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.