'm making these fire songs and
I'm just getting hit left and right.
Gut punches and me and Canon still to this day be trying to
get that single some life, but it just it I don't think it it
(19:53):
it's going to ever work. It never works.
Whenever we play it, it's the wrong version because we
replayed it all types of shit and it's just like one day it'll
probably come out. But I think that was like the
foundation of the whole Cash Rules project.
That one song is it sparked a lot in the generation now
building. And then there was just like,
well, good thing I know how to make good music.
(20:14):
We got past it. I didn't get past it, but.
We got passed. So in all essence, this project
was supposed to release in 2024?Yeah, not 2025.
Now we got a video shot for the song and everything good as
video, but yeah. So what did you take away from
that experience zooming out? If I'm a sample something, try
(20:37):
to get it cleared first and justkeep creating.
I didn't think that was my Best Song.
But the reception in this industry is like, it's not about
what you think is your Best Song.
It's about what everybody else thinks is your Best Song.
So for me, it was just like, I just keep making good at some
music. That was really that was that
was pretty much it. I was mad as hell though,
because that video is filed. I'm going to do something with
(20:58):
it one day. Now, are there any other unknown
facts here? Any other secrets, Easter eggs?
No one knows publicly yet that you'd like to share in regards
to this body of work here. Not really.
(21:24):
Not really. Nah.
Now, as far as the length of this project, there are 10
tracks. Why that particular number
there? Initially it was 12.
I remember why we dialed back and made it 10 to keep it 100.
(21:44):
I think some of the other songs that I wanted to put on there,
it just, it just either clearance problems or just
didn't fit the bill. Yeah, I don't know.
That's a good I don't know. And this track list who put that
order together. I think we all collaborated
minds like the whole team. Me Joe My Manager V Lake Canon
(22:14):
Yeah, we kind of like we a lot of the songs that are on there
right now were already songs that were on the project.
You know, the swap outs. It was just like if we swapped
out number three from the original, we just swapped it
with another song that we felt like can be #3 so on and so
forth. And how long did that process
take? Just the track list order
itself. Shit, after dealing with the,
(22:37):
the clearance shit, it was like,I, I would say it was, it was
like months at a time because I,I, I make so much music every
day and I, I got an untitled link that I share with Joe and
Cannon and Lake and every time Iput a new song in it, they like,
no, we need to put this song on a project.
And I love all my music, the same stuff.
(22:58):
For me, it's just like, all right.
Then it's just like, Nah, Nah, Nah, I'm like, all right.
Then it's just like, all right, I can't do this no more because
we'll be picking new songs forever.
The project will never come out.And was there any sort of,
excuse me strategy to this tracklist?
Like there are some artists thathave kind of like a roller
coaster and up and down field with a body of work.
(23:18):
Sometimes for others it's a story and one song has to come
before another to fit that journey.
Outside of the intro and outro, like the intro, I already knew
that I wanted that to be the first song.
The outro I already knew. I knew I wanted that to be the
last song. Everything else, like the body
of it, it was more so in the beginning it was strictly like
(23:40):
rap records. I might have had one commercial
esque record or maybe even 2. And as time progressed and we
started going through the process a little bit deeper, we
started to kind of dial back andpick certain songs for certain
pockets. Like this song will be received
well in this space and these twosongs define who I am as an
(24:04):
artist. And this song is like a pocket
out of this world we might not have ever thought we can be a
part of. And the rest of these are just
like great fillers that also define who I am.
So I think it was more so leading with the intro and the
outro to building the story in between it.
But it's not really like we didn't really have a a super
(24:26):
duper strategy with it. Now, out of all 10, what's your
favorite song on this body of work?
I got a few for real. Yeah, I'm not going to.
Yeah, I got a few right now. What you want is my favorite
song, Handsome Hustler Cartier Santos Mentally, Yeah, the whole
(24:51):
project for real. But I'm going to put in the in
the order. My top 3 is what you want,
Handsome Hustler Cartier Santos.And care to share what what you
want is about for those that mayhave seen the track the artwork
but haven't pressed play yet? What you want is basically like
a manifestation affirmation typeof record.
It's just like going out there and just working your ass off at
(25:14):
whatever you do and really goingto get what you want because of
what you do is just enjoying thefruits of your labor.
For real. That's what you want and it's
just like a player, luxurious type of vibe.
Little twang I put on it, it just feel good.
It feels very good actually. It's like it's like a mantra
music. And what makes that the top of
your list there? Why number one for you?
(25:36):
The production, as soon as I heard the beat, like off Rent,
it spoke to me. It's like so beautifully molded.
And then I kind of give myself credit with a little bit of
executive production with the hook.
I kind of just tailored this this thing with what you want
chant is in the background. People probably think that it
was already in the beat. Nope.
I did that myself because he's not even saying what you want in
(25:58):
the sample. I thought he was saying what you
want in the sample. He's talking about something
about love in the sample, but it's all about perspective.
