GroundSounds recently caught up with rapper and producer Cysion the Slickest. Get to know Cysion below and make sure to check out more of his music on his Youtube page.
Who is Cysion the Slickest?
I’m not a gangster I just cuss a lot. Sike, naw Cysion is a music producer/ hip.hop artist from the east side of Detroit. The Slickest word play, slick concepts, ideas, slick voice. Cysion the Slickest, my own original style. Regardless of music trends and what other artists do with their music my shit is gonna sound like Cysion the Slickest! Cysion is laser beam focus that I’m always goin after in life too. It’s stands for decision; precision. I write music and express lyrics. I started writing hip hop cause it helped me focus and that was something I needed. Being raised in the D has it’s pitfalls every step you take.
How would you describe your sound?
What was it like growing up in Detroit, and trying to come up as hip-hop artist there?
I love being from Detroit, I love what it’s made me. And my family has a lot to do with that too. My father moved from Arkansas when the Motor City was poppin wit opportunities. I’m from a family of 5 and my parents raised us good. My family always had respect in the neighborhood from drug dealers to gangsters through all that, my family was always loved and respected and that’s how we were raised. Growing up Detroit tho you learn things fast, I got exposed to all types of grimy shit real early – Violence, dope sellin, prostitution. I was 9 years old when I saw a man get his head beat to death wit a pole. So wit junk like that and life in general, there was plenty material to write about. You had to be smart not to get caught up in a bunch of crazy shit, seeing it everyday I knew that wasn’t the right type of life, friends gettin killed and locked up all the time. I decided early to do somethin different, and cats in my hood respected me for it. Guess I was a lil lucky too, I had my share of close calls. Yeah but I started rhyming after high school. But by then I knew I would take it for real. As a writer I was always surrounded by the best flowers in the city, I grew up listening to Guilty Simpson tapes wit my fam, the Almighty Dreadnaughtz and then I caught the bug. So I made sure I set the bar high for myself before I even start rapping to people. Once I did tho I was dope and The Spirit of Detroit is strong so the creativity is embedded into the arts. The artist community is close so that’s the good part. And it’s some ridiculous talent in the D in all fields.
How has growing up in the D influenced your sound?
It’s like you have to see some type of silver lining in life or you’ll be messed up, down and out. It’s a lot of darkness, especially now. So Beside the obvious spirit of Motown sound, Detroit influenced my sound in a way that I want the sound to be hard, and dangerous you know, still musical wit soul but I always wanted something striking in there with my beats, that’s way I called it Abusive Music. Cause that’s how the city is, shit can jump off any where at any time. So I like that dark sound, and then I’ll throw a thin line with the lyrics or another part so the beat can be a sign of hope, for something good, you feel me. I like to spit a dope ass rhyme and get that reaction from the listeners – you know its dope you know.
You’ve worked with a lot of artists from all over the US, and the world. Tell us about some artists you’ve collabed with?
God blessed me man, I’ve worked with some of the most talented artists on earth, not just rap tho. From Detroit I started writing raps after being around Tha Almighty Dreadnaughtz and really seeing cats killing it better than artists that was out, so that was off top my training ground. You had to be dope or you’d be feeling stupid tryna spit around fam. I wanted to travel to expand my skills, so I’ve lived in like 4 or 5 different city’s, oh Im always Detroit to the def tho. I’ve worked with Oznoh, a dope producer from Spain, Ma’j from France, plenty cats out of Chicago, Danny Reels, Jah Safe, sick ass producers and MCees out of the Chi. My big bro Retago who’s the sickest poet you gone hear. My mans Jombi Jombi, artist from Ghana Im producing an album for now, DJ Houseshoes out in LA. Too many to name now, but talent from all over. It’s just a blessing really to have music guide me to good people and places. Of course Guilty that’s my cuz. But the best ever studio experience I ever been a part of is working wit J-Dilla.
J-Dilla is a hip-hop legend. What was that like?
