TLOY Presents: The CashOnly Interview
Augusta, GA-raised, Atlanta-residing rapper, artist, 1/2 of the two-hit rap duo TK-N-Cash, and the founder and owner of Banq Boi Music Group, CashOnly, is someone who always strives for greatness in any lane he's pursuing, whether it's music, running a business, or so forth.
Having a start in the early 2010s after being signed to Ludacris's Disturbing Tha Peace alongside Augusta, GA artist, singer-songwriter and rapper, TK Kravitz, the GA artist had managed to gain success through many local and nationwide performances and having two of the biggest hits to date, Mind Right and 3x in a Row, which both received lots of commercial success and critical acclaim based on the catchy songwriting and the ear for great melodies.
Once the late 2010s started to approach, the duo parted their ways and CashOnly developed his solo career more accordingly with many releases such as Talk Dat Talk, ATM, Bizness Only, & Transactions, where he had many features from the likes of Dice Soho, 24HRS, Juicy J, Boosie Badazz, Dej Loaf, OT Genasis, and many more.
Throughout that time until now, CashOnly has focused on building his record label, Banq Boi Music Group, alongside working with many artists on various creative ventures such as the likes of Wiz Khalifa, 24HRS, and many more. In this interview, we managed to speak with CashOnly to speak more about his upbringing, his influences, his start in music, and much more.
Q: Growing up in Queens, NY & Atlanta, what was the environment like for you growing up, as well as your childhood. Would you say that it was a good experience growing up or would it be different?
CashOnly: Well I moved to Augusta, GA when I was like 2-3 from New York & it was overall just a good childhood with lots of great memories. Growing up in a less fortunate household, it takes a toll but it helped me to gain knowledge and understanding of a how to [have a] "go get it mindset". I moved to Atlanta once I graduated highschool and signed to Ludacris (DTP) & my life change drastically after that.
Q: To speak about the music scene in Atlanta, what makes the city such a place of unity and black excellence when it comes to music, the arts scene, and other parts of the culture?
CashOnly: It's like a iykyk type of city. Like eveyone comes together to create & it's a lot of social ways to get involved or as I should say network. You can bump into just about anybody at any given moment if you're outside. The strip club is the biggest network to me cause that's where I started at.
Q: What was your first introduction to music and what were some artists or genres you listened to growing up?
A: I did gold commercials or (jingles) for my big brother Flaco. Shoutout to my big brother [because] he introduced me honestly. Lil Wayne is my favorite artist of all time [and] I grew up listening to dude. Ja Rule, Trick Daddy, Jeezy, T.I, and also R&B music to be honest. Donnell Jones, I would say is my fav[orite] male R&B artist of all time. So a lot of different people but Wayne made me wanna do music for sure.
Q: What was the first CD you ever bought in your life?
A: Tbh I never really brought CDs! I always used LimeWire or BearShare and burned my own mixtapes lol. I think I brought one my mom did [and] it was a hit clip with a Sammie song, "I Like".
Q: How did you get into rapping and making music?
A: Like I said previously, my big bro got locked up [and] he called me from jail and asked me to do these jingles he was doing at the time for buying gold (if you know Augusta, GA you know lol) but that's really how I started.
Q: What is your musical background and history and what inspired you to become a rapper and artist?
A: Don't really have much of a musical background, I just jumped into it at a young age.
Q: How did you get your start in the mainstream music industry and what was that experience like being introduced to the music industry and meeting many big names in the scene?
A: Awww man, fresh in highschool still I was on the phone with Shawty Lo (RIP to big unk) but I just was connected and he wanted to sign me when I was a junior in high school then when I was in the 12th grade, we reached [out to] the likes of Ludacris and DTP when me and my big bro use to go back and forth to Atlanta to do showcases, all while in highschool. So that's my start. But mannn, it's so many people that I've met and are still cool with like Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa, Ty Dolla $ign, Lil scrappy, Jacquees, Yo Gotti, man so many to even name. But meeting Lil Wayne and knowing he knew who I was & actually did a remix to one of songs "Mind Right" [was] just was mind blowing. I felt like a fan lol! But overall, the experience is the experience like it's so many ways to experience it so it's a roller coaster ride gotta take the ups with the downs.
Q: What is your creative process when making music and what would a day in the studio be like for you?
A: A bottle of tequila, my producer, and record myself. I usually just freestyle everything or do punch ins and engineer myself. It's a pretty cool process, it's usually just me and a few others. I hate a lot of people in the studio with me. So yea[h], pretty much drinking n rapping!
Q: With 3x In a Row & Mind Right being, tell me more about the impact on those songs and how it changed everything for Tk-N-Cash and for you personally in a way?
A: Mannn just know it changed my life drastically in great ways! We legit came from nothing and I mean NOTHING, broke af, like just us n da gang making shit shake. It was insightful , fun, mind boggling at times, just rolling with da punches and letting God do his big one. I loved every part of it the mistakes and the right decisions.
Q: What were the creative processes and inspirations for your solo stuff such as Talk Dat Talk, ATM, Bizness Only, & Transactions?
A: Man, just in the studio myself really recoding and enjoying music and trying new methods and new ways on my own outside of being in a group.
Q: Knowing that you’re the owner and founder of Banq Boi Music Group, what’s it like running and maintaining an independent record label?
A: It's a do what you gotta do type thing ya know. Like your totally doing everything yourself or sometimes with a little help but it takes time, patience, and money lol, but mainly time understanding the game and understanding how to get in where you fit in. I have kids & a family, and opening a restaurant soon so juggling everything wheww I just like to say god helps me maintain everything.
Q: What are some misconceptions about the music industry and running a record label that you would like to share?
A: That it's, just that easy and really it's not at all. It's a lot of hard work, time, and dedication. You gotta put that time in, build connections , have your money right, & be in the right places at the right times.
Q: Do you think “find a way to make your music go viral on TikTok” is a fair/creative/effective marketing strategy proposal for artists to use or does it diminish one’s artistry?
A: I mean whatever floats your boat in this new generation. I came from a burn your own CDs and hit the streets type-era way before even MySpace was [not] thought of or any social media. So, I mean I wouldn't say easier it's just in my opinion, I don't think it will create megastars that' we've had in the past.
Q: Did you feel that you have grown as an artist from the start of your career until now?
A: For sureeee, all the way around from creating to even networking n overall becoming a wise artist in the game.
Q: Being a hard-working artist and CEO, how did you manage to provide longevity, consistency, and versatility to your career for a long period of time? What would be some great advice that you would give to any aspiring people that want to follow in your footsteps?
A: Take it day by day, keep god first, and a big one: "STAY WORKING ON YOUR CRAFT EVERYDAY" if you can. And relationships are better then money in this game it's all about who you know not how much you think you know.
Q: Any closing remarks you would like to say?
A: I appreciate you for reaching out and doing this interview honestly dealing with family and kids and building other avenues can distract you at times so I appreciate you. Without God, nothing's possible but with him you can achieve heights you never thought you could reach so keep him first at all times.
Folow CashOnly Below:
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