So what you want. It was just like, it was a
process that was kind of new to me, having a kind of executive
producer record on my own without nobody knowing, but also
just tailoring my lyrics and hook.
(26:19):
I don't really like doing hooks.If you listen to any of my
music, it's just like, you know,I'm getting better with time,
but I have not ever really been like a super hook person.
That was one of my my better hooks and it just ended up being
one of my favorite hooks at the time too.
What is it about hooks? They just don't come easy to
you. It's a challenge for you.
(26:40):
It's just something you don't like that.
I I like to really rap and get shit off.
I don't like being repetitive. So for me, you see it was one of
them records where it's just like everybody's like this shit
is hard. I'm just like, no, it's not.
It's not. I don't really.
It's cool. Like all my sessions I do, the
first song I record is usually like a practice shot that just
(27:01):
so happened to be the first songI recorded in my session that
day. And I'm repeating myself because
it just, it's just how it felt like.
It just felt like I needed to repeat myself on this beat.
Lo and behold, that shit is fire.
And the more I listened to it, it was just like, oh, Nah, I see
what everybody was saying. I could be a little bit more
repetitive in mind. You know, it's how you catch
(27:21):
people. People say it to like people say
you see it when they see me. People tell me like they'll DM
me and be like, you see it and it's just like, oh, OK, I see it
for real now. I see.
It is there any unorthodox songson this projects?
Some like a song with no hook, asong with a weird number of
bars. Intro Outro, My train of thought
(27:45):
Prime. That's pretty much it.
Everything else is every every other record is a real song.
Now, favorite or not here, what's your most honest song on
this project? My train of thought, the intro
and. Can you shed some light on what
that song is about there? Yeah, so craziest thing about
(28:06):
that song is there's a I don't know if I can speak on other
platforms, but it's it's a platform called My Train of
Thought that gets ran out of NewYork.
And the person that runs that platform, we have been in
conversation back and forth. She wanted to get me on the
show. Canon has sent me a beat.
I literally wrote the whole song.
It's like 3 minutes to me just rapping.
I wrote it for that platform, but the verse is about like my
(28:33):
process and and my journey of like being respected but feeling
like the underdog, but also likenot having to endure the same
pains that are so cliche. Like your teacher telling you
you're not going to be shit. Like I didn't have to deal with
none of that. I dealt with different types of
pains and it was from a space and place of like, my pain is
(28:54):
pain just as much as the ordinary pain we hear.
And even recording it, it was just like, it's how I'm
delivering it. My hunger is pain in itself.
So that's really why I feel likeit's the most honest.
I really got off on it. I start to finish is really just
me just giving y'all the purest version of who Kai Cash is right
(29:15):
now and how he got there. Now there are 4 features on this
project. Yeah.
What's your favorite out of the four?
Mentally unstable. It would have to be mentally
unstable because it's a posse cut.
It's like to go back to the question about an unorthodox
record. I didn't count it as unorthodox,
but it is kind of unorthodox because it's a posse cut.
(29:37):
It's it's three of us total on asong and it's just like 3
totally different energies, 3 totally different topics.
But *** it's just coming crazy pause.
It's just like we just kind of went digital and it just it's
like every verse feud the next verse.
(29:57):
So I would have to say that's myfavorite join on there right
now. And was that recorded with all
of you in the same session? Yeah, and the crazier part about
it is I had got the beat maybe like 2 months before we did it
and I just didn't know how to pop pop it off on the beat.
And but this is going to be whenthe album is out already trail.
(30:21):
He I just like, yo, you like this beat.
He heard the beat. He like, yo, this beat is crazy.
I'm like, *** go record. He like, I bet he just went in
and he recorded. Soon as he got finished, it came
to me easy. I'm like, yes, this is what I
needed. I knew I needed somebody to help
me with this one. So it was just like me sitting
on the beat for so long, figuring out what to do with it,
(30:44):
but not giving up on it. It turned out to be one of them
ones on the project. Y'all gonna hear it?
But with that description where you said you know one leads to
another and another did, did onefeel like OK after all these
verses were recorded, I need to go back and fix mine so I can
come harder? You know, it's crazy.
And someone else saying the samething and.
Nah, but nothing each other. It's it's so many different
(31:05):
energies and it's like differentspaces.
When you hear each verse, it's like you're in a different
place. So nobody felt slighted in no
way, shape or form. It was just like, well, now you
got off, but I got off too and it was just like it's, it's,
it's a part of the sport. Now, can you give the audience 5
reasons to listen to this mix tape?
(31:26):
For one, I'm putting you on gameof RIP.
I feel like I am bringing a feeling forward.
I'm not bringing nothing back. I hate when people ask me from
bringing no was in the past was in the past.
What I'm bringing forward is something that we are missing.
We are losing and missing recipes.
I am a very special ingredient, which might not sound like, oh,
that's captivating enough, but you don't know what you like
(31:47):
until you hear it. I got a feeling *** is going to
like everything that I'm puttingon the table.
