An Interview w/ CAGE

Cage began his career on the legendary Bobbito Garcia and Stretch Armstrong radio show and with the release of the single "Agent Orange" in 1997 on Garcia's label Fondle Em' Records. His talent led him to a deal with Eastern Conference Records, where he dropped his renowned full length LP, Movies For The Blind, one of the classic independent hip hop albums of this decade.

Plagued by abuse, institutionalization, drugs, and violence throughout his life, these nightmarish experiences have permeated his art and defined the music he makes today. Cage's music is truly reflective of a reality far stranger than fiction, he explains; "I want only to make music that is true to life, making a record that people can relate to. This would prove harder than I ever imagined."

By 2005, Cage had paired up with rap legend El-P and his label Def Jux to produce Hell's Winter, a dark walk towards the light at the end of a tunnel. With the upcoming Depart From Me and I Never Knew You EP Cage illuminates the struggles he's faced upon entering a world that continues to be a source of loss and confusion. He's helped along in this task with production by El-P, F. Sean (Hatebreed), Aesop Rock, and the late, great Camu Tao (R.I.P.).

"Hells Winter" was a very personal record. What can the film relayto audiences that your music hasn't already told them?
It hasn't been written yet so I can't really tell you.I mean there's tons of shit I didn't talk about on that record.

You've incorporated varied genres of music in your samples. One many wonder about (including myself) is the Built To Spill track "I Would Hurt A Fly" that is sampled in "Ballad of Worms." How did you decide to chose that track and are you a big Built to Spill fan? Yes they are awesome and I never profited off that song and I don't sample anymore

Shia LaBeouf directed your video "I Never Knew You" and he's working on a movie about your life. How did that collaboration come about?
He emailed me and we became friends while he was making a doc on me.Movie is in the works!



LaBeouf is becoming quite popular in the movie realm. How do you feel about LaBeouf bringing your story to so many people?
I'm into it.Everything he touches succeeds I could use some.

Cozy Creative is a collective of artists helping to promote other artists. Do you have any artistic endeavors other than music and therecent foray into film?

Tsk tsk and I thought I was bad with shameless self promotion.CARDBOARD CITY!

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