An Interview with Cazwell: Gay Rapper and Singer

Rappers: They're offensive, raunchy, politically incorrect and their teeth never seem to be in good shape, but dammit, they really know how to turn on a gay kid. Whether it's the too-cool-for-school belligerence or just the raw, unrestrained sexuality, wherever a half-naked guy gets to spitting rhymes-it's like Pavlov and his dogs-my mouth starts salivating.

My first major crush was Ja Rule with his rippling muscles and gorgeous tats. And God knows others caught my eye too: LL Cool J (hottest abs ever), Pharrell, and-forgive me civil rights activists-even Eminem with all his pent-up aggression really tapped into college-age sex fantasies. But there is a new kid on the scene-he's rap with a disco/techno blend-and he might just be hotter than all the guys listed above. His name? Cazwell.

His latest album? Get Into It. What makes him hotter? Well for one, he goes for guys, so that puts the dream that much closer to reality. But honestly, he's just that hot, he likes to show it off, and, as we discovered in our personal interview with him, he's even got some brains behind his brawn.

Assciated Content: First things first. Everyone always wants to know: When you were growing up, who did you listen to most? Who in the rap/hip hop industry, especially?

Cazwell: In rap and hip hop I listened to The Beastie Boys the most. I would dream about being the 4th member.

Assciated Content: Why do you think rap music spoke to you when you were growing up in Worcester, Massachusetts?

Cazwell:Rap actually didn't speak to me anymore than punk rock or pop or Motown. I just like good music. I started rapping 'cause I can't sing. But I mostly like artists that actually have something to say and stand for something. Usually the right to be your self and express your self. As a kid, I also liked Public Enemy, Sinead O'Connor and artists that didn't necessarily get the popular vote for their points of view but said what they wanted anyway.

Assciated Content: Where did you get your start? How old were you?

Cazwell:I started pursuing music seriously when I was 19. I started out in a rap duo with a dyke named Crasta Yo. We were in a group called Morplay.

Assciated Content: Do you have any initiation-into-the-industry stories from when you first started?

Cazwell: Well, starting off in Worcester Massachusetts was not the most accepting experience. Starting off in Morplay, one of our first gigs was at a hole called, "Sir Morgan's Cove." You know the gigs going down hill when they have chicken wire up in front of the stage. Only when we showed up did we find out it was a battle of the bands type gig, and we had no friends, and the other band was this heavy metal band called Crype.

I kept calling them, "Tripe" by mistake and the fans started pelting bottles at us and threw popcorn through the holes in the screen. It was like performing at a petting zoo...and we were the pets. Then at another club, someone through a tomato slice at me once, and it stuck to my cheek. It was actually kind of funny. After the song, I was like, "Who brought a sandwich TO A CLUB???" But honestly when people throw things at you, it makes you feel punk rock, although I prefer money over tomato slices any day.

Assciated Content: You mentioned it wasn't "the most accepting experience" in Worcester, at first. Have you met a lot of rejection in the industry because of your explicitly gay lyrics?

Cazwell: Nope. I don't believe the music industry is particularly homophobic. The only phobia that the industry has is "not making money." I have had rejection from people in the industry that don't believe I can make money doing this, but I'm about to prove them wrong.

Assciated Content: Yes, you are already proving them wrong. You were one of the artists on the True Colors tour this year. How was that experience?

Cazwell: The experience was pretty intense for me. I played at Radio City Music Hall so I had to make sure the show was a "show". Besides me and Amanda Lepore, we had 26 back up dancers, including 16 drag queen Rockettes. We turned it out! I'm sure we appealed to the show 'cause there was nothing else like us on the roster.

Assciated Content: Now onto your album, Get Into It. I've been hearing "All Over Your Face" in the clubs all summer, and the whole album is spectacular. Do you have a favorite song?

Cazwell: My favorite song on the album is "I Buy My Socks on 14th St." because, ultimately, I got exactly what I wanted. It's also my favorite to perform. I wanted an anthem for New York City pedestrians, and the video was perfect for it and stress free.

Assciated Content: I've watched your music videos on Youtube. I think "Watch My Mouth" is my favorite.

Cazwell: Thanks. I'm glad you like the video. I'm really proud of it. I love making music videos because I'm just as much a visual artist as I am a musical artist. Bringing a song to life with a video has always been extremely rewarding no matter how stressful. My goal is always to make the video look like how the song sounds.

Assciated Content: Any words of advice for adoring fans the next time they see you in concert?

Cazwell: Yeah. Sometimes I get these really girly guys that start crying and screaming when I get on stage. That feels really weird. Every now and then, I have to tell a guy to put his pussy on ice and chill out.