I'm not one of them like super rappy rap *** That's just like,
oh, you're doing too much like no, it's a vibe.
The women are going to like it. Y'all are going to like it.
What's that one thing? Or is that 2 or is that three?
I don't know how many things that is, but outside of that, I
(32:09):
feel like I haven't. I haven't given it a title yet.
I don't know what the way of life is going to be considered
or called, but it's this way of life that I'm presenting with
all my music, all my projects, even the projects that came
before this. And it's like, you know, you get
a when you were a kid and you got like a new toy and you just
beyond wanting to show off, you just want everybody to be like
(32:30):
yo, y'all just need to get this toy.
Like y'all need to get on this game.
Y'all need to get on this toy. Y'all need to get this phone.
Y'all need to get this app. Y'all need to listen to this
project because it's like once y'all finally get the chance to
tune in and understand what I'm putting on the table, what I'm
bringing is up so much value. Y'all are going to fuck with it
off RIP. That's those are just like the
(32:52):
most explicit, real, raw, honestdetails I can give to just have
somebody feel like, you know what, let me give it a try.
And I'm really, I'm really nice.Like I'm really like that.
I feel like I'm better than everybody.
I feel like that alone should just make you want to listen
just to just to test it out for yourself.
Like no, no, he's not. Or you're going to be like, Oh,
yeah, no, yeah, that's, that's that's really the top answer.
(33:16):
I'm smiling, but I'm dead ass serious.
Like I'm smoking everything off of it.
And I'm, and I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm very confident in that.
That might be the top reason whysomebody want to listen to me.
Everybody all day always want togo against Oh, no, he's not.
Listen to it. And if you feel like I'm not,
that's cool. You still listen to that
(33:38):
motherfucker?
Now, what is your opinion on ad libs in a song?
This is a very funny question tome because I don't do no ad libs
and none of my songs. I don't know if somebody told
you about that, but I actually do like ad libs and I think I'm
going to begin doing ad libs sooner or later.
But I I like ad libs a lot. I feel like for a lot of
(00:23):
people's careers, ad libs has made like certain artists that
we love. Like we can name a bunch of
different artists that have impeccable ad libs.
Some of our favorite songs we remember because of ad libs.
So I definitely, I fuck with ad libs a lot.
I just gotta, I've been trying to find my pocket with ad libs.
I haven't found the pockets yet.So I just don't.
I think I overthink it a lot, but I like ad libs a lot.
(00:45):
Now, have people noticed that you don't implement ad libs up
until this point in your music career?
Yeah. I think everybody has noticed
that I don't implement ad libs. It's funny that I had a
conversation with Don Cannon about putting ad libs in my
music. He was like, Nah, just stick to
what you're doing now so people can realize it.
(01:07):
And then later down the line when you start putting ad libs,
it's like, oh shit, he's finallydoing it.
So people have definitely realized though, it's funny.
It's always a funny conversation.
And what's been the reaction from other recording artists or
producers that have noticed this, and then also other
listeners that have noticed thatas well?
I think all the reactions are the same every time I finish a
(01:27):
verse or something like that because I usually like to do 1
take. I don't, I don't like to do in
and outs. I don't like to do double SI,
just like the pure lead vocal. And everybody's usually just
like why you don't do no ad libs?
You don't think it'll liven it up?
And I'm just like, I'm cool. It's usually some pushback, but
for the most part I'm pretty stern on how I feel about
(01:48):
something. So it's just like, I feel you,
but I'm not putting no ad libs on the song.
Now, anything else on the subject of ad libs while we're
at it. I'm having some ad libs so real
song other than that now. Now someone you referenced here
was Don Cannon who's part of theimprint Generation Now and you
(02:13):
are sporting a chain and pendantthat says generation now as well
during this interview. But let's talk about that for a
minute here. What's it really like being on
that imprint? I think a lot for me is fire
because I'm a real student of the game, so it's like I grew up
listening to Cannon and Drum being there.
(02:35):
It's like for me, just living out the childhood dream that
I've always had of being at an imprint, a label with some heavy
hitters that are like still monsters and just to see how
much they're still like on theirA game 20 years later.
It's so crazy to me. But it even being in the studio
(02:56):
angle a lot, it's like being in high school.
Damn, man. You run into so many different
artists and A&R is execs, peoplethat I've known from that long.
It's just like full circle moments and things of that
nature, but it's really like it's a dream come true.
Like that's that's the best way I can put it for myself.
I love it over there. Now, Speaking of those two, DJ
(03:17):
Drama and Don Cannon, do you recall the first mix tape from
DJ Drama? Maybe the first song Don Cannon
produced way back when. That's crazy.
The first song, the first time Iheard Cannon's tag was Go Crazy.
The remix though, with Hold on It, the first time I really
tapped into drama was I think itwas dedication three.
(03:43):
I was really young at the time. It's probably like O eight O 9
and I heard Dedication 3 and I really like that's when I really
started paying attention to gangsta grills and DJ Drama.
