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Cubbiebear: Better Than Making Shit Up
It’s clear from Cubbiebear’s lyrics and sound that he’s got a lot on his mind. He’s an MC with a message and a past that he shares through his music. The Baltimore MC founded a group and subsequent series of live shows that they–maybe shockingly–titled The Rape. It’s not every day that you hear that term affiliated with someone’s music, but it was chosen to convey a message and there’s no remorse on their part for the vivid nature of the term. It gets the point across, it makes a statement.
I wanted to talk with Cubbiebear about his first real experience on a tour outside of his Baltimore stomping ground and get some insight into his music and why he raps the way he does. He wasn’t afraid to get personal either, and hooked us up with his new track featuring Him, SeezMics and Prolyphic that they made during the Educated Consumer’s Hello Big Mama tour. His latest release, the free EP titled Still Can’t Fly, is one of my personal favorites. Five tracks of excellent genre-bending, in-your-face, hip-hop music. Check it out by downloading it from his new website at [www.cubbiebear.net].
Alright let’s get into it. First of all, how was tour?
Cubbiebear: The tour was great. Dez, Seez and Prolyphic taught me a lot. Just doing the tour for only a week my show got 10 times better. I learned how to interact and not give a shit but be entertaining ‘cause usually I don’t talk. Unless it’s in song. So I didn’t have much of a monologue before, learned quick how to figure something out to keep attention whether talking to the audience or something.
Oh, out of that whole tour a song with Myself, DJ Addikt, Seez Mics, and Prolyphic was made. Came out much better then we expected. It should be on StrangeFamousRecords.com as “Clip Of The Week” next week [Now] I think. And my site [www.cubbiebear.net]
Cubbiebear, Prolyphic, SeezMics, DJ Addikt – Fake Limps | Download (via SFR)
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Excellent, did you guys record it in a studio or what?
CB: Mine. The same set up I recorded The Rape on. Just finished recording before we started this [interview] but eh. Think I’m going to re-record after. I want to scream on everything, doesn’t turn out well all the time, I need to chill out at times.
I need to chill out at times.
Going back to the tour, you said you learned a lot just from ten days, was this your first multi-state jaunt?
CB: Yeah, never got to do this before, I’ve built in Baltimore and D.C. but never got to do something like this, I really owe it to Dez and Seez for this. I also saw what I’m capable of and well, if I could, I’d never stop touring.
I went from playing in front of people who support me, which is great, to playing in front of people who had no clue I was going to say what I did and got the “ohh’s” and “ahhh’s”. Saw a few people’s jaws open, some get pissed or act like I didn’t say it. It’s great getting heartfelt reactions and watching people get more and more into it. Then shaking [my] hand and telling [me] it was awesome, but not buy shit haha. Nah, but people here love my shit and support [The Rape] but people like in Albany where Dez really hooked it up for us, were nuts. No eyes left me; people would clap at the key points of my lyrics. I knew they were really listening and enjoyed the new[newness] of it. I get that [in Baltimore] like the whole crew does, but to see strangers do it is crazy.
Perfect flow into my next question–How do you think you were received overall outside of your home turf?
CB: I think great; most places received it very well. There were a few that got twisted up a bit, never took it badly but I could tell I wasn’t their normal music, but at the same time that made it more fun for me. I can get more aggressive when that happens and give the few who actually like it, in a crowd of people who mostly don’t, a better show. Like Richmond [definitely] isn’t my town. At least not with who we set it up with, no diss to them, they were cool but their crowd obviously wasn’t down to hear me say what I had to say.
At the same time it made me aggressive and I still sold a few CD’s because of it, I really expected to sell none. But I had a few people asking me about lines in my lyrics telling me I should be more careful or just questioning in general there. Albany was off the chain. Portland was great but the sound was bad so I don’t think I was heard at all. Buffalo, haha, I watched and made a great decision in doing so. Pittsburgh was great also, sold the most [merchandise] there with maybe one of the smallest crowds, venue was eh, sound guy actually gave me the boards cause he didn’t know how to do hip-hop, wow. But the crowd and city is awesome.
I also cut my finger making the pre-interview salad, so not only can I not spell but the band-aid’s hitting extra buttons without me seeing or noticing.
So, as far as the set goes, what tracks did you do at these shows that had some people so up in arms?
CB: “Kick Rocks”, “The Hulk”, “Danger Ape”, “Contra”, “Damned”, “Ink”. I had a part of “Firebox” in there but took it out, seemed to fuck the flow of the set up. Those songs with some Daniel Tosh samples thrown in.
But, “The Hulk” and “Contra” got the reactions, then “Damned” and “Ink” sucked them in. The rest were fun breaks to rap and not be so in their face.
