BUTCH CASSIDY  (March 2004) | Interview By: Yash

       Dubcnn.com sat down with singer Butch Cassidy who has been on all the big albums lately singin the dopest hooks just like his cousin Nate Dogg. He has worked with pretty much everyone in the game right now from Snoop Dogg to G Unit and Westside Connection. He has blessed them all with his original smooth voice. He talked to us about his upcoming album, how Snoop was the first person to give him his chance to shine on a record, growing up in LBC, leaving Universal records, working with artists like 50 Cent & Ludacris camp and much more. Please feel free to send any feedback regarding the interview to yash@dubcnn.com


Huge thanks to Butch Cassidy for taking time out to answer the questions fans wanted to know! (Interview was done by phone on March 20th 2004)

Questions Asked By : Yash

Butch Cassidy Gave Dubcnn.com A Shoutout! Check That Here

Full Interview in Audio: Here

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Dubcnn.com: Where did you grow up and how was your life growin up?

Longbeach california the LBC life full of struggle comin up but you know when I feel like I got god by my side Im always alrite. It was you know..It started off cool but then it got tough right around my ball Junior high dance but I made it through my music started makin it crack.

Dubcnn.com: At what age did you start singin?

I was about 6 or 7 years old when I made my first song. Started in the church.

Dubcnn.com: How old are you Butch?

umm 27 *Laughs*

Dubcnn.com: Who influenced you to start singin?

My family they used to always sing in the church. Used to watch but once I realized I had the voice I started using it for my mother and grandmother just all my family members.

Dubcnn.com: Who was the first to really give you a chance to shine?

To really give me a chance to shine..

Dubcnn.com: Yea on a record..

Snoop Dogg

Dubcnn.com: Alrite how did you hookup with him and the DPG?

Well me and Nate Dogg are first cousins me and him used to record alot but nothing really ever got goin so once I started doing my own demo I had a DJ by the name of Killa Slow Jammin James he used to work at umm think it was 92 , 93 at the time to be and he um he started playing one of my demos on the radio every nite just out of respect. I heared one nite.. they called me and told me to be on the record for the Eastsidaz with all the homies from Longbeach. They wanted my vocals on there so it went from there.

Dubcnn: Do you have any other people in your family that have a musical Proffesion?

No just me and Nate Dogg.

Dubcnn.com: What made you take that step into the music industry?

It's just something that I always wanted to do people have influenced me from the earliest days with groups like Blue Magic and I was really influenced by Prince but I dont have a style like him Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Al Green thats the main ones I love their style of music.

Dubcnn.com: Did you think you would have such an impact like you have had?

I was a little scared in the early days because I didn't know how they would accept it but after the first song came out and I seen how people have done it..I been on the field awhile now and seen so it's time for me to do it on my own. It's alot different than always walking outthere with somebodys song that they recognize. Now you know doin by yourself, thats how it feels im talkin bout good before I hit the stage but once im outthere im outhere.

Dubcnn.com: Where you ever signed to Doggystyle?

Na I was never signed to Doggystyle.

Dubcnn.com: Are you cool with everyone from the DPG? Are you cool with Kurupt?

Im cool with everybody! Nobody got beef with me I dont got any beef with them. I dont have no problems with Kurupt. Kurupt chose to make them decisions the way he wanted to make them so it's his life.

Dubcnn.com: Have you heared of Tray Dee beefin with Snoop? Whats your views on that?

Foolish really it's my view on it. It's foolish I don't think it shoulda took place I think it coulda been worked out but now that it has escalated to a lever were it's at now it's nothing we can do about it but pray about it.

Dubcnn.com: Haven't they spoken since that happened?

umm I don't know..

Dubcnn.com: What lable are you signed to at the moment?

I just got off Universal. I'm talking to some other lables right now...

Dubcnn.com: Oh why did you leave Universal?

Universal didn't know what direction I was comin in, they didn't know how to promote or put out a westcoast act like me. I might not say Universal but one of the individuals that was working up there at Universal. Not Universal as a company but one of the A&R's up there that didn't share the same views that I did. He signs me as a westcoast act but he didn't want me to do westcoast music I guess he wanted me to do pop rock shit or somethin.