Like I'm pretty sure I heard thetag before, but Dedication 3 is
when I I really started tuning into the whole gangsta grills
wave and seeing how important he's been to the culture because
I started seeing and hearing gangsta grills and DJ dramas
(04:05):
name everywhere for real right after that.
Now, when it comes to GenerationNow and that imprint there, who
do you have the closest bond with?
Now? This could be somebody in front
of the scenes like you, like another recording artist on that
imprint. Or this could be somebody behind
the scenes like, you know, maybean employee of the label and
things of that nature. My closest connection right now
(04:27):
will have to be with Canon and then Joe.
It's Canon and Joe. Yeah, Joe's right here.
Yeah. I can't see Joe.
He is off. Camera to the side.
Of but now, yeah, it's Canon andJoe for sure.
And did you know either of thesepeople personally prior to
signing with GN? No.
No relationship whatsoever. And what's that bond like with
both of you 2? Are you able to describe that?
(04:52):
For me, and Canon is funny because Canon is like a Big
Brother in the industry for me, like he looks out for my
personal interests. He gives me advice when it comes
to my relationship to music, to,you know, when I'm feeling like
discouraged and just out of whack.
(05:12):
And it's like having a, a, a super mentor, a big bro in the,
in the, in the whole industry, which is somebody that's also
super legendary in the industry.So when I'm outside with him and
I get the chance to see how muchlove he gets, it's always like,
Nah, this is fine. Even though you did a totally
different thing than I did, I definitely aspire to be the type
(05:32):
of legend you are. And as far as with Joe, Joe
comes from a place of also beingan artist before he was an A&R.
And I get the chance to see how how far I can take it with
somebody that I just kind of metnot too long ago.
But seeing how much they care for me and my craft and my
(05:53):
profession and they they see thepotential in me and just
bringing the potential to life. So for me and Joe, it's kind of
like the same thing. He's just like a big bro in a
whole different way though. Like Canon is more so like music
personal. Joe is like, it's kind of the
same thing, but just different aspects of because Joe's music
personal as well, but it's like,I've been in your shoes before.
(06:14):
Let's do this, but also checkingon a personal.
So they both like big Bros in two different ways.
Now, hypothetically speaking, ifyou were stranded on an island.
With. One person from generation Now
Who would it be and why? Damn, damn damn.
(06:43):
Could be anybody on the imprint front of the scenes.
Behind the scenes. One person stranded on an
island. This is a crazy question.
One person, one person stranded.I got to take everything into
consideration. Eating, survival tactics, being
able to create. And I want to create.
(07:05):
Tom Hanks and castaway vibes. I'm a probably have to say damn,
might have to be late. And why Lake of all those
people? On Lake Lake, Lake's mind is
different. I feel like Lake will find us a
way if we're sharing on the island.
(07:27):
Like I'll be able to hold my own, but I feel like Lake will
be able to hold his own in a waythat's like far beyond what I'm
even thinking about. So I'm at the same lake.
OK, now let's rewind to Canon here for a second.
Yeah, when it comes to him, what's it really like working
with him? He's super like intentional.
(07:52):
I feel like Canon, he doesn't really care about much outside
of the music. Like whatever the product is,
whatever the project is, he's super passionate about it.
Any time I need can and he'll pull up to the studio and he's
like super hands on with whatever I kind of need his help
with. But even outside of me, like
when I'm getting a chance to be in his sessions with producers
or anything he has going on, it's just like you get the
(08:14):
chance to see how serious he is about everything that he truly
believes in. And that's what has, you know,
gotten him this far. I see a lot of myself, even
though I'm younger, I see a lot of myself in Canon because we
kind of we kind of operate the same way where it's just like if
it don't got nothing to do with what we want to push for it, we
(08:35):
really just don't care. It's, you know, it's a gift and
a curse. But I think that's probably why
we click so much because I feel like we're kind of similar in so
many different ways. But Canon and his work ethic is
just it's impeccable. And to to hear his stories and
see how many people work under Canon.
And it's just like for him, it'sjust like, I just want to see
all my people win it. It's always a great a a great
(09:00):
feeling to be, for one, a part of this imprint and to be able
to witness that because it's it's people that a lot of people
may not even know. Like Canon has had, you know,
hands in developing some of the the most legendary artist
producers, so on and so forth. And for him, it's just like,
yeah, to me, that's the coolest thing ever.
Now with all that being said, overall, zooming out, would you
(09:22):
say he's easy to work with or? Tough.
Nah. He's easy to work with.
He's not tough. He's a he's a, he's a tough
music critic. I give you that.
You don't want to handle bullshit.
The shit is weak. He's definitely going to either
tell you or he's not going to say anything at all.
But he's the he's easy to work with.