Yeah Dilla is truly amazing man. He invited us to his studio to drop some verses and listen to some beats. I remember his booth was laced and had a golden mic, it was shinning like the mic of Gibraltar or some shit. The lab was just sick with style man, Dilla was style. I had never seen anything like that back then so we were in awe. His focus is what I will really never forget about how he worked tho. I remember he was choppin so many different types of samples, all different sounds from vinyl, to expensive keyboards to the lil Casio keyboards he just had in there, he’s a tru sound master, like a real audio artist, you know, you heard his shit. It was just awesome to witness in person. He just stayed completely dialed in and being the legend he is he like “y’all chill, write, do ya thang.” He made you feel comfortable, like we was in the hood in the basement studio even though it was his million dollar lab decked yout all the way tight! Ever since then I’ve tried to take that professionalism and focus into developing my own sound. It was just unforgettable dog, his influence is the type of stuff that legends is made of, and he invited us to be a part of that. I love Dilla for that.
Besides rapping, you also produce, mix, and run your own recording studio, so most of your tracks are written, produced, recorded and mixed by you – 100% Cysion the Slickest. Do you prefer to handle all the aspects of your music?
It depends on whether it’s a album or not. I like to develop the over all sound of a project like pages of a book, for it to be consistent so then I want to handle the mixing, as long as the sounds go together on the particular project. If it’s a single or a feature you can just hit me with a beat, I’ll lace it with the lyrics and send it back to whoever the engineer/producer is.
What’s the process like for you when your making a Cysion the Slickest track?
That may also vary, most the time I sit down and have a music line in my head, or a sample that I got up, then I frame the main line with other instruments and bassline, strings or whatever. Then I build the drums up under that. Most times you hear producers say they lay the drums first, I like to get the music feel first, that way the drums fit in like intricate notes that complement the music – it’s gotta bang tho.
What’s the process like for you when your producing a beat for someone else?
I usually ask them to spit something if they have it written and I can catch the feel from there. Everything is music to me, I listen to lyrics like music notes, I love lyrical content. I listen to the cadence, weight and tempo to accompany it with the right music. Sometimes I’ll play beats I’ve made already and see what the artist has or can come up with, then we’ll just go from there. When I produce for someone I make sure that they are gettin the best performance recorded, you know, emotion and voice inflections, shit like that is important to make the song a whole piece, instead of just another rap song. So anybody that has worked with me knows imma tell when they got it and/or let me know if they don’t. I don’t play in the lab, let’s get that shit tight! Lol. Fa real doe.
Can you play any instruments?
Yeah I’m tryin to get good on the bass, I’ve only been playin for about a year and a half. And been playin keys way longer but I think I’m better on bass. Always learning more about music all the time it’s like math tho…never ending. I’m reaching a good point understanding music now tho.
You’ve got to perform with some pretty notable hip-hop aritsts, Who are some MC’s you’ve rocked the stage with?
We’ll most notable, opened for Mobb Deep, Reakwon and Ghostface, I’ve performed many times with Guilty. I’m workin on an overseas tour, so any promoters reading this interview lets get it! The more dates the better.
Does something inspire to make music, or is it just natural – Something you have to do?
Life is a like a puzzle at times and music lets some of the pieces fall into place for me, this shit is crazy sometimes, so it’s definitely an outlet, and I have a lot on my mind most times so I definitely need to make music to get junk out. What I like about makin music is the stories and feeling it conveys. It’s historic and futuristic at the same time as soon as it’s created. Anytime you record somethin it never ceases to amaze me like “damn that’s just been created.” It’s a wild experience to hear yourself along with music and it’s addictive, especially if you really wanna be creative with it. I jus wanna leave a real good trail for somebody to follow, I just like the freedom of music so I love to make music and write lyrics. Take a load of stress off and entertain the soul some type of way. I think it was my calling to write. Music is a form of writing just in musical notes, and has been the best way to express things. I feel and think like my peers and my generation. I definitely have to write tho. Lyrics, music, poems, scenes, short stories all that, and I love to perform the stories to the rhythm of a hard ass beat, that’s what I love to do.
