“Being locked up isn’t cool. I was facing 5-7 years. Something like that makes you open your eyes. I learned a lot. I found God, which made me realize who I really was.” 

Life is full of roads with twists and turns, some are good some are bad, you choose your path. For some being able to get your hands on cash to help build a career can lead to a downfall. Cashmere’s story is like many, having a dream and going for it. After creating a huge buzz being co-signed by various DJs and magazines, Cashmere was incarcerated. While serving his bid, he used this time to draw on the positive, to find himself and reflect on the future of his career.

In this interview, Cashmere explains his journey from starting as a battle emcee, being co-signed by DJ Enuff and DJ Kay Slay. How breaking into the Japanese market and touring in Asia made him more versatile as a person and artist. Founding The Cash Administration with his friend Rama and working on his new album Take Me Away, Cashmere is free; refreshed and giving it 100%.

In the beginning, let the people know who Cashmere is and which city you rep?

Cashmere is a hip hop artist that writes great songs and records great music. I’m from Brooklyn, New York -- hands down I think I’m the next big thing in hip hop but that’s just me. I’m a business man, and also the CEO of The Cash Administration.

You started out as many do, being a battle rapper. How did you make the transition from battling to making mixtapes?

I would make my rounds all over battling rappers which created a big buzz for me, that buzz lead me to meetings with head A&R's. One in particular was Eric Nicks; he was head A&R of Violator Records under Def Jam at the time. After having me spit rhymes for him for hours he knew I had what it takes to be a superstar. He sat me down and taught me the structure of writing a record, and the importance of rapping over other artists beats. From there I began to make the transition from battling to making mixtapes.

DJ Enuff started to push your music on Hot 97.1, DJ Kay Slay featured you on his popular Streetsweeper mixtapes and you got major radio appearances. How did all this develop?

It really began after remixing Raphael Saadiq's Still Ray. My management at the time introduced the record to DJ Enuff, who began to play the record on Hot 97.1. He then began to play my first single Brooklyn. I remixed Brooklyn with Maino, which was also his first look. DJ Kay Slay took notice of the buzz I was receiving, and the rest was history.

You created quite a buzz for yourself during that time; you released a few mixtapes hosted by DJs such as DJ Kay Slay and Mr. Cee, and major magazines such as The Source recognized your talent. Sadly you were incarcerated at that time which can sometimes mean “Out of sight out of mind.” What happened and how long have you been in jail?

Basically, I was in the midst of leaving my management and forming my own company. I knew what I had to do, and to do that I needed money. So, I made money the best way I had knew how to. Fast! I was running the streets, and not in a minor way. I was in NC on a "business trip" when I found myself getting greedy. God don’t like ugly! Long story short, because of a snitch, my spot was raided by law enforcement and I was taken in. I was in jail for close to a year.

After you were released, what has changed for you as a person and artist?

I'm free! [Laughs] I do what I was doing before, but in a positive way, being locked up isn’t cool. I was facing 5-7 years. Something like that makes you open your eyes. At that time my son was only 5, and it was all too much to take in. Like anyone would, I went through it, but now I see that being locked up was a major blessing. I look back on my time in jail as college. I learned a lot. I found God, which made me realize who I really was. Going through all this made me even more of a threat as an artist.

You founded The Cash Administration, can you tell us about the concept behind it?

The Cash Administration is a foundation. It is not only a company, but a label, and a family. It started with me, and my boy Rama. He's actually incarcerated right now. Big shout outs to him. After realizing the type of negativity that was going on with my prior management, and leaving them, we had put our minds together, and began to form The Cash Administration. I needed to do it for me and with those that were also for me. The concept comes from a president stand point; I look at it as a president speaking to his people. The people listen, and that’s what I want for my voice, and my music. When I drop a single, an album or whatever it is that I am putting forth, I want people to stop, look, and listen at all times. I want the same for my administration when they're talking to labels and conducting business for me and my team. Together we go hard, and we win. We are a success besides the material things we will encounter. Money is nothing. I am Cash. This is my administration so there you have it, The Cash Administration.

In 2009, you signed a deal with Creative Artists Japan Co which led to a 7-day tour of Japan, Singapore and Indonesia. What was that experience like? How is the Hip-Hop scene different to the U.S. scene?

The experience was amazing. The craziest part is that it was the Internet that lead me there. All I had to do was get a passport and hop on a flight. Everything was paid for by my agent that believed in me, and I didn't even meet the guy that was sending for me until I had reached Japan. I was humbled. It showed me how blessed I am, and how much we are blessed in America. At one point I was on a boat in the China Sea. The China Sea! Do you know where that is? For a n***a like me, that’s crazy. I loved it. Japan was the first. Then to Singapore, from Singapore we had to take a boat to Indonesia. When I landed in Japan it was just so different. There was just so much culture. Really, it was almost as if it was the Japanese version of New York. Singapore has to be the dopest city I have ever seen in my life. It was just plain beautiful and so clean. Everything there was spotless. I was actually in a cab in Singapore when I received the news that Michael Jackson had passed. Indonesia on the other hand was what really made me realize how fortunate we are. It's a third world country. It was the most I had ever been exposed to poverty. People build their own houses, and you see mostly scooters out there rather than cars. They look at Americans as if we are royalty. All in all, it opened my eyes even more.