Not out of all of his characteristics, what do you
(09:43):
enjoy the most about him? Definitely his humor, like a big
kid in all honesty. Like that's why I said it's like
high school. So many elements to that
building in itself. Even the people there, it's just
like you really in high school. And how would you describe that
sense of humor he has? Is that like a dry sense?
It's like. Not it's like it's like a a
(10:05):
young *** you in school with type of sense of humor, like one
of your teammates or something like that.
You know, I don't even feel likehe older than me when I'm like
when we joking because it's likeyou know what to say, you know
what not to say, You know what'skind of in for the younger ***
you know, You know when you getting a little old with your
jokes, it's just like it's just super funny.
And just to be fair here, on theopposite end of the spectrum,
(10:28):
yeah. What's the characteristic of Don
Cannon you can't stand? I don't think I got to that
space yet. I'm uncovering what that is.
And winding down the questions about him here, what's the best
advice you received from him or most important thing you learned
being around him so far? Just stay the course, stay
(10:53):
focused. But the craziest thing is the
other day I had a conversation with him about what I was going
through just mentally and he waslike, yo, like, I get it.
I understand it. You're in a space right now
where it's just like life changing.
You're going through a lot of different emotions, but cherish
this exact moment because sooner, sooner than later,
you're going to wish you was able to, you know, feel the way
(11:15):
you felt today when it's just like it's on for real.
And aside from this new project that is set to release Cash
Rules, how many unreleased songsdo you have just with his beats
behind? I might have reached the 100th
mark on unreleased Don Cannon beats this year alone.
(11:38):
I think I've reached 404 hundredunreleased songs.
But I I might this is this mightbe like I might be going under
with 100. I ain't going to lie, because I
work with Candace so well, it's just like I'll send him an idea,
he'll send it back to me the same day.
Vice versa, I'll send him the verse back the day.
I get the idea and we have so many records.
(12:00):
It might it. I'm going to say at least 100 at
least. Now, Speaking of songs, what's
been your biggest song so far inyour music catalog?
Today is the West featuring O3 Greedo and King Kong's, but it's
currently it's being battle tested by this other song called
(12:22):
Helen Keller featuring CEO Trial.
Shout out to Trial. And why do you say, why do you
name each of those songs as yourbiggest at this point?
What's the metric scale? There literally just metrics.
But I'm going to lie a lot of the time, even being a part of
Jen now, right now, like all theinterviews and things of that
nature that I've done, a lot of people Remember Me and know me
(12:43):
from the West, which for me is just super legendary.
Like I don't ever look back at it.
Like, oh man, that song is old. Like, Nah, is is is working on
his way to being Thomas. If I can get a Thomas record out
of that, that would be amazing. But it's definitely how much it
has inspired people to tap into who I am.
(13:04):
Now, in regards to either of these songs here, yeah, are
there any unknown facts or stories that's never been
publicly mentioned before? Damn.
When it comes to either creatingthem, recording them, or
releasing those songs. I feel like I, I'm, I'm so
comfortable in telling these stories for the West.
(13:26):
I would say a story that people might not know is before Greedo
turned itself in, we was at a video shoot.
And my dad, he was like, he was damn near begging us.
He was like, yo can let just letme fly out to New York.
Yeah, shoot this video with whoever's the fuck y'all can
find before he goes to jail. Make it a bigger moment.
I didn't listen. I wish I had listened, but
(13:48):
that's probably the craziest story.
And Greedo and my pops that got into it that night as well.
It was funny. I probably just drove a Maybach.
Greedo was kind of coming out ofa spot and he was real close
coming out of the spot, and everybody just made a big thing
out of it and they had got into it back and forth.
But they ended up seeing each other the next day at some title
(14:09):
event and they kind of like, ***what's up?
They made-up. It was cool though, but that's
the fun fact about that song that I might not ever told
nobody. And for Helen Keller, Helen
Keller might have been my secondsession with CEO Trail.
We recorded that song and maybe like 2020, he was kind of on me
(14:31):
to put it out for a minute. We had so many songs.
I didn't really know if I wantedto put that one out.
But he was right. I kid you not.
I don't know what the vision was, but he's like, bro, just
put this song and I'm telling you.
And once he did it, it was just like it was.
It was up from there. Now, can you explain to the
(14:53):
audience, yeah, everything they need to know about cash?
Rules, cash rules started off asthe commencement.
I'm not even going to go deeper into that discussion, but that
was the first title of the project and I kind of got swayed
away from that idea, that title.It was just like, a lot of ***
(15:16):
ain't even going to understand what that word means.
I just didn't feel like dealing with, you know, the, the
politics behind all of that. So in the process of us figuring
out what the name of my first project would be, we might have
came up with some of the shittiest names ever.
I don't remember them all, but Iknow one day we just sitting in
(15:38):
the studio and I'm just like, oh, cash rules everything around
me. You know, cream is just the
first thing, but I'm just like, cash rules.
What the And then there's just like a whole light bulb and it's
basically it was it was easy forme because of course my name is
Kai Cash, simple and plain, but deeper than that.