Most people grind pretty hard to achieve their dreams, but you operate on Double Grind. Your out there everyday, hittin the streets and trying to get your music out there. What’s a typical day on the grind like for you?
I started grinding from my traveling to many different cities, for instance if I was in LA first thing I would do was hit Venice beach and heat it up, slanging soon as I got off the plane, go out promoting shows and stuff. That’s been good cause people feel my passion for music and they appreciate it. Everybody beside the haters…they really love it too tho, ha ha.
As far as grinding, is that important to you, to have that interaction with people?
I feel that it’s developed my character for the better. Meetin so many people on a daily basis gives you thousands of ideas per day. So I think it helped me learn a lot about people and myself as well as my music. It’s not easy at first to get people to hear you out, but it’s really a reward when people hear what they like, and they get real happy sometimes cause they don’t expect it to be that good. That’s whats up right there. Those are my true supporters that will be down with me forever, and that’s very important to me.
What’s your craziest grind story? What’s the most you’ve ever made on one sale?
Craziest was when I was in Michigan at this club in Pontiac, and this dude was on some BS tryin to take my bag of merch, I ended up beatin the shit out the dude, and turned around to bout five cops wit guns drawn like “get down,” shit was crazy. They tried to throw the book at me, but just did a couple weeks cause luckily for me, dude didn’t ever show to court so I was good.
A few Pro sports figures broke me off hundreds on occasions. Yeah it’ll happen! And it’s alright! When I’m out grinding I’m also promoting my studio and music so it’s cool for the most part, and I handle myself well so it’s usually real smooth out there.
Do you think hip-hop is lacking anything these days?
What I’m missing in hip hop is the consistency of dudes wit skill, and then I miss the originality that was cool about hip hop, instead of a certain trendy flow. Everybody should hone their own style and and work that. Leave the cookies and pop out of hip hop – Just keep it fresh.
How’s the hip-hop scene in Chicago?
I love Chicago, its diversity is inspiring. And there’s always somewhere to go and perform, and the venues are legit. There’s a lot of money to be made in Chicago too, ask Oprah lol.
What artists are you hyped on at the moment?
Out now I like Joey Badass, Danny Brown from the crib get me hype, Kendrick Lamar brings freshness to the game. Check out Shi Dog from Detroit by way of Long Beach, he a beast wit it. Oh I been listing to Chance the Rapper stuff, it’s dope I like the feel of it – reminds me of the late 90’s, can’t be mad at that.
You’ve got a couple albums out. If you had to pick, which one would you say is most important to you?
Great question…hmmm most important to me, it’d have to be The Icy Details – It’s my first album ever, and got my name and music known and respected for dopeness and it’s a Detroit Classic in hip hop, so I’d have to say it was very important in the impact it had. Though my favorite would have to be Double Grind.
What’s on deck for the rest of 2013/1014?
I have a new album in the works now, also doin a lot of features on albums right now. Gettin dates organized for the European tour, and finishing up music production for artists in the lab.
Where can people go to hear more Cysion the Slickest tracks, and find out more about you?
I have four albums right now on iTunes, grab a few of those tracks y’all. Also I post new music to soundcloud and bandcamp. For info check Facebook and Twitter.
If all music was to be destroyed and you could only save one album, what would it would be?
Hmmm interesting, dang uhhhh…. Seriously can’t choose one man, The Chronic, and something by Sade, lol. Stevie Wonder and Prince gotta be in there, damn man can it be a mixtape!? Haha
How good is late night Sarpinos’s delivery?
Sarpino’s is the strate bomb! Specially in the clutch, late-night recording sessions
Who is your favorite Detroit Sports team?
Detroit Lions, to hell wit the haters.
Words of wisdom from Cysion the Slickest?
Do it first then talk about it. And tell it like you know it.
Cysion the Slickest – “World Cup Freestyle”