In Pittsburgh I think the few who reacted just reacted to the balls of a white kid saying it.
The first thing I thought of, you mentioned these reactions and then said you did “The Hulk” — You drop the “N”-word in that song. Reactions? (“[I don't care] if your best friend’s African American and lets you call him a n—a”)
CB: Some either don’t hear it or act like they don’t which is the best reaction for my entertainment. I drop all music on that line so I know they heard it. Some people who know the song are actually starting to say it with me. [In] Richmond a guy opened his mouth and did an exaggerated run to the back of the crowd like wow and came back. [In] Albany I got smiles and claps, [in] Portland I really don’t think they could hear. [In] Pittsburgh I think the few who reacted just reacted to the balls of a white kid saying it. I don’t know if they even took in what I said but I saw they liked the whole “say what I’m gonnna” vibe. Big thanks to the homie at Blastfome.com for that show and a place to crash. He showed us around Pittsburgh while we were there and made me really enjoy the time.
There really are mixed emotions. The others on the tour have told me [that], that and my other line in Contra are where they look around the room to see what people are going to do. That makes it fun. Let them react; they should if they give a shit.
So, in Contra you draw a line between G-Unit and monkeys, or apes, is it racist? (“Example is g-unit, gorilla unit it’s a good name, you monkeys are all the same”)
CB: (Laughs) no, but putting that question after the n-bomb [definitely] makes me look fishy. I’m talking about rappers in that song. [It] just so happens [that] the biggest icon in the shitty rap I was talking about when I wrote it was [50 Cent] and G-Unit. I liked 50 when he came out. He’s talented, he might be lazy now but when he was hungry he was dope. Plus “Guerrilla Unit” was a good play on words to what I was trying to say about rappers acting so primitive, on libido, or just being trained into their music by the labels that own them, or what people want and sells.
You can’t expect respect from truly genuine people after going from an album like “Guess Who’s Back” to songs like “Magic Stick”, “Candy Shop” or like Ja Rule made “What Would I Be Without You”. They all do it and we all know why you made that. No grown man makes that music because he really had something to say about his “Magic Stick”. That music has it’s place but that jam isn’t genuine. You were still taught to do that. You just danced for the money. Which is straight, if you want to do that, but if you sell your integrity don’t expect me to respect it anymore. You might be king shit on TV now, but they caged and trained you to sell peanuts for them.
If you sell your integrity don’t expect me to respect it anymore.
More with lyrics, “You’re all the same” you say it about 20 times in a row in “Punch Pretty Women for Fun” off of the EP. Who is all the same?
CB: Jesus, who isn’t, it really is hard to find genuine people. Even if the genuine parts of you are the same as others, if you really are genuine the difference is noticed. I don’t talk much in most situations and I watch a lot. It’s so easy to figure people out and I think a lot of us notice that. It’s not as easy to explain but easy to feel. I’d elaborate but I think any example I’d give would just help me look more insane. The more I think I know the more I think I might be the one who isn’t well.
I’m not exempt from the list. Few people I’ve met are genuine with their reaction and I think it’s seen easily. DJ Addikt has always been one of those people who always means well and is genuine with anything he does, he’s someone who’d really be there if he could and just wants him and his friends to have a good life. My friend Mike Grace is probably the most genuine and awesome guy I’ve known. He has a way to be completely honest about how he’s feeling at all times without looking like a dick, which I can’t do. I’ll still do it but I’ll look like a dick. It’s something a lot of us lost somewhere growing up. He grew up but kept it somehow. If he’s bored with what the fuck you’re saying to him it’s all over his face. If he thinks you’re being an idiot or overthinking something he hesitates less then anyone I’ve ever met to say it immediately but some how is likable at the same time.
It’s hard to find people like that. You can almost always tell when people are doing things strictly for [themselves]. Happens constantly. Even more so since I’m in music. Every word out of someone’s mouth translates to “Stepping stone? No? How bout you? Stepping stone?”
The world’s fucked up, people shouldn’t be so afraid to acknowledge it. That’s why it’s only getting worse.
So what’s up with that title? “Punch Pretty Women For Fun”? WTF?
CB: I just liked it. That answer’s simple. Came out [of] the lyrics. It’s a title of power. Power that’s taken by shooting deer in cages. The last part of my verse I say “Girls only want boys for cars & money and boys punch pretty women for fun” or something.
The world’s fucked up, people shouldn’t be so afraid to acknowledge it. That’s why it’s only getting worse.
Shooting deer in cages?
CB: Yea a grown man hitting a petite woman? Could it be easier to hurt someone? Or, just verbally abusing someone smaller or weaker in mind? I know situations where it’s happened to friends of mine who are great people. Pick on someone your own size, dude. The title isn’t shock rap; it’s just saying it happens. There’s a good inside story about things I learned about one of the guys I made that song with, but I’ll leave that alone. We no longer speak.
