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 Ca$hino Interview
interview 0014 added 11.07.00 words 2-Hip
Ca$hino has just dropped his debut EP 'Power Moves' on Rugged-Style Records, and it has had much acclaim, with loads of airplay on Westwood and other places. The mans even a good friend of the Hitsquad so you know he can't be bad. I caught up with the London MC and MADE him talk.
Cashino - man of the ocean
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So How long you been rapping for, and how did Ca$hino get into all that stuff?
[Ca$hino] I've been rapping since like 83', when I was in Nigeria I was known as Cash-money, but when I got here (London) I had to update myself for 2000, you know still using the word Cash.
Who has helped you along your way, in terms of general help and inspiration?
[Ca$hino] I was inspired by the Hitsquad, I wish they were still as strong as before, for me that was hardcore b-boy shit.
How did you get the break you had on the radio, especially the radio play you got from Westwood?
[Ca$hino] Well you just try and make joints that people could feel. I took my joints down to Westwood, gave it to him in person and he played it that night, So I respect him for that.
Were you surprised at the radio play you got on Westwood and other places?
[Ca$hino] Yeah plus the track I was expecting to get much airplay didn't. The Underground Nino track was the last one I did in the studio and it got the most airplay. Before Westwood, Jenny Francis on Choice FM played it for like two weeks every week night. Then Westwood blew it up big time you know, I was also invited to Radio one and had the airways for like thirty minutes, that was large.
Was Westwood an arsehole like he has been to past UK MC's he invites to go on the show?
[Ca$hino] Whoever taped the show that night could tell we just blew it the fuck up, so no he was cool. I was up there for 30mins on BBC doing my thing, it was fun and Timmy boy was cool.
The album 'Subterranean', tell the heads who don't know what they can expect?
[Ca$hino] Hardcore beats and rhymes.
The album is being released on CD, something not many UK rappers do, do you think it is important to get your stuff pressed on this format, in terms of sales figures and exposure?
[Ca$hino] Oh yeah CD is very important now you know, its alright doing vinyl for the DJ's which is what I did. Now I've got to put the album on CD and sell units world-wide. Everywhere I go people say, 'I like your E.P, but have you got it on CD.' That's what I hear all the time.
On your E.P 'Power moves' we heard a lot of good featured artists, will they be on the new album, and any release plans for single projects on your label?
[Ca$hino] Yeah when I get clearance, I might release the track 'Power moves' or something. But in terms of making the most, its strictly an album thing right now, then I'll be doing shows all over, including Germany. Yeah I feature a lot of artists on the E.P, now its time to do my own thing, so the album will be more Ca$hino.
Your label, 'rugged-style records', are you planning big things for it in the future?
[Ca$hino] The label is basically for me, you know when major labels start acting up you got to do it yourself. But I've got some distribution thing sorted out so I could bring out some acts. I think a rugged-style records compilation is in the making.
What do you deal with in lyrics, and does what surrounds you influence you much?
[Ca$hino] Like the track 'Power moves', I was dealing with what I see around. A lot of grown people waiting for other people to do things for them, you've got to make a change and do for self, shit like that. Basically though I just kick battle lyrics, its all fun.
Who would you most like to feature on your album (and your not aloud to say EPMD)?
[Ca$hino] M.O.P, I love their joints, rugged shit.
There are loads of unsigned crews out there who will want to know how you did it, so spill em.
[Ca$hino] Basically you've got to invest in yourself, save some money and press up 500 plus tapes and start the whole thing rolling. From, there get into vinyl and so on, If you don't invest in yourself why should someone else?
So what's the worst show you ever did, I expect you like most UK MC's have to deal with the old shit sound system thing?
[Ca$hino] I haven't really had any bad shows, but there was this time we did one at Monroe's in Basildon. It was like an R&B crowd and they were just looking like they had seen a ghost or something when we where spitting, because they didn't seem to have a clue. I hadn't done too many shows at the time, so there wasn't any communication between us and the crowd, the more live shows you do the better.
Cashino gets attcked by some unknown fan, who looks strangly like Eric Sermon
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How can our jams improve in this country? cos 2 often they are piss poor venues.
[Ca$hino] Basically we need a whole change from like the radio DJ's. Most UK acts that perform are doing so to an audience that have never heard the tracks. Really if we get loads of airplay the people in the clubs can identify with the songs and will be more responsive to UK acts. We also need some like UK tour, for UK acts only. These guys at homegrown entertainment organised something in Dingwalls last year, I was glad to be a part of it, it was dope. The crowd knew it was a UK showcase and that's what they got. I think I did like five joints, it was really good, I'd like to see more shows like that across the country, not just in London.
What are your current thoughts and feelings on the UK scene as a whole?
[Ca$hino] There are a lot of hot rappers in the UK scene now, also with dope beats. We still have that big problem of radio airplay, although I got over 60mins worth of airplay combined. As a whole the UK scene isn't right in terms of airplay and that's really important, maybe a solution would be to have three to four rap DJ's on each radio station, young DJ's at that. Then maybe when some of the current DJ's won't be so comfortable. Right now the current DJ's don't have competition which is very bad, they think they are gods or something you know.
Who in the UK scene are you most feeling at the moment?
[Ca$hino] Iceberg Slimm, Wild Flower, Rodney P, some kids who's working with Skitz, can't remember his name but damn he's real nice on the mic. A whole bunch of other peeps that I can't remember right now.
Who do you hate most of all in the hiphop scene, like who do you think is fucking it up?
[Ca$hino] Anyone who makes wack music is fucking it up, no one in particular. But YO the daytime DJ's really need to play more UK hiphop.
Some people, including me have mentioned that you rap in a slight US accent.
[Ca$hino] Yeah I hear what you saying about the American accent thing, some people say that certain words I use are from that, yeah its true. The question is what should a UK artist sound like??? Rodney P??? He's been here all his life and he's from the West Indies & you can tell in his raps.
I'm from Africa where we follow the American culture heavily and I was back in this country when I was like 18 years old, so I haven't got a typical English accent anyway and what do we hear on the radio all the time, American rap all day.
Maybe if I had West Indian parents and I was here all my life, I might have a tradition English accent which you'd easily recognise. Saying all this, I still take your point that some UK rappers go over board, but believe I'm not one of them, you don't hear me saying yo son, yo son through my records. I just use words that are recognised on both sides, UK/ US.
Well I'd like to thank Ca$hino for his time and giving honest answers. Watch out for this kid as hes going to release the album soon, but if you havent got it yet, go get his 'Power Moves' EP out NOW.
To hear some tracks by Cashino go to getoutthere
 
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