What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.
You remember in the 90’s there was this TV show called ER? It was about these doctors who worked in an emergency room and one of these doctors was young-ass George Clooney. I watched that dude – week after week, in powder blue scrubs, covered in fake ass blood, make an incision down a fake body mold of a Salvadorian boy, open up this fake ass chest, then look into the camera and say “Dr. Green… you’re an asshole and this kid is gonna to die from Schistosomiasis if we don’t save him!” I always thought, I could do that shit. No, not acting. No, not become a doctor. No, not save a child’s life – but spit fire bars like “you’re an asshole and this kid is gonna die from Schistosomiasis!” That line always stuck with me. Anyways, fast forward a buncha years and somewhere in there I learned how to record and produce my own music. I kept picturing George Clooney, hovering over the torso of that 9 year old hispanic boy. He looked so fragile… Mr. Clooney. Like a little bear cub. But also, like a god. BAM – cubgod was born. So wherever you are right now, G-CLoon – Thank you.
Provide us with some info about your latest release…
My latest release was this track called “Wearing What I want.” I like to dress nice, foreal. I genuinely enjoy dress shirts, ties, nice-fitting pants, etc. I mean, I have the later years of my life to look like shit, take vicodin, subsist on applesauce, and rock a diaper in public. But for now, while my skin is taut and my muscles are mad supple, I’ma dress nice. But sometimes, after a long day of doing whatever it is I do for a living I wanna wear something mad comfy. But I often feel guilty cuz like… the FBI, god, Vishnu, Aliens, a studio audience, etc. might be seeing me for the first time and I be lookin’ ratchet in that moment. But then I was like, fuck it – Vishnu, If you don’t love me at my most comfy, you don’t deserve me at my most “these pants are too tight.” Then the idea for the song was born-ish. Also, I was messing around with some synthesizers and found this bass that sounded like the signal was degrading. I messed with the sine wave a bit and the next thing you knew I had the bass for song. The rest fell into place rather quickly. I just finished a new song last night that accidentally sounds super uplifting and sorta like gospel. But it’s not el oh el. It’s called “Sunday We Rest” So i’mma release that next. real talk.
Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?
These are honest influences that help guide me through life:
Pigeons (the animal) – On some real shit pigeons are my favorite animal bc these niggas fly but like no one cares. EVERYONE’s favorite animal is a tiger, or a white tiger (shoutout to Tommy… Sut Sut AuuYAH!). Or a dog or a silverback gorilla or a pygmy marmoset. Like yeah, those are crazy but think about this… people hate pigeons. People think they’re dirty or useless or whatever. People will be sitting at a coffee shop talking about the gentrification of downtown LA and that nigga pigeon will be strutting by minding its own business. You know, eating dirty ass croissant crumbs and shit. Then outta nowhere this pigeon will just take off into the sky like an angel. Like that dude will straight up leave the earth and fly into the clouds. And those people won’t even see it. They’ll still be talking gentrification and shit. Boggles and bottles my mind cuz. I think about that shit A LOT. Real talk. Doing something crazy like flying but no one caring.
Musically, most of my influences are pretty far from hiphop and rap shit. I’m obsessed with Radiohead. Any nigga who says they love radiohead more than me is a liar and should be punished. Like i may not wanna kiss them on their necks 24/7 but that don’t mean my heart aint full of a deep love for them in the same way a child looks up to their father and thinks they can do anything but as you get older you realize he’s just a man and has flaws but then later down the line you begin to see him in a new light and gain a deeper understanding of who is and how he’s helped to shape you as a person. That basically describes my relationship with every radiohead album. Also, they are geniuses. Real talk. (I do want to kiss them on their necks 24/7. But that’s it!)
I make a lot of music based on colors. I’ll start messing with sounds or a chord progression/scale and see a bunch of colors. If i like the colors I continue. That’s how most of my songs are made. Real talk.
In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?
Honest to Buddha I’ve never thought about it and I’m too afraid to start now. Gotta keep my mind pure and my heart innocent like a little nignug. Naw mean?
Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…
3 of each!? Damn, you really like recommendations
Books – Kafka on the shore, Watership Down, The Book of Laughter and forgetting
Albums – OK Computer (Radiohead), Solipsism (Joep Beving), Purple Rain (Prince)
Movies – Requiem for a Dream, Amélie, O Brother Where Art Thou?
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?
As of late I prefer studio time more. I’ve never performed a rap song live. I used to be an a blues-rock. The drummer is a badass/super talented but I i’m trash so that was embarrassing but a lot of fun. I used to scream super hard and all the white people in the crowd would be like “I’m confused!!!??? but okay!!” We got a lot of play back then bc I’m black and the drummer was dope. But it was stupid fun. I miss it a lot actually. But I would always spit bars and watch ER. So when the time came for me to take the mantle of Cubgod I did. Plus, studio work allows you to get lost in your work/create your own world. That is an addicting feeling that I’m sure anyone who records understands. Like i don’t even gotta make good music (I usually don’t). You just gotta make sounds and dance and suddenly… BAM you’re in your own world where niggas appreciate pigeons. Real talk.
Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?
These are all true. Whether they are funny or unique is a matter of opinion:
My Pops wears sweatpants that are too loose so he uses a belt to keep them up. but his sweats aing to no loops so he just tightens the belt really tight around his waist. I’ma use that for some cover art one day. Real talk
I sing all my songs’ melodies first before rapping. My singing voice is ass but only god, the FBI, Vishnu, the studio audience, and my dog can judge me. Actually that’s a lot of niggas.
I record in my garage that is sorta kinda sound proof. In the summer it gets like 115 in there. Sometimes I’ll be recording and get light-headed and want to quit. Then i look over at this illustration of Prince I have on the wall (real talk) and I can hear his voice saying “don’t be a bitch ass nignuggly wuggly. Gon’ take your clothes off and keep recording.” So i do. Then i usually faint from heat exhaustion. But the song be fire doe.
Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?
Uuuuhh.. I only have 3.5 songs right now but I guess “Ready” is the most unique so far. I created it using an 80’s synth that modulates all throughout that bitch. Makes it feel like some “Drive” (the movie) shit starring Ryan Gosling’s face. Anyways, there’s that and also it ends with an actual recording of Guile from the Street Fighter Cartoon saying “Sonic Boom.” When I put that in there I looked over at Prince and his portrait nodded at me. Then I fainted. Also, I sent that track to my brother and he was pleased. It’s impossible to please him. Some would say “he’s unpleasable until he is pleased.” Think about that shit. Real talk.
Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?
I’ma make more music.
Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…
Who is Cubgod?
I am Cubgod.
Curated by: Christos Doukakis
Recommended listening:
Connect with Cubgod:
https://www.instagram.com/fmcubgod/