Interview with Baton Rouge Rapper – Cage

Cage grew up in South Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In one of the roughest neighborhoods in the entire city. It’s the same neighborhood as Boosie and Kevin Gates. Cage has a very aggressive rap style filled with reality and his life story. He is currently working on his first album which is still untitled, and shooting a new for a July release date.

How long have you been in the music business and how did you get started in the first place?

Cage: I’ve been in the music business on and off for a while. I started at the age of 16. My big cousin influenced me to wanna rap. Over time I gave it up. Just recent as last year I picked up my pen again after my little cousin was killed due to gun violence. This rap game aint what is use to be and we were planning to bring it back home. I guess now I’ll do it for him.

Who were your first and strongest musical influences that you can remember?

Cage: Tupac, 8Ball & MJG, Biggie, Three 6 Mafia, Ludacris, Too Short, Ice Cube, etc a lot of up north cats, its really too many to name. I have always been a fan.

Which artists are you currently listening to? And is there anyone of these that you’d like to collaborate with?

Cage:To truly be honest I only catch songs on the radio. I listen to tracks more than anything. I barely listen to myself. As far as collabs im willing to work with anyone trying to work with me.

Where does the moniker CAGE come from?

Cage: That’s simply my name. I take pride in my family name so I ran with it.

What do you think separates you from the crowd of emcees emerging right now?

Cage: The game watered down. When I give my story over a track that’s exactly what it is. My story! People use to listen to reality rap, now they just wanna move to a beat. I feel as tho I have to give the world me, not what they wanna hear.

Which do you ultimately prefer? Entertaining a live audience or creating songs in a studio setting?

Cage: I perfer just to make music. It really doesn’t matter where I’m at. As long as the message gets across, I’m good. They both have they perks though. On stage, you can see the people rocking with you and in the yo, you get to really put together the message.

If you were forced to choose only one, which emotion, more than any other drives you to be a part of this highly competitive business day after day?

Cage: Aggravation.

What would you consider a successful or high point in your career so far?

Cage: Making it to see 26 with no convictions is my biggest accomplishment. Anything other than that is just been me and surviving life in my environment. I refuse to feel as if I have accomplished anything still living in the hood.

Tell us something about your lyrics and music production on your releases. Which part of these processes do you handle yourself, and which do you outsource generally?

Cage: My lyrics are all my life stories. I go through pain and problems like everyone else. The difference is I have a talent that allows me to tell the world. I WRITE ALL MY OWN LYRICS, HOOKS, VERSES, EVERTYHING.

What do you feel your listeners should get out of your music?

Cage: My listener should get a sense of understanding from my point of view as well as others who cant speak for themselves. Growing up in a single parent home, the projects, the slums, over crowded apts etc, I give the game as I have saw it from my eyes. I want to show them there is a better way and way out.

What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music so far?

Cage: I buried my little cousin the day before his 24^th birthday

Which aspect of being an independent artist and the music making process excites you most and which aspect discourages you most?

Cage: What excites me is the fact Im free to create what I feel. I can just be me. What discourages is the direction that the music industry is taking. Will my music be heard and received as it should?

How do you market and manage your music career? Do you have a management team or do you control everything by yourself?

Cage: I have been doing everything on my own. As of late I have been receiving advice from a neighborhood friend.

If you had the opportunity to change one thing about the music business, what would that be?

Cage: Ghost Writing. No one should be getting paid for someone else’s work. Where is the soul in that?

If someone has never heard your music, which keywords would you personally use to describe your overall sound and style?

Cage: Baton Rouge, Real, Reality Rap, Emotional

Do you consider Internet and all the social media websites as fundamental in building a career in music today, and what is your personal relationship with the new technology at hand?

Cage: The internet is the outlet for all things these days. Me personally, I’m not a fan. The internet can also manipulate and influence in a negative way. I grew up on books and person to person interaction for information.

Tell us something about your release and where fans can find it.

Cage: Right now I have a single on Itunes, Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music, and Google Play. Just search Cage ft. Money Boy “Fold Under Pressure”. It’s the lead single for One Life Entertainment Music Group compilation album titled “Let’s Eat”. Album available everywhere April 5th.

What is your relation with visual media and YouTube etc. Have you released any videos clips for fans to see?

Cage: I have a video on youtube. “Go Dumb” Jhonni Cage & Cage. A family collab and I got the “Fold Under Pressure” video we just finished shooting with my new label.