Signed to the label run by one of the biggest hip-hop stars (Eminem’s Shady Records) ever is Cashis. Coming from the rough streets of the Windy City better known as Chicago, Cashis is the emcee where in his music you can FEEL the pain, struggle, and hunger with all the adversity he faced in the past. Coming up in Chi-Town Cashis has seen it all, but with his grind he knew at one point that chance to make or break his life would eventually come.

Breaking down his story in this interview Cashis explains on how his demo impressed Eminem, that the hip-hop megastar had to bring him along. With success comes envy & we all know the experience of who are your true friends as you climb to the top. Now some things can be said about Shady Records has many know some artist left the label. Artists such as Bobby Creekwater, Stat Quo have made claims that the label was taking long to release a project from them, so they left, but on mutual terms. Cashis understands that patience is a virtue and if that’s what he has to do, to be the best so be it. With some major music coming on some top-notch projects you can say that he is getting his act together, to make major moves.

Author: Redhands

Redhands: How long did you live in Chicago?

Cashis: For 17 years and then I came out to California and went back to the Chi for a little because I didn’t adjust at first.

Redhands: Why did you move to California?

Cashis: My momma moved out there with my little brother and they were getting money. My momma told me to come out and visit and I ended up staying out there. My granny was worried about me in Chicago going to jail or getting killed so she wanted me to be in Chicago too.

Redhands: Which city inspired your style more?

Cashis: I say they both inspired me equally because both of them influence me in a different way. I might use Chicago slang, but I can relate to the gangs in California and talk about that. They smoke different in California than in Chicago so all these differences influenced my style.

Redhands: How long have you been rapping?

Cashis: Probably about 10 or 11 years, but I been really focused since like 2003. I would always rap, but I didn’t take it seriously. Me and the homeys would rap and they would tell me I was good so then I started making songs. I went to jail for a little and when I got out that’s when I got really focused.

Redhands: So you signed to Eminem’s label in 2006 (Shady/Aftermath) how did that happen?

Cashis: Believe it or not I sent in a demo to one of his A&R’s and they loved the demo from what I was told. He heard the song off the Re-Up album, “Talking Shit” and that’s the first song he heard from me and he loved it.

Redhands: So you actually sent a demo to Shady Records?

Cashis: Yea Darth Parker heard my demo and he gave it a few listens and he loved it. It was actually a demo of me and my group, but I guess I really stood out. So he listened to the group’s songs but he wanted to know who I was. They flew me out to New York and I had some other deals on the table. After the meeting I did seven songs in one night took them to Shady and they were impressed and we signed a deal on the spot. They signed me to a demo deal and I wasn’t suppose to be on The Re-Up album, but we knew it was going to be a done deal. When you sign with Shady they don’t give you a deal at first you got to prove yourself. That’s why I signed a demo deal first because you might be the hottest dude locally, but that don’t mean shit to Eminem.

Redhands: How did you break it to your other group members that Eminem only wanted you?

Cashis: They were at the meetings with me so they knew it was a possibility. They were cool with it at first and disappointed. It all makes sense in the end to them because if I get on then they get on too. I never had to really just break it to them because they were with me the whole time. The dudes that were cool with it are still around the ones that didn’t get the picture aren’t around me any more. When you’re a dude off the block and you don’t know about the industry. You don’t know about advances, album budgets, and stuff like that. At first you think you are rich as soon as you sign the deal, but it don’t work like that. Some of the dudes around me understood that and some of them didn’t.

Redhands: You just touched on things that a lot of new artist don’t know about. How was your transition from an unsigned rapper to dealing with all the label stuff?

Cashis: My transition was smooth but it was rough I voiced my opinion a lot. I didn’t understand a lot of things at first but I learned. I felt like I got the hot music it should be coming out now. You don’t realize you have to go to your parent company and get a release date. When labels have full rosters they cant show favoritism and just put out one artist. You have to go through the motions and the politics get release dates and stuff. I come from a huge family so I know how to wait and out think the situation. All this waiting I’m doing makes me a better artist. I thought I was the shit when I first signed but now I am so much better. I am just perfecting my craft, trying new things, and getting comfortable in my own lane.

Redhands: So you think the plan for you right now is for you to get better and find your lane and put out your story?

