C. Wells Talks GOAT, G-Herbo, Lyricism & What’s Next

Massachusetts’s C. Wells has seen several regional acts break onto the mainstream landscape and accomplish game-changing goals and eager to follow in their footsteps. Already on the right path with his noteworthy projects and buzzing collaboration with popular Chicago artist G Herbo, Wells believes his next work will be his best. And with his forthcoming project in progress, Wells sits down with us to talk about his struggling past, breaking onto the scene and why he is here to stay. Check out the complete interview below.

Where did the name C. Wells come from?

It’s funny how the name C Wells came about. I was in the streets early as a kid and very early on we chilled on Grove st. There was a bunch of us by the name of “Chris” so I came to the block one day and we all had nicknames and they were randomly calling me “C Wells” I didn’t know how it was spelled or where it came from I thought it was C Wills at first cause my names Chris Williams but the streets were correcting me on my own name like nah it’s C Wells that sounds better. I tried to run from it at first but eventually, it stuck now here we are.

How long have you been creating music?

So I was always in love with music since birth but I just never knew how to reach it. As I got older I want to say around 2002 God Son came out I heard “Made You Look” by Nas and I was highly inspired then I come across 50 Cent “Get Rich Or Die Tryin” and my decision was made mind you, I’m 9 years old. I meet Jo Jo, a staff at this after-school program I went to, called Gregg House. He created a project for us that we got to make a song to perform he seen how hard I was working on that verse and helped me take it to another level. Other than that there was really no studios around the city that I knew about so all it really was for me was writing from like 9 to 14 when I got to high school and a rapper I met there introduced me to a studio.

To all the new listeners, what are 2-3 must-listen songs from your catalog?

3 songs I’d say the listeners have to listen to are “For The Paper”, “Where I’m From”, and, of course, “Goat”.

Who were some of your influences growing up? Musical influences?

50, Nas, Jay Z, Bow Wow, Lil Wayne, Drake and J Cole.

What was it like growing up in Lynn. Massachusetts? Was music something that was accepted as a career path?

Growing up in Lynn was definitely tough I grew up in a time rapping wasn’t really accepted, I could say there wasn’t really any direction yet as well. Not many people were making it out of Boston yet other than (guru, Benzino, etc.) but it had been a while. Let alone the small city called Lynn who hasn’t been given much to believe in besides sports and I could say I played a big role in that When I started rapping. My goal was to do things people around my way haven’t seen before knowing I was going to have to do 100 times the work due to the lack of resources we have here. Because the talents certainly here at least now .

How did your record with G Herbo come about? How was it making a record with him?

A mutual friend of ours actually made that song happen and I appreciate him still to this day for making that happen. Making the record was dope that was probably the first time I watched an artist not write a verse, just go in and it was actually fire. A lot of dope moments come from that song for sure. It had to happen I could honestly say that was one of those things my city hasn’t seen yet so We had to make to make that happen.

Your latest single “Goat” is gaining some mass attention across plenty of media outlets as your song continues to grow. How does it feel to begin to garner the attention that you are receiving?

It’s something I’ve certainly been waiting for looks like it’s on its way to being one of my biggest songs. I don’t feel like I rapped on this it was more like a painting that should be displayed in a gallery to me.

What are 3-5 studio essentials for C. Wells?

Fronto, Weed, and Water (if there’s food there fire).

If you could work with 3 present artists, who would they be?

Drake, Tyler The Creator, and Joey Badass.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

The Live Famous Brand feeding my family for sure & reaping the benefits of all the hard work that’s been put in no matter how this goes.

What separates you from everyone else that is creating music these days?

Nobody my age right now is really rapping or even giving a good balance of everything. Where I come from is very diverse and I bring my city with me everywhere I go so adapting is never an issue neither is changing direction nor is reinventing not many artists have that.

What is it like to completely bet on yourself with this music path you are choosing to pursue? Talk to us about the highs and the lows of this all, the pressures?

I can’t even lie to you this road been tough but when it’s good it’s good. I’ve been betting on myself for so long though I’m numb to it the odds have been against me every time especially in sports with coaches playing favorites but right here I control the outcome. I can’t blame anybody for my losses and take all the credit for wins.

Thoughts on the music industry? Is it as cutthroat as everyone says?

Yes. If I knew what I knew now coming into this would I be into it? Who knows but it’s definitely not what 9 year old me thought this game was but I’m willing to accept that we here can’t stop now just got to weed through to find what you love in this & stick with it.

What type of music did you grow up listening to?

Anything my mother listened to her taste for music was influential she’ll go from listening to Billie holiday to Tupac to Mary j to method man to Monica to DMX etc. I could definitely say I got my ear from her then according to my dad they named me after Christopher Williams music was in my face before I even knew it.