Cash is like a filler word. Cash being anything kind of you
(16:00):
deem important, whatever helps you get through your day-to-day,
whatever rules in your life for this family, faith, creativity,
you know, art, passion. Cash is just the filler word for
that. So I just made it, you know,
relatable to everybody else outside of, you know, me too, in
my own horn and saying I rule. Now, do you consider this body
of work an album or a mixtape here?
(16:22):
What's the difference these days?
This like AEP mixtape album? I feel like it's all kind of the
same shit nowadays with DS PS But I must say it's a mixtape
because with my album I'm going to be a lot more intentional and
and thematic. So yeah, I'm I'll give it, I'll
give it a mixtape. Now when it comes to mixtapes,
(16:44):
some have a DJ host them, some don't.
In this Case, No DJ. Not yet.
I wasn't ready for the Gangster Grill show just yet.
I feel like it's just cliche. I just signed in your first
project because it's DJ Drama onit.
Don Cannon produced all the beats.
It's like, come on. But has that been something
that's been talked about? Yeah, a lot, but not it's like
(17:05):
it's talked about a lot with people that are not in the
situation like yo, you need to get A tag and you need to like,
no chill, I know what I'm doing.Relax, let's just drop first.
But what about within the organization?
Has there been any talk of a gangster grills or so on and so
forth. John keeps thinking I'm a
because I keep telling him I want to do a gangster grills.
(17:26):
He's like, yeah, the happy artist that gets here.
They say that and then they get too big and they never do the
gangster grills. I want to do the gangster grills
my next project. So we're going to do the
Gangster grills my next project.And your reference to this
earlier, but just for clarification here for those in
the audience, this is your debutproject under Generation.
(17:47):
Facts. I'm super hype.
Now as far as the artwork here, can you explain the concept
behind that? So really like my moniker has
always been the elegant fella, right?
And I just peeped when I shot that cover art, like most of my
cover art is with me in a suit sitting down somewhere.
(18:07):
I think it just like second nature became my vibe.
But it's like it just felt luxurious.
It felt rich me sitting in that chair, me having a suit on the
way I'm sitting. I actually had money tucked in
my in my suit jacket and I had money in my hand while I was
sitting down. And we had a bunch of other
shots. I'm going to release mad at the
(18:28):
photos from the shoot, but it was just like more of a
aesthetically pleasing, aesthetically definitive type of
photo. Then they're like, Oh yeah, we
did this for that and that it wasn't all that extra shit.
It was really like this felt fly.
This felt luxurious. It felt like with the project
sound like this will be running with.
(18:49):
Now in regards to this body of work, are there any unknown
facts or stories never publicly mentioned before here could be
in regards to creating it, recording it, or releasing it?
Cash rules were supposed to comeout in July, right?
(19:10):
We had a single, we had a, we had a great single.
Oh my gosh. I'm not going to mention who
didn't clear it, but they didn'tclear it.
We had to move forward and that pushed the project back a few
months, damn near a year. Come to find out, it was a lot
of songs that I had on the project that needed clearance.
You know, it was, it was just a lot of limbo.
(19:31):
I didn't know nothing about this.
I'm new to the systems. I was just putting shit out.
So for me, it's just like, damn,I'm making these fire songs and
I'm just getting hit left and right.
Gut punches and me and Canon still to this day be trying to
get that single some life, but it just it I don't think it it
(19:53):
it's going to ever work. It never works.
Whenever we play it, it's the wrong version because we
replayed it all types of shit and it's just like one day it'll
probably come out. But I think that was like the
foundation of the whole Cash Rules project.
That one song is it sparked a lot in the generation now
building. And then there was just like,
well, good thing I know how to make good music.
(20:14):
We got past it. I didn't get past it, but.
We got passed. So in all essence, this project
was supposed to release in 2024?Yeah, not 2025.
Now we got a video shot for the song and everything good as
video, but yeah. So what did you take away from
that experience zooming out? If I'm a sample something, try
(20:37):
to get it cleared first and justkeep creating.
I didn't think that was my Best Song.
But the reception in this industry is like, it's not about
what you think is your Best Song.
It's about what everybody else thinks is your Best Song.
So for me, it was just like, I just keep making good at some
music. That was really that was that
was pretty much it. I was mad as hell though,
because that video is filed. I'm going to do something with
(20:58):
it one day. Now, are there any other unknown
facts here? Any other secrets, Easter eggs?
No one knows publicly yet that you'd like to share in regards
to this body of work here. Not really.
(21:24):
Not really. Nah.
Now, as far as the length of this project, there are 10
tracks. Why that particular number
there? Initially it was 12.
I remember why we dialed back and made it 10 to keep it 100.
(21:44):
I think some of the other songs that I wanted to put on there,
it just, it just either clearance problems or just
didn't fit the bill. Yeah, I don't know.
That's a good I don't know. And this track list who put that
order together. I think we all collaborated
minds like the whole team. Me Joe My Manager V Lake Canon
(22:14):
Yeah, we kind of like we a lot of the songs that are on there
right now were already songs that were on the project.