Cashis: Yea we definitely have a plan, I mean I put out the e.p (The County Hound) and I toured Europe just off that alone. I have put out a ton of mixtapes and my lane is already there, we know what it is. Right now I am just waiting for 50’s album to come out, because my album has been done for a while. (Editors note this interview was done before The Relapse was announced) Once 50 comes out then Eminem is going to come out and I am going to come out between Eminem and Dre.

Redhands: So you have your own label and other projects your working on right?

Cashis: Yea I got my label called “Bogus Boys” that’s made up of me and my homeboys. Since I signed with Eminem I have learned the business and it has helped me create more opportunities for me and for my family and homeys. We got stuff on Itunes and all over the Internet. We trying to set up some tours and just do everything real crazy. I use to give everyone everything I had and I had to stop that. I can’t keeping giving my all to people and my kids not get anything. That’s why I got my label where I am trying to establish a lane for people whether its doing shows, selling ringtones, all that stuff.

Redhands: Musically what’s your relationship like with Eminem?

Cashis: You know that’s the homey right there he gave me everything and put me on. I got a lot of beats from him and I fly out to Detroit a lot and record in his studio. I usually let him mix all of my projects too. My job is to run the streets while he’s in the lab mixing my stuff, making beats, and stuff.

Redhands: There are a couple artist that signed with Shady/Aftermath and left their label and there are some that never came out and left the label too. Do you think they got impatience with all the waiting so they left?

Cashis: That’s probably it they didn’t want to wait any more. Patience is a virtue like you could be upset with your momma, but at the end of the day that’s not what you feel. I can’t really speak on their situation like why they left or whatever. Obie is my partner straight up he’s a real dude. He’s doing good so some things are meant to be but I can’t speak on other peoples situation. I support them in whatever they do and no one has ever left Shady Records talking really crazy so it’s always a mutual split.

Redhands: So I read somewhere you have a lot of collaboration projects coming out. One of them is with newcomer Carlito Rossi right?

Cashis: We working on this “Usual Suspects” project. We been clicking since like 2006, but I kept getting into trouble every time we would get into a project. I caught a lot of problems and I just thank God I got through it. I was off the map and off the radar laying low for a minute. I’m just glad now me and Carlito can finally get it in and put something out.

Redhands: I respect you for not bragging about being in trouble with the law. A lot of rappers brag about gun charges and stuff like that.

Cashis: Yea well I was really in some shit so I don’t glorify none of that stuff. I was taking a lot of xannax and it really clouted my judgment and I made mistakes on it. I would take like 10 or 11 xannax bars a day.

Redhands: Drugs affect a lot of people especially prescription drugs. Eminem has been very open about his drug use as well. Have you and Em ever really had in-depth talk about getting sober and doing drugs?

Cashis: Let me tell you straight up Eminem is a real dude he helped me get cleaned up and sober up. I live out in Orange County, California I am constantly around all these drugs. I remember I went out to Detroit to do a song with Eminem. In the song I was rapping about taking 10 xannax bars and doing crazy shit. As I wrote and recorded the verse I was actually on that many drugs at the time. Eminem didn’t know at first, but when he found out man he told me like, Yo that’s not cool. He told me you need to get your head straight and sober up take care of yourself. He was going through problems the same time as me but he got smart and cleaned up before I did.

Redhands: I am glad to hear you’re doing better and getting sober and that your boss helped you. Lets talk about your future plans for your music.

Cashis: I got my album “The Art Of Dying’ coming soon and the first single is already done. The first single is it’s produced by Eminem and it’s a classic. I am following the same formula that I did for The County Hound E.P. I am always working and doing mixtapes and I got digital albums out there. You know we grinding making hits and shooting videos and making real records.

Redhands: I want to thank you for taking out the time to do this interview. Give us some places your fans can buy your music and keep in touch with you.

Cashis: Check me out on twitter at www.twitter.com/therealcashis and www.myspace.com/cashisoc. You can go on my official site and buy some of my music keep in touch with me at www.cashisonline.com. I need the people out there to call up your radio stations and request my new street single, “Get Loose”. I want the people to know I do this for them and my album, “The Art of Dying” is coming soon believe that.