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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2012)
entertainment Cassow: Head of the Class P ortland rising star Cassow called in at the Skanner news last week to talk about how the music biz is treating him. His latest work, ‘Head of the Class’, is getting love on websites like hotnewhiphop.com and Tha Northwest. “This album sounds like real hip hop from the early 90’s brought into the future, amazing! is next to blow!” comments The Saint on hotnewhiphop.com. Born and raised in Portland, Ore., Cassow says he’s working very hard to get his music out and recognized. “I’ve only been doing this for two years but I‘ve covered a lot of ground, he says. “In the next cou- ple of years I plan on going on the road and doing as many shows as I can.” name: Cassow hometown: Portland Oregon. Schools: Benson High School; Grant High School; Western Ore- gon University (1 year) Profession: Rap artist Words to live by: “I’d rather wake up at 6 am every morning and chase my dream than wake up every morning working for some- one who chased theirs” Where did you get your name: Everyone asks me that. A friend of mine who died, Andre Dupree Payton, gave me my name. He thought I painted pictures with my songs, so he called me Picasso. I dropped the P and added a w to make it Cassow. Where do you record and who do you work with? I recorded my last project Head of the Class at Flatline Studios with Terminill. And I’m filming now with some very good friends. They do every- thing for me. Trox is my guy. He is a producer and a DJ. On my last c o project he made Thru My Eyes and Bad Manners. I also work with Stewart Villain. He made Champagne and Lost in the Wild. What was your childhood like? I grew up with my grandpar- ents. My mom was on drugs my whole childhood, and my father had another life and children in another house. My grandparents raised me really well. I became strong. It made me understand what life is like. What about your high school years? I spent my junior year liv- ing with friends – couch surfing in a sense. It took something inside me to make the right decisions and move forward. I’m an internal per- son so music was the only way I could express myself. That’s where my music came from – my struggles and hardships. in your own work, what’s your favorite track? The Ruins. My favorite tracks are: The Ruins, Through My Eyes and Lost in the Wild. Who do you listen to? I listened to artists such as Jay-Z, Slick Rick, AZ and Kanye West. That’s some of the stuff I listened to, to get me through hard times. It’s soul touching. Just listening gave me the fire. I listen to all types of music, blues, rock and country too. Because if you listen to country close its all about stories. Mostly all music is telling a story about something. how did you start doing music? My uncle did music and I’d always go in there and play with the stuff and he’d record me. Music touches my soul personally in ways nothing else can. I can’t explain the feeling of it. Do you play any instruments? I picked up the harmonica last m m u n year and I’ve been playing it ever since. I like it a lot, and I also want to pickup the piano. What’s the story you want to tell? I want to show people that if you work hard anything is possi- ble. A lot of rappers just rap about weed and girls. That’s not me. I’m the type who goes to the gym and wants to give back. I want staying in shape to be the trend. Why do you think youth make the wrong choices? Most kids want to do the right thing. A lot comes from peer pressure; the people they hang around with and the people right in front of them. Their friends make decisions for them. My grandfather always told me not to be a follower, and it’s stuck with me. Everyone is not strong enough to realize it, espe- cially when their parents are not there. Friends become family. At the end of the day the cool one is the one who didn’t smoke and didn’t drink and everyone said was lame or uncool. Because when you are working or going to school, those cool ones will be standing on the corner still drink- ing and smoking. What countries would you most like to visit? I’d like to go to Brazil and I can’t lie. It’s because of the women there. It’s like para- dise. are you single? Let’s just skip that. (laughs) What do you think about Port- land? Portland is not really a hip hop place, but I’m the type of guy, I’m going to work with what I’ve got. Some people use it as an excuse; I use it as motivation. What’s your favorite food? This may sound crazy but I could live off cereal. I don’t really have a favorite. I can make anything work. I t y c Cassow What about drinks? I’m trying to drink more tea. I heard Earl Grey is really good for you. And I like green tea, sodas and water. Favorite shoes? Jordan 3s. And Jordan 11s. Who do you rate in hip hop now? Macclemore. He is great live. I went ot see him at Shabazz Palace in Seattle. It was crazy; that has to be my all-time favorite per- formance. What are your musical ambi- tions? I have a good relationship with the Roseland and I want to build on that. I’d like to get into some of the festivals. And I hope a l e n d to travel a lot in the next few years just performing. Some people are scared of performing in front of a live audience. I’m not. I love it and I have fun. And somehow I am going to bring my harmonica into my performance. other ambitions? I’d like to launch my own independent cloth- ing line. I would love to design some jeans that work for a busi- ness meeting but you can still wear to a club. They’d have some design, but nothing too crazy because that’s kids’ stuff. on Facebook: Cassowtherebel a r P ortland 2012 B ulletIn B oard If you have an event you want to share with the community, email it two weeks in advance to The Skanner at info@theskanner.com January 29 MARRy ME! the Northwest’s only wedding cake & inspiration showcase with nearly 50 cakes and tables on display. $5.00 at the $5.00 online or $10.00 at the door. to register please email events@luxeproductionsnw.com. Hilton Hotel, Page 2 The Portland Skanner January 25, 2012 Vancouver, WA 301 W. 6th St. 63rd St. Vancouver, Wa February 1 Saturday February 4 FREE SEMINAR -RICH DAD POOR DAD: Learn to be rich is a series of 2-hour free workshops that put the lessons of Rich Dad Poor Dad into action. two sessions 12:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. the Double tree Hotel, Lloyd Center 1000 NE Multnomah St. RAPtOR ROAD tRIP: Annual event celebrates birds of prey! Enjoy guided bird viewing, meet the raptors up close and much more. Begin at Kruger’s Market and pick-up a event map on Sauvies Island. 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. $10.00 per car. Carpooling is strongly encouraged. February 2 VOLuNtEER: FIRE CORPS tRAININg ACADEMy! the Vancouver Fire Dept. is looking for a few more volunteers ti fill their first training academy. As part of their training all volunteers will receive a voucher for first aid, CPR, and AED training at no cost to them. If interested please contact alan.fung@cityofvancouver.us or call 360-487- 7219. Program will be held at Station 5, 7110 NE Sunday February 5 SARAH PEACOCK At MISSISSIPPI PIZZA PuB: Big things definitely come in small packages. Sarah Peacock is a powerhouse pop country vocalist and performer. Performing live for all ages at 6 p.m. at Mississippi Pizza Pub at 3552 N. Mississippi Ave.