Dubcnn.com: dam good thing you left because we love that westcoast shit you do!

*laughs* yea I can't stretch straight away from my style. All of my records ain't all about gangsta shit I do alot of shit for the women.

Dubcnn.com: Will you take the masters with you, the tracks that you recorded or?

Yea they still there..well na not take but Universals willing to work with me and have it pulled on the record.

Dubcnn.com: How many tracks did you record on Universal?

About 13

Dubcnn.com: Can you tell us a bit more about that album?

Well it's called the confessions. I was gonna work with my buddy Mystikal before his little tragedy happened. So far the featurings I have on it is Snoop Dogg, Dj Quik, Knocturnal I just did one with Damion (Damizza) and upcoming acts I got a girl on my record called Silky Slim so look at a variety of things goin down now. I just did some stuff with 50 Cent so in return he gone do something on my record.

Dubcnn.com: What track did you do with 50 Cent?

It's on the G Unit album.

Dubcnn.com: Oh that one alrite..

Yea.

Dubcnn.com: Do you have any clue when the release date will be?

Im hoping for sometime just before the summer or in the summer. We workin the single right now called "Talk To Me".

Dubcnn.com: yea I heared that man it's tight.

yea we tryna get that picked up...

Dubcnn.com: How did you hookup with Damizza and Baby ree?

I've known Damizza since about 4 - 5 years back. I did a song with him he produced a song for Kurupts Records long time ago, like 4 years ago I sung a hook for him and ever since then Ive been in contact with the kid.


Dubcnn.com: How much do you charge for a hook if an independent artist were to ask you?

My fee is 15 to 20 but im willing to work for 5 to 10 if they independent.

Dubcnn.com: Who's beats do you feel most comfortable on?

It's not about comforting I mean if it's musical and it sounds good, I don't care if the boy next door did it. If it's a hot track it's a hot track. But umm the hottest songs on my record I feel that some noname cats did so it don't really matter to me where the beat come from. But it's hot producers like ofcourse Dre, you got Quik you got damion beats up and comin his shit is gettin real hot. Jazze Phe, Kanye West all these cats.

Dubcnn.com: Have you had the chance to work with Dre?

He helped produce on "Lay Low".

Dubcnn.com: What do you want to achieve in the future?

I just wanna wake up in ten years and do music for the rest of my life and for everybody to love and respect it. And buy this shit *laughs* Platinum status I guess. Hope I can one day do a 2-3 hour show with nothing but Butch Cassidy

Dubcnn.com: would you ever consider doing a collabo album with a rapper, where you sing on all the songs and the rapper raps, if so what rapper would you like to make it with?

Yea I could do that. Somebody like Snoop somebody with a laid back style somebody from the LB or 50Cent... I really dig Busta Rhymes. Jay Z the list goes on and on. I dig Ludacris, that camp and Mystikal. I really wanna get down with Outkast.. love their things.

Dubcnn.com: You were on the Westside Connection album on the song "Pimp The SYstem". How did that go down?

It turned out real good I did another song with them ever since we did that song "Connected 4 Life".
I had a good connection with them kids, We just came together and did song "Pimp The System" and thats the hottest song on the record. Hopefully it will be one of their singles.

Dubcnn.com: Have you recorded for any other heavyweight albums that the fans should look out for?

You know about the G Unit, Westside Connection I did something with Lil Flip that should be coming out soon. Black Guerilla from the westcoast. I prolly got some more up-n-coming stuff with Snoop Dogg and Im supposed to be in the studio with my cousin Nate Dogg soon to finish a record.

Dubcnn.com: Hows that goin hows his album turning out?

From what I heared it sounded real good so once me and him get together on the collaboration album it's gonna sound even better. Because me and him did some nice tracks in the past. People wanna see us get down together

Dubcnn.com: Out of all the songs you done so far what is your favorite track?

I would say "Lay Low". Yea "Lay Low" is one of my favourites. I like that song I did with 50. I got something comin out with I-20 Im about to say something about him too that's from the Ludacris camp.

Dubcnn.com: Tell us about that then.

I did two songs with him (I-20). Those songs are really hot. They coming out on Capital, Priority or something. I don't have the titles of those songs right now but it's with I-20. And I got something on a record coming out called The Relativez. I did two songs with them. Yea it's a hot song I did with them. We performed it not to long ago at the white lotus club.