You sure you don’t want to share it?
CB: I already went through a bunch of annoying bickering between many people on my MySpace a while back from a blog I wrote. Knowing it would hurt my music to express the situation how I did, but I had a ton of traffic locally at the time and it would help a particular person who needed it, among many others that never got their closure about the situation or [knew] the truth. Locals might understand, people out of town who don’t know me definitely wouldn’t get it. I did it anyway letting it interfere with my music and the way people might see me. Having close friends all spoken to like trash and being manipulated into what people look at as guilty, while being physically and verbally abused and/or just lied about wasn’t going to fly.
He slipped and said things [about me] to a close friend of mine, she saved it so I posted that shit. He’s, to this day, probably the best manipulator I’ve ever met, truly. To the point [where] many people won’t know unless they sat down for an hour and I told and showed them what all happened. But I won’t.
There’s more to life than looking cool and I’ll be the guy that’s not cool to a few assholes who won’t question it if it means I’ll stop someone from intimidating and threatening my friends. Fucked with the wrong ones this time, now he knows.
Sounds like you’ve put this conflict behind you then so we’ll move on. Let’s talk about your music more generally. You’ve got a lot of singing, a lot of repetition and guitar. Is it still hip-hop? Do people question it?
CB: That’s always such a cliché subject for me. I don’t really like labels. I know why [they are] there so I’m not bitching but I really don’t care. I used to have people tell me it’s not like regular hip-hop it’s like this or like that. Which I started taking pride in, negative and positive comments. But it seems like that’s caught on too, to the point I’ve noticed people categorizing music that’s hip-hop as “not hip-hop” cause it’s starting to sound cooler? Honest to god I don’t care. Call my music “Purple Music”, if you like it, thank you, if you don’t, I can respect it. Does it ever really matter?
Call my music “Purple Music”, if you like it, thank you, if you don’t, I can respect it.
I think you’re right, I have a question that I know everyone is going to be asking. Cubbiebear? Is that really your rap name?
CB: (Laughs), yep. I used to hide in cabinets when I was young. Scared the crap out my mom cause she didn’t know where I was but I’d stay in there even when she would call for me. She started calling me Cubbiebear.
And you went with that for a moniker?
CB: Better than making shit up isn’t it?
I tried I said fuck it. It’s where most of my anger comes from as well. It’s what turned me into this. Without all [of] the things that were done to me growing up, I would never been able to get to this point. It fits better than what people know. What kind of name is Korn? Really doesn’t matter.
What do you mean by the things that were done to you growing up?
CB: I went from a happy kid to a very aggressive man. One-two opposite sides. I used to be just a happy goofball. Remember when Ace Ventura first came out? Wait how old are you?
21
CB: Well, when Ace Ventura first came out I was in middle school. Can’t remember what grade but after the movie came out, that next Monday everyone in my school came in on some “you got to see it he acts just like you.” I remember that vividly cause I remember watching and thinking “damn people think I act like this guy?” But I had a lot of bullshit happen.
Maybe not the worst things ever, but pretty damn shocking coming from the only parent [I had]. When I was in elementary school I use to go to the counselor, [and] from what I was told it was cause another kid, Chris, had to go and they wanted me there to support him. I didn’t know the kid at the time but I was young and thought I was being nice, after a while Chris slowly started not showing up. I’d ask where he was and they’d say he’s coming. Never came. One day I got to talk to Chris in the hall and found out they told him he was actually there for me. Me? Remember I was only in Elementary school so I was shocked my mother would lie to me.
That was the first time something like that happened and it stained my brain standing in the Magnolia Elementary hallway. Sounds funny but the feeling of betrayal was crazy. I just wanted to play G.I. Joes, I wasn’t fucking depressed. [Especially] enough to be tricked? I was a kid.
It grew from there, I went to I don’t remember how many counselors or physiatrists from elementary till I was in high school. [There was a] teacher meeting with seven adults, not including my mother, voting on whether I was messed up and how, because they always believe the parent. They couldn’t understand how a child could just be depressed or angry at that moment because he had 7-8 adults pressuring him into believing he has issues. They couldn’t fathom [that] I was happy playing basketball and games with my friends like a kid should and only felt shitty when being judged.
One vivid memory was when I was in 8th Grade. They sat me at a table, surrounding me, and [asked] if I thought I was depressed, I said no, they said “Everyone who thinks he is?” Everyone raised their hand and they wrote it on sheets of paper. Next, do you think you have anger problems? “No” “Everything who opposes?” Everyone raises their hands and I sit and watch as they begin to argue to me why they think I am. Teachers who don’t pay a bit of attention except [to] what they are told to think from my mother at the time. I had things like this happen to me every week from Elementary till High School, so many small instances like that I could write a novel.
