C PLUS + INTERVIEW

C Plus is a rapper from Sacramento, CA. Known for his relentless output, hard work, and crazy pen game. We sat down and talked music, being independent, and other exciting stuff. Plus is one of my favorite rappers so I hope you enjoy it.

What up man?! Where did you grow up and what were some of your early musical influences?

Born and raised in Sac. Moved from Carmichael to Natomas when I was 12. Early on I was heavy into all types of music. My grandma used to play hella soft rock and country. My mom was heavy into jazz. My brother was playing rap. My first exposure to rap was like Kris Kross and Mc hammer shit like that.

Hell yeah. What was your support system like around music did people recognize your talent from the beginning?

Yea. My homies used to always gas me up to freestyle in highschool. Then when I started passing out mixtapes and posting my music on MySpace I started getting a buzz locally like around ‘08.

God Bless the homies. So my brother put me on to you after meeting you at a 4G’s art show you performed at in Sac. Would you say a lot of people find your music organically or do you really have to be pushin on socials to see movement?

I’m a product of the blog era, that’s how I assumingly got whatever fan base outside of our region. But as far as Northern Cali and the PNW I would say it was organic fasho. Lot of shows. Lot of hanging up posters and passing out flyers and cds.

That dirty work goes a long way. It seems like in today’s world aesthetic means more to people than substance. Your records always incorporate both, speak a little about staying true to yourself in a landscape where everyone is looking for the next wave.

Man that shit be tricky, I think for me I can pinpoint very easily times I tried to chase a hit or make a record like “this” or dress like such n such so now when it happens I know what to pass on and what not. I think it’s super important in this climate to stay true to yourself and be authentic because it’s getting harder and harder to tell who’s faking it and who’s not.

Yeah man people have got real good at faking it. You have so many projects it seems like you never step off the neck. How difficult is it to maintain this quality at such a high output?

Musically? Not difficult at all on my end. The only part where it gets sketchy is like mixing/mastering. I work alone too so you can definitely hear the difference when I’m laying records at the house vs being in the studio with an engineer, but it’s not like a crazy gap. It’s hard to keep up with the logistical side of the music business. It’s hard to keep up with artwork, videos, promos and stuff, but making a lot of good music isn’t hard.

Yeah I was curious because all that other stuff adds up quick when you are trying to just make good music. When you started working with big artists, did you ever struggle with imposter syndrome or have you always moved with confidence?

I’ve always had confidence in the studio and on stage. I get in my head about the intangibles. Maybe not having the money and accolades some of my peers do. But I’ve never been insecure about my skill set. Like, ever.

Love that. You have worked with some heavy hitters. What was it like working with The Jacka (RIP) and can you tell me a little bit about how the Hippie Sabotage tour came about?

I met Jack through my brother and his older cousin. I was kinda just like an entourage member at first. I had been in the lab with him hella times before we ever did a song. He was the chillest street dude I had ever met. The shit with the hippies came about because I’ve been knowing them since we was kids. I used to see Sour Beats at the skatepark all the time, then he beat my brother in a beat battle at Sac State in like 2006. Then I met his brother off MySpace cause he was selling beats. We started making music together shortly after and been tight ever since.

That’s so dope man. I always wondered how that came about. How did you find yourself immersed in all of these different subcultures? It seems like you are tapped in with all walks of life.

I been skateboarding since a kid. I was always into clothes and sneakers. I started cooking in the pandemic. I had been growing weed since like 2010. Idk I just randomly be getting into shit lol.

Yeah I wanted to ask about the cooking, most musicians have odd jobs but it looks like you got a full career in cooking. How far would you like to take that and how do you balance it while doing music?

I wanna eventually own a cafe cause I was a barista for a min too. So coffee shop with a small tasting menu and a rotation of pop up food engagements at night. There’s not a real balance for me rn, I just work and record when I can.

I feel that. Pride for Sacramento shines through on everything you do, there are so many talents coming out of Sac and I feel like it’s slept on. You have a track on your new record ‘VN4’ titled “Cardiac Arrest” In that song you say “I’m not another Sac rapper who just stay out in LA” speak a little on not doing the whole LA thing. Do you find it easier to make music in Sac?

Everybody from Sac run to LA cause 1 that’s where the entertainment industry is but 2 it’s a $200 flight away from home. I was more so speaking to the fact that I’ve been all over the map putting on for Sac when a lot of the other more recognizable faces from the city just went 8 hrs away and some of them don’t even rep Sac like that. They say “LA based” and don’t even mention the crib.

Yeah absolutely, I see that all the time in Nor Cal. Do you consider Sac a part of The Bay and how do you think it fits in with the recent revival/popularity of Bay Area music?

Sac is not The Bay. Like factually speaking. It’s The Valley. But culturally they def like our big cousin. I don’t think Sac fits in the current bay revival because we’ve been trying to shake the “stuck in hyphy” narrative longer than they have, where it seems this new bay wave is embracing it. Sac got our own flavor/style but it’s def influenced by The Bay.

Yeah I meant culturally and musically. What was Hyphy like in Sac back in the day?

Man it was fun af but also dangerous. Like I feel if Hyphy wasn’t going on a lot of us wouldn’t have grown up as fast as we did but at the same time it was kinda safe because everything was revolving around partying and dancing. Like we were doing other stuff, going to college and playing basketball, but for 2 summers we was just chasing thrills because of this movement. It gave us an excuse to be outside.

Yeah man that was a crazy time. The first Plus album I heard was “All C.I.T.Y” can you tell me a bit about where your career was at during the recording of that album and how do you feel about it now because I consider that shit a classic.

ALL CITY a classic fasho lol. Man at that time I was living my best life fareal. I was like damn near like a full time rapper when I made that album. I was just about to touch the ceiling in my city and have to branch out. I was buzzin in the Bay Area rap scene. Labels was hollering. Everything was clicking.

That’s so sick. What a feeling. How important is being independent to you and can you tell me a little about 25-8 Group?

Independence is important to me just cause I don’t really know another way, I never got a deal lol. But it’s been doling having to learn the music business in real time because I’m responsible for everything. As far as 25-8, it originally started as a consultation firm because I had a lot of artist inquiring about how I was doing the art direction, roll out, merch design etc etc for myself so I was like fuck it, let me offer it as a service ya know. But then I just made it the label because the firm idea lacked infrastructure.

I think that was a great idea because now you are pretty established, and that means a lot to people that know how much effort goes into all of this. Seeing someone do it independent is always impressive. What advice would you give to youth who want to make music but may not have the resources or support behind them.

Get a job lol. Make music cause you love this shit, invest on your art and your craft because you love it, not because you expect something in return. Your friends aren’t obligated to slap your shit. Also manage your time wisely.

Can’t stress that enough. You have to love this shit. “VN4” just dropped. (Fuckin fire btw.) Can you explain to the people what the concept is behind the Viernes Negro projects?

We had originally did it in collaboration with some clothing brands for Black Friday then I just kinda kept running with the theme.

Hell yeah. Give the people something dope for Black Friday. That’s rad. What’s next for Plus are there any sounds or styles you wanna explore that you haven’t tapped into yet?

R&B and house. But besides that just more dope raps. I’m going to try and release as much music in 2025 as possible.

Well I’m looking forward to it man. Thanks a lot for your time, it’s been dope choppin it up. Anything you wanna plug? Fire away G.

Thank you bro! This was dope. http://www.plusmoneys.com

Hell yeah. 💪🏻 You can follow Plus @plusmoney