Conversations with CxB

Today we’d like to introduce you to CxB.

Hi CxB, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve come to be known as CxB – (pronounced “CB”) – an American Hip-Hop/Rap artist hailing from the working-class city of Raleigh, North Carolina. Originally born in a rural city on the eastern part of the state (Plymouth, N.C.) – my family and I were somewhat “nomadic” during my early adolescent years. This was due to my father’s multiple relocations while serving in the armed forces (Army), causing us to constantly move along the southeastern Atlantic-coastline, before finally settling in Raleigh (1994) at the age of five. This is where my first memories of attending school (Aldert Root Elementary) and living occurred; while staying in the Terra East apartment complex on the north side of the city before moving to the (then) up-and-coming bordering town of Knightdale, N.C.

As a child, I didn’t have any family influence into music – it simply became something that I was drawn to, both building and creating an admiration for the craft. Creating more of a “home-grown” feel for myself, as my ascension stemmed from organic, humble beginnings; laying the foundation for my current work ethic, in which I produce, mix, and master all of my music. Such a beginning eventually molded me into continuously listening to, in addition to mimicking, any and everything playing through the airwaves. When I finally came of age, both this admiration and influence from music inspired me to create “mixtapes” (on cassette) of songs that I’d hear on the radio. And as time would prove over the years, this early musical influence ultimately turned into a passion; leading to the construction of my first officially written “verse” in the 6th grade (later creating solo songs by my junior year in high school). It wasn’t until after college that I began taking my craft more seriously – upon observing the musical landscape and witnessing how lucrative music had become for independent artists.

After disbanding from a local underground Hip-Hop group in late 2012, I (then referred to as CKxBreeze) released my first solo (cover) project in 2013 entitled: Eye C U. This inaugural release marked the beginning of my artistry finding my niche as a solo act – while also providing myself the opportunity to heavily invest more time into practicing the engineering (i.e., mixing and mastering) aspect; which can be viewed as a prime example of how eager and multi-faceted I am as an “artist” to this day. Not only am I an avid audio engineer (mentioned above), I’m also a: songwriter, music producer, and cinematographer – seeing as I’ve led these roles for all my release’s to date. The ideology behind being so multi-faceted stems from a fundamental concept learned from a close friend: “gain all the knowledge needed as to not become dependent on anyone for your own success”. Or in summary: making it the priority in becoming a “walking record label”; which was the inspiration behind my 2018 project – “I Am the Label (Ep)”.

As aforementioned, with my first official release being in 2013, I’ve since released eight solo projects (in addition to one collaboration project entitled – Blaque Breeze); the most recent being a four-song Ep entitled No Excuses (2021). At this point in my career, there isn’t an “end goal” insight for my artistry – only growth and inclination; seeing myself as a “creator”, the plan is to continue growing within each role mentioned above. With the thought process being to simply release content – both musically and visually – incessantly generating a buzz for myself in whatever role that’s warranted.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a smooth road, actually. Besides being an aspiring multi-layered artist attempting to find their sound within an ever-changing musical landscape, one often deals with many personal hardships. All of which can range from: death, relationship problems, monetary issues, etc.; in which all of the previously mentioned were experienced along the way.

One of the more constant struggles that I deal with (to this date) would be the concept of “perfectionism”. Believing that nothing can be released to the public until it is “perfect” from an artistry perspective; this tends to slow the creative process. I’ve dealt with this since I began creating but have more recently made a concentrated effort to stray away from.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I consider myself an all-around artist, specifically within the Hip-Hop / Rap genre; however, I also record, engineer (mix and master), and film my music and visuals. The process of being this multi-faceted began in 2013, all leading up to my current progression – which I’m very proud of; not being dependant on outsourcing in order to create (IE: production teams, videographers, etc.).

I would consider this to be what sets me apart from others; being business savvy, in addition to not having limitations when it comes to creativity. True independence, in which my career is based solely upon the work that I attribute to it; in combination to potentially any investors and/or joint-ventures along the way.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Besides the typical social media apps used for both marketing and promotion (IE: Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, etc.), I’ve found the ’48 Laws of Power’ book to be beneficial along my journey. Additionally, many different entrepreneurial family members have attributed to my knowledge throughout my life – in which this has definitely benefited my business savvy.

Contact Info:

• Email: www.OfficialCxB.com
• Instagram: @whoisCxB
• Facebook: whoisCxB
• Twitter: @whoisCxB_
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk1_We2hV91Z_qw01w7SLcA
• SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/officialCxB