The festival arenas and all the major podcasts and mainstream airplay are filled with the tracks by Cwest who is also known as Cory West. The singer is based out of La Porte in Indiana and has made the cash registers to ring with the magnificent 11-track album ‘Time to Kill’. Some of the most remarkable tracks from the album are ‘Breaking the Wall’, ‘Too Close for Comfort’, ‘Settle for Best’, the title song ‘Time to Kill’, and ‘How Long?’.
He began his journey in the musical arena in the year 2007 and started rapping with incredible finesse. He finished his graduation from the well-known Columbia College Chicago and boasts of a bachelor’s degree in the subject of music business and artist management. He finished the recording of this album at the famous Soundscape Studios along with senior engineers of the caliber of Jabari Rayford. In the year 2015, he shifted base to Burbank, CA.
The brilliant tracks from the album can be heard by logging on to popular streaming apps like Spotify and Soundcloud. To know more about the rapper, the fans can plug into his profile on Facebook and Instagram and fetch important information about his queued-up ventures. We did have a chance to have a word with the brilliant rapper and he was candid enough to answer some pertinent questions related to his career as well as his personal life. This will give a sneak peek into his life and we were very happy to know about him and started the interview as it turned out to be a mouthwatering prospect for his fans.
Daily Music Roll: What was the initial drive that prompted you to take the big plunge in the musical arena?
Cwest: I’ve always been a musician but after graduating from college with heavy debt and “real life” closing in, I came to the realization that I needed to fully take the chance on my music before it was too late, ultimately deciding to move to California in 2015.
DMR: How and when you fell in love with hip hop and started taking a keen interest to learn the nitty-gritty of the genre?
Cwest: I started out in metal bands as a bassist when I was 14. Eminem’s movie, “8 Mile”, began my journey down the hip hop rabbit hole. After watching it I started rap battling and freestyling with my friends at band practice for fun. I made my first song in 2007 and never looked back.
DMR: Do you idol worship anyone and got mesmerized by the charisma and sheer talent of the person?
Cwest: Tech N9ne is a rapper I look up to, not only for his lyrical ability but also for his business savvy. Strange Music and Tech have laid the blueprint for independent hip hop. The longevity of his career is amazing!
DMR: Is there any icon from the world of music you want to meet and share a fanboy moment?
Cwest: I would’ve loved to have shared a moment with Mac Miller before his death. He seemed like a really down to earth, the likable guy on top of being an irreplaceable talent.
DMR: Which is more important for you in terms of setting benchmarks? Is it the creative and musical prowess or fame and material success?
Cwest: For me, creative and musical prowess has always outweighed any desire for fame and fortune. Hopefully, the latter comes as a result of the former. I love the feeling of coming up with a great idea and watching it grow.
DMR: Who among the contemporaries do you think has got great talent and can give a run for their money to others?
Cwest: I’ve been blown away and inspired by underrated artists like Joyner Lucas and Chris Webby. Their respect for the craft shows in their lyrics and grind.
DMR: Which is your favorite city in the world where you get the adrenalin rush to perform to the best of your ability?
Cwest: I consider Chicago a second home. I have a lot of history there, having graduated from Columbia College Chicago with my bachelor’s in Music Business/Artist Management. I’ve recorded all my albums in Chicago since 2009. Shout out to senior engineer Jabari Rayford at Soundscape Studios for taking “Time to Kill” to the next level!
DMR: How do you view the present Covid-19 pandemic and how has it affected your life?
Cwest: While Covid-19 has been shocking, I think it has also been an important catalyst in more people waking up and questioning things. I’m trying to stay hopeful for a bright future and continue moving forward. As far as the industry, the current state poses a huge threat to the future of live shows. Considering most independent artists make their living from touring and merch sales, everyone will be forced to adapt.
DMR: What is your take on the socio-political scenario prevailing in the world? Does it have any impact on your creativity?
Cwest: In today’s society, it’s becoming harder to express yourself authentically. Censorship and surveillance are at all-time highs so while we’re at our most exposed we’re also pressured to be perfect. I try to embrace the flaws, mistakes, and offenses I’m bound to make while learning. I don’t agree with what everyone says but I defend their right to say it. George Carlin put it perfectly: “Political correctness is fascism pretending to be manners.”
DMR: Is the music industry moving in the right direction according to you? If not, what are the changes that you recommend being a part of the fraternity?
Cwest: I think the music industry is completely transforming both for better and worse. There are a lot of opportunities for artists right now and great talent can be found everywhere online. On the other hand, that means a lot of times social media visibility becomes more important in advancing one’s career than the actual music. When the money becomes more important than the music, you’re not making art anymore, you’re just making a product.
DMR: Do you feel the urge to nurture young talent and take them under the wings so that they turn out to be great performers in the future?
Cwest: Definitely! I’m using my own career as a testing ground. I plan to use my background in the music business to discover new artists and build a solid team for my own record label. I’ll produce albums for other musicians first and build from there.
DMR: What are your thoughts on giving it back to hip hop music and passing on the talent to your successors?
Cwest: I plan on giving back to hip hop by inspiring others to believe that their dreams, no matter what they may be, aren’t only possible to achieve but impossible to live without.
