Hyp-Hop Sells – Blu Ca$ino (Interview)

Jenn Cohen | March 1, 2013 | 0 Comments

by Darnell Teague & Shattara Camacho

CMB: What does being a JediLife Master mean to you?

Hyp-Hop Sells (Sells): Being a JediLife Master, to me, that means being at the top of your game, being the best at what YOU do in the galaxy, knowing right from wrong, smart from stupid. Really just being the best person that YOU can be!

CMB: When did you realize you had a talent with words?

Sells: I realized I had a talent for words when I was about nine or ten. I wrote a song called “3 Lines on the Side” about my MC Hammer-like haircut I had at the time, around 1993. I’ve ALWAYS LOVED/WANTED to make music!

CMB: Who inspires you?

Sells: My inspiration for the production side of music definitely came from hearing Dr. Dre when I was younger, then Timbaland‘s “Are you That Somebody” for Aaliyah really made me want to do what he did for a living. Hip-hop wise, it was definitely Jay-Z for me. I liked Ludacris‘ style and adaptability, and Tupac’s attitude and general knowledge as a human being. I try to mold all of these attributes together! Also, a lot of my fellow producers and artists, they keep me current! Nowadays, all I listen to is “Local” music!

CMB: How would you classify your Hip-Hop?

Sells: I would classify my brand of Hyp-Hop as a direct reflection of my surroundings. I’m from Denver where we get a variety of music, like a melting pot, so I feel like my sound is kind of mixed up. A little bit of rap with jazz, blues, rock, pop and R&B influences. Something for everyone!

CMB: What’s a major turn off for you in the CO hip-hop scene now?

Sells: A turn-off for me in the CO music scene . . . hmmmm. I would have to say just the lack of focus on the actual business side of things. I think a lot of people get caught up in the idea that no one has “blown up” from Denver, so they all try to be “The Man.” Artists go to LA, Atlanta, and New York to meet the business people that can ACTUALLY help. If we had more of those business-oriented people, we would be better off, in my opinion!

CMB: Where do you see hip-hop in the next five years and where do you want to be within it?

Sells: I see hip-hop in the next five years becoming more regional, with the amount of talented people that have access to make music and promote it. Social networking has made it far easier for MORE people to create, some good (some bad), but I see people starting to only like artists from where they are from, as they become easier to find and interact with! I just want to be a part of it, this is what I do for a living, Engineering/Producing/Writing/Performing, so, just to be a part of the culture is all I ask for!

CMB: What should your fans know about you?

Sells: I just want my fans to have fun, live to the fullest, and vibe with the music! That’s LITERALLY ALL I WANT!

CMB: Who’s your biggest fan?

Sells: Hahaha. My biggest fan would probably be my mom. She doesn’t necessarily listen to my music, lol, but she knows how hard I work, every little accolade I’ve ever earned, and ALL my aspirations, and she’s ALWAYS been supportive and made me keep going even when I thought I should stop! So yeah, my mom!

CMB: What element do you bring to CO? How do you plan to put CO on the map?

Sells: I think I bring a different view of how to make songs, from format to sample/beat selection, I’m just different. I think that helps me bring an element of surprise to every album/mixtape I release!

CMB: What’s your favorite memory growing up in Colorado?

Sells: My favorite memories are definitely when I was younger, being able to go to my Grandma’s house on the weekends. She lived in the Green Gables off of Sheridan, and all my cousins would be over there all weekend and we’d get into plenty of trouble! Good times!

CMB: What’s your favorite era in Hip-Hop?

Sells: My favorite era in hip-hop is the ’90s! Those were my “formative” years, so I remember a lot of those songs from that time, Ice Cube, Tupac, B.I.G., Nas, a lot of the classics!

CMB: What other projects do you have in the works for 2013?

Sells: In 2013 I have a couple more projects planned, something groovy for the summer, the In The Jungle Mixtape, coming Summer 2013. And my first full studio album is dropping a little later in the year; Mr. September, coming September 2013, of course!