You know, the swap outs. It was just like if we swapped
out number three from the original, we just swapped it
with another song that we felt like can be #3 so on and so
forth. And how long did that process
take? Just the track list order
itself. Shit, after dealing with the,
(22:37):
the clearance shit, it was like,I, I would say it was, it was
like months at a time because I,I, I make so much music every
day and I, I got an untitled link that I share with Joe and
Cannon and Lake and every time Iput a new song in it, they like,
no, we need to put this song on a project.
And I love all my music, the same stuff.
(22:58):
For me, it's just like, all right.
Then it's just like, Nah, Nah, Nah, I'm like, all right.
Then it's just like, all right, I can't do this no more because
we'll be picking new songs forever.
The project will never come out.And was there any sort of,
excuse me strategy to this tracklist?
Like there are some artists thathave kind of like a roller
coaster and up and down field with a body of work.
(23:18):
Sometimes for others it's a story and one song has to come
before another to fit that journey.
Outside of the intro and outro, like the intro, I already knew
that I wanted that to be the first song.
The outro I already knew. I knew I wanted that to be the
last song. Everything else, like the body
of it, it was more so in the beginning it was strictly like
(23:40):
rap records. I might have had one commercial
esque record or maybe even 2. And as time progressed and we
started going through the process a little bit deeper, we
started to kind of dial back andpick certain songs for certain
pockets. Like this song will be received
well in this space and these twosongs define who I am as an
(24:04):
artist. And this song is like a pocket
out of this world we might not have ever thought we can be a
part of. And the rest of these are just
like great fillers that also define who I am.
So I think it was more so leading with the intro and the
outro to building the story in between it.
But it's not really like we didn't really have a a super
(24:26):
duper strategy with it. Now, out of all 10, what's your
favorite song on this body of work?
I got a few for real. Yeah, I'm not going to.
Yeah, I got a few right now. What you want is my favorite
song, Handsome Hustler Cartier Santos Mentally, Yeah, the whole
(24:51):
project for real. But I'm going to put in the in
the order. My top 3 is what you want,
Handsome Hustler Cartier Santos.And care to share what what you
want is about for those that mayhave seen the track the artwork
but haven't pressed play yet? What you want is basically like
a manifestation affirmation typeof record.
It's just like going out there and just working your ass off at
(25:14):
whatever you do and really goingto get what you want because of
what you do is just enjoying thefruits of your labor.
For real. That's what you want and it's
just like a player, luxurious type of vibe.
Little twang I put on it, it just feel good.
It feels very good actually. It's like it's like a mantra
music. And what makes that the top of
your list there? Why number one for you?
(25:36):
The production, as soon as I heard the beat, like off Rent,
it spoke to me. It's like so beautifully molded.
And then I kind of give myself credit with a little bit of
executive production with the hook.
I kind of just tailored this this thing with what you want
chant is in the background. People probably think that it
was already in the beat. Nope.
I did that myself because he's not even saying what you want in
(25:58):
the sample. I thought he was saying what you
want in the sample. He's talking about something
about love in the sample, but it's all about perspective.
So what you want. It was just like, it was a
process that was kind of new to me, having a kind of executive
producer record on my own without nobody knowing, but also
just tailoring my lyrics and hook.
(26:19):
I don't really like doing hooks.If you listen to any of my
music, it's just like, you know,I'm getting better with time,
but I have not ever really been like a super hook person.
That was one of my my better hooks and it just ended up being
one of my favorite hooks at the time too.
What is it about hooks? They just don't come easy to
you. It's a challenge for you.
(26:40):
It's just something you don't like that.
I I like to really rap and get shit off.
I don't like being repetitive. So for me, you see it was one of
them records where it's just like everybody's like this shit
is hard. I'm just like, no, it's not.
It's not. I don't really.
It's cool. Like all my sessions I do, the
first song I record is usually like a practice shot that just
(27:01):
so happened to be the first songI recorded in my session that
day. And I'm repeating myself because
it just, it's just how it felt like.
It just felt like I needed to repeat myself on this beat.
Lo and behold, that shit is fire.
And the more I listened to it, it was just like, oh, Nah, I see
what everybody was saying. I could be a little bit more
repetitive in mind. You know, it's how you catch
(27:21):
people. People say it to like people say
you see it when they see me. People tell me like they'll DM
me and be like, you see it and it's just like, oh, OK, I see it
for real now. I see.
It is there any unorthodox songson this projects?
Some like a song with no hook, asong with a weird number of
bars. Intro Outro, My train of thought
(27:45):
Prime. That's pretty much it.
Everything else is every every other record is a real song.
Now, favorite or not here, what's your most honest song on
this project? My train of thought, the intro
and. Can you shed some light on what
that song is about there? Yeah, so craziest thing about
(28:06):
that song is there's a I don't know if I can speak on other
platforms, but it's it's a platform called My Train of
Thought that gets ran out of NewYork.