As for the hip hop scene, they love it. It's all love out there. In a sense I feel that at this present time, they love it more than Americans, because they appreciate, and enjoy it more. In Japan, they have their own hip hop. It’s a real big market out there. You could almost say they live hip hop. As for Singapore, it's the same, but with more class. Indonesian's call hip hop "boom bap". I'll walk down the street, and just because of the look that I carry they scream out "boom bap". [Laughs] It was a great experience. I loved and appreciated every second.

Would you say that being signed in Japan and touring there has helped your career more than if you were just signed in the U.S.?

It was a big plus for me. I would say it has definitely made me more versatile, both as an artist and person. When you are exposed to, and experience different things you grow as an artist as well. You have more to talk about, more art to share. You relate to more people in different ways which of course broadens your audience. I have no regrets.

At the moment you’re working on your debut album titled Take Me Away. What’s the concept for the project and when will it be released?

When I say Take Me Away, I’m speaking about being taken away from the ghetto, away from poverty, from negativity, from hustling in the streets, and from anything else you can think of that holds you back as a being. The entire album is me. It speaks for itself, and I truly believe it reflects my growth in all aspects of life. It's a masterpiece. Like when they showed Biggie in Notorious after he had finished Life After Death, saying: "I did it, I’m the greatest!" That’s how I feel. Currently we are looking to release late summer to early fall.

Are the concepts and prospective different to the material you put out before your jail sentence?

Yes. There's way more substance to what I’m putting out. I have been through more, and I now have a message that people need to hear. I am one of the illest hip hop artists coming out and it will show. I've always made true to life records. Now that I know better I do better, and that reflects in what I record.

A lot of artists are kind of going down the route of releasing one certified club banger or pop hit, instead of delivering a full album of hot songs. What is your take on this?

That’s all them. I mean, every artist has their purpose. Honestly, I feel it’s due to a lack of talent, and creativity as well. See, a lot of artists are scared to put their best music out all at one time. That's because they don’t believe in themselves enough to make more hot music. As for myself, I can give out a full album of hot music, because it's nothing to me. I know I'll keep producing more hot music.

Your song Where’s Cashmere? is currently in heavy rotation. So where is Cashmere in his career right now?

I'm in a great place. I'm focused. My team is focused. It's just the beginning, and I don’t see an end. There are a lot of opportunities coming my way, but I continue to be smart. I know the business, and when you know that it makes it much easier to cut out a lot of the bullshit.  

Will you be embarking on a tour or working on any new projects after the release of Take Me Away?

I got a lot of things in store for y’all. Yes, I will be touring and I will be releasing other projects as well. I have a fatherhood foundation project I’m working on for fathers in the hood, and all over the world who are deprived from raising their kids. Due to incarceration, their criminal record, the mother of their child and any other reason a father is not able to be with their children unwillingly. As of now the priority is on Take Me Away. Once we get that out there it will allow us to get into even more.

Many labels are interested in your music like Def Jam, Sony, E1 Music, are you any closer to signing a deal with any of these labels?

I'm not worried about the labels right now. I've had some meetings, and they've gone well but I have a plan that I am sticking to. If something better so happens to come my way, we can negotiate. They'll be coming around soon you'll see!

What artists have you worked with in your career so far? Drop some names…

Plenty! I’ve worked with Bun B, Big Daddy Kane, Lil Boosie, Lil Webbie, Joel Ortiz, WC, Jim Jones, Stack Bundles, Papoose, Cory Gunz, Maino, Jae Millz, and more. There’s a bunch of them.

Where would you like to see yourself and The Cash Administration in a few years from now?

It’s not where I like would to see myself and The Cash Administration in a few years; it’s where we are going to be and that is on top! My team and I are prepared and ready. This is the music business right? The music is great and our business is straight -- all we are doing now is waiting on the right opportunity, and we are closer to that opportunity every day. We are on our way trust me.

Where can people go and find out more about Cashmere?

Check me out on my new website at www.cashmeresworld.ning.com and visit me on MySpace at www.myspace.com/thecashadministration; follow me on Twitter at @bkcashmere.

If you really want to know who Cashmere is go and cop that album when it drops. Big shouts to the Brooklyn team, G Wood Entertainment, as well as Yo! Raps for the interview. It’s going to be a great summer. Much love to all my supporters until next time peace.

- By Jai Boo

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