Dubcnn.com: I heared Krayzie Bone is signed to the same record label.

Yea im suppose to get with him tryna do one.

Dubcnn.com: You will sound tight with Krayzie.

You think so?

Dubcnn.com: Yea.

It's a done deal.

Dubcnn.com: Who out of all these young artists out the west are you feeling at the moment?

Out the west only?

Dubcnn.com: na you can tell us who you're feelin from the states then.

oh ok umm Im really feeling Alicia Keys, I can't wait til Eryka Badu come back. Ofcourse Beyonce, Monica is good. Missy Elliot is good... Men, as far as the R&B tip it's R. Kelly he's a good producer hopefully me and him will get together one day. Can't wait for D'angelo to comeback I respect the hell out of him. Jaheim he got a nice little sound. Usher's good.

Dubcnn.com: Have you heared 50's new artist? The Game from Compton?

I haven't heared him yet but Im supposed to do a song with him with umm, what's the dj's name Green Lantern?

Dubcnn.com: yea

He's doin a mixtape and he want me to do a song with Game and EVE

Dubcnn.com: He's tight you should do a song with him.

Right now my main focus is getting my record outthere I've been outthere on so many features that I feel like I paid my dues. It's finnally my time so I been really outthere just pushing for my record right now that's my main focus.

Dubcnn.com: What kinda songs will you have on your album I mean what subjects will you touch?

Some is Gangsta some is R&B dealing with alot of music soulful stuff that you expect from Cassidy but its gone be some that you might not have expected. Different feeling because I did all types of styles. It's when Im with the rappers I would just you know im limited to what I can do. It's only room sometimes for like a hook and a break so you can't really notice what Cassidy can do but now that I get the chance to do my own record Ima let it all shine.

Dubcnn.com: Out of all the producers you worked with so far can you tell me who is your favourite?

Dj Quik is fun to work with.. This kids name Bobby Music..

Dubcnn.com: Bobby?

Bobby and ?? are brothers. They work for Jimmy Jammin Jay Lewis.

Dubcnn.com: Who would you like to work with in the future?

Eryka Badu, D'angelo, R. Kelly and I heared Jay Z retired so I guess thats the top 3.

Dubcnn.com: I think he's gonna comeback.

Yea I do too

Dubcnn.com: Have things cooled off between Damizza and Shade SHeist?

I don't know I dont think so, I don't think they still talkin eventually something will happen and they'll calm down. Wish it was cool but it just sad to see for this to break apart like that they family man.
They'll solve their problems and comeback together and be a big westcoast thang.

Dubcnn.com: What can we do to bring the westcoast back as strong as it was back in 96?

Well to me it's not really like the westcoast fell off the westcoast is supported all around the world because I was on the streets of New York and dat fans hollering at me just the regular fans the young kids that noticed who I am when Im walking down the street so it's not a factor. Weren't like when they see me they tried to stone me or nothin. It's not them thats hating on us it's the radio not playing the music. That's why the westcoast is not being heared and is not being played.

Dubcnn.com: Yea what can we do to stop that?

Man if I had the answer to that believe me it woulda stopped along time ago.

Dubcnn.com: Yea true.

Once we get passed that then it's on. It's not about a hot song to me nomore. You can have a hot song all day then there so many politics behind for it you can't even get the dam thang played.
Because they don't even go by if the music is good nomore it's just all favours dam near.

Dubcnn.com: Yea I think they pay them to play that.

Some in the house be like what can you do for me? I like the song dam if the song is hot enough.
...You have to becareful outthere just the music game has changed so much. It's not called a hit no more it's called a song with money behind.

Dubcnn.com: Were did you get the name Butch Cassidy? Is that your real name?

Yea my moma and daddy they named me Butch when I was little that was my nickname but when I got with Snoop he just did Cassidy aquire to it.

Dubcnn.com: Ok man thanks so much for speaking to us is there anything else you wanna tell the fans before we wrap this up?

Yea check the album out and ah look for Butch Cassidy come and check my new single "Talk To Me".
It should be comin sometime this summer just keep your eyez and ears open for me and ima feed you for years to come.