And the person that runs that platform, we have been in
conversation back and forth. She wanted to get me on the
show. Canon has sent me a beat.
I literally wrote the whole song.
It's like 3 minutes to me just rapping.
I wrote it for that platform, but the verse is about like my
(28:33):
process and and my journey of like being respected but feeling
like the underdog, but also likenot having to endure the same
pains that are so cliche. Like your teacher telling you
you're not going to be shit. Like I didn't have to deal with
none of that. I dealt with different types of
pains and it was from a space and place of like, my pain is
(28:54):
pain just as much as the ordinary pain we hear.
And even recording it, it was just like, it's how I'm
delivering it. My hunger is pain in itself.
So that's really why I feel likeit's the most honest.
I really got off on it. I start to finish is really just
me just giving y'all the purest version of who Kai Cash is right
(29:15):
now and how he got there. Now there are 4 features on this
project. Yeah.
What's your favorite out of the four?
Mentally unstable. It would have to be mentally
unstable because it's a posse cut.
It's like to go back to the question about an unorthodox
record. I didn't count it as unorthodox,
but it is kind of unorthodox because it's a posse cut.
(29:37):
It's it's three of us total on asong and it's just like 3
totally different energies, 3 totally different topics.
But *** it's just coming crazy pause.
It's just like we just kind of went digital and it just it's
like every verse feud the next verse.
(29:57):
So I would have to say that's myfavorite join on there right
now. And was that recorded with all
of you in the same session? Yeah, and the crazier part about
it is I had got the beat maybe like 2 months before we did it
and I just didn't know how to pop pop it off on the beat.
And but this is going to be whenthe album is out already trail.
(30:21):
He I just like, yo, you like this beat.
He heard the beat. He like, yo, this beat is crazy.
I'm like, *** go record. He like, I bet he just went in
and he recorded. Soon as he got finished, it came
to me easy. I'm like, yes, this is what I
needed. I knew I needed somebody to help
me with this one. So it was just like me sitting
on the beat for so long, figuring out what to do with it,
(30:44):
but not giving up on it. It turned out to be one of them
ones on the project. Y'all gonna hear it?
But with that description where you said you know one leads to
another and another did, did onefeel like OK after all these
verses were recorded, I need to go back and fix mine so I can
come harder? You know, it's crazy.
And someone else saying the samething and.
Nah, but nothing each other. It's it's so many different
(31:05):
energies and it's like differentspaces.
When you hear each verse, it's like you're in a different
place. So nobody felt slighted in no
way, shape or form. It was just like, well, now you
got off, but I got off too and it was just like it's, it's,
it's a part of the sport. Now, can you give the audience 5
reasons to listen to this mix tape?
(31:26):
For one, I'm putting you on gameof RIP.
I feel like I am bringing a feeling forward.
I'm not bringing nothing back. I hate when people ask me from
bringing no was in the past was in the past.
What I'm bringing forward is something that we are missing.
We are losing and missing recipes.
I am a very special ingredient, which might not sound like, oh,
that's captivating enough, but you don't know what you like
(31:47):
until you hear it. I got a feeling *** is going to
like everything that I'm puttingon the table.
I'm not one of them like super rappy rap *** That's just like,
oh, you're doing too much like no, it's a vibe.
The women are going to like it. Y'all are going to like it.
What's that one thing? Or is that 2 or is that three?
I don't know how many things that is, but outside of that, I
(32:09):
feel like I haven't. I haven't given it a title yet.
I don't know what the way of life is going to be considered
or called, but it's this way of life that I'm presenting with
all my music, all my projects, even the projects that came
before this. And it's like, you know, you get
a when you were a kid and you got like a new toy and you just
beyond wanting to show off, you just want everybody to be like
(32:30):
yo, y'all just need to get this toy.
Like y'all need to get on this game.
Y'all need to get on this toy. Y'all need to get this phone.
Y'all need to get this app. Y'all need to listen to this
project because it's like once y'all finally get the chance to
tune in and understand what I'm putting on the table, what I'm
bringing is up so much value. Y'all are going to fuck with it
off RIP. That's those are just like the
(32:52):
most explicit, real, raw, honestdetails I can give to just have
somebody feel like, you know what, let me give it a try.
And I'm really, I'm really nice.Like I'm really like that.
I feel like I'm better than everybody.
I feel like that alone should just make you want to listen
just to just to test it out for yourself.
Like no, no, he's not. Or you're going to be like, Oh,
yeah, no, yeah, that's, that's that's really the top answer.
(33:16):
I'm smiling, but I'm dead ass serious.
Like I'm smoking everything off of it.
And I'm, and I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm very confident in that.
That might be the top reason whysomebody want to listen to me.
Everybody all day always want togo against Oh, no, he's not.
Listen to it. And if you feel like I'm not,
that's cool. You still listen to that
(33:38):
motherfucker?
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