Gets to the point when we move right after 8th grade. New school, new teachers, new everything, no friends. Every teacher gets prepped now by my files or whatever they send from middle school saying they thought I was fucked up. Given I never did anything. Might have got detention once or twice. Never fought, never fucked anything up at school, I was in the category for “Most friendly” for Christ sake, remember those shits? I was a quiet kid after all that happened though.
To cut it short without going typing another novel, I went to a new school where shit happened again. Got taken out of that school and forced into another where I was put in the “Special” classes. She even tried to put me in John Archer, which is the one school [that] every county has where everyone literally rides the short bus, is handicapped, mentally challenged, etc. Then, finally, she sued me at 16 and got me locked up in [Juvenile Detention]. I went to my friend’s houses I had been to all the time and found out one day she called them all and told them I tried to hit her. Luckily, my friend’s parents were there for me and knew I wouldn’t do that. But I never did, and why would you take the effort to call my friend’s parents and tell them that? What does that really do for you?
I mean I was told, “let’s go, I’ll buy you a hat,” feeling fishy about it cause she never did shit like that, but, wanting to connect to [my] mother, I went. Pulled up outside a building she had to “pay some bills at” and [she] wouldn’t let me stay in the car and wait, I HAD to come in.. hmmm. [I] go in and see a doctors sign, I was furious, I already knew. I refused going in. A doctor comes out and sits next to me and [tried talking] me into taking pills because he thinks it would make me feel better.
Yo, I never met this guy before, ever. He didn’t try to see if I was a cool kid or a bad kid. He actually just walked over and sat next to me and started asking me if I’d try taking pills. I was in the lobby and he did it. I wasn’t even in his rental office of the building yet and he’s talking me into meds.
I know people have had things way worse but I just can’t grip some of this shit to this day. This is how people act, really? Am I crazy? My brother got it as well and it fucked him up. But luckily he got out, and then I got it all. Then he luckily got me out of Juvi. People have had it much worse but it was a lot of emotional abuse and it built up.
Better than making shit up isn’t it?
That sounds like you had a really crazy childhood. I can see now why you said it got you to where you are today. From Cubbiebear, what’s coming up?
CB: New track released next week-ish from me, [Prolyphic], Seez (Educated Consumers), and [DJ] Addikt. Then, working on the album still. Made a lot of beats. Wrote a lot. Now on to putting them all together. Still have more to do but, been waiting to record this whole time. Just getting a lot of writing finished first. Getting a job. Economy is buggin. Might have another single out as well if my buddies movie can’t wait but I prefer to save it for the album. The Heaven Burns preview jammy.
Wait, what’s this about a movie?
CB: My buddy Charlie who also did my video for Contra has done things for Sci Fi, ESPN, FOX, UnderArmour. He got a grant to do his indie film and wants to use my track as a single to it. It has already been submitted to the Sundance Festival, I think. If he has to put it out before my albums finished it’ll be out. He wants to shoot a video for it to cross promote his movie and my song.
That’s super cool man. Any info on the album yet? Working titles?
CB: Force Back To Sleep or Forced Back To Sleep.
I think I’m liking the first one though.
They seem like pretty much the same thing, what’s the difference between them?
CB: Just the tense. That reason I can’t release right now.
Okay, I won’t press you this time. I’m out of questions for now. Anything you have to add?
CB: Thanks to Baltimore. Everyone who’s supported me here and elsewhere as well. Too many to start naming, but Baltimore’s a hard scene to deal with. [It’s a] big deal [that] they actually helped make this possible. And thanks to you homie. And my whole crew at The Rape.
October 15th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Peace. Dope interview. I met Cubbie at my job one time when he came through with Teddy Faley. I been to a couple of The Rape show’s. Plus “Contra” is my shit. Dope artist
October 15th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
It’s great to read interviews with someone who isn’t afraid to state the truth on their current situation and the tragedies and mishaps that brought them to where they are now. I know all about the test pilot for depression pills and anger shit, we’re about the same age (I’m 28), so I remember that giving prozac and other shit to little kids as guinea pigs was a big medical trend. The oppression of teachers who didn’t know your life, trying to judge what you are, like trying to pin a stake through a butterfly, the group home scenario, it all hit home really deeply. You have had and continue to own my respect. You’re the man Cub, please keep it as honest as you’ve been. Thank You.
October 15th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Great interview! Can’t wait for the day a show makes it to Toronto.
October 16th, 2009 at 11:33 am
very relevant to questions that come to mind when listening to what you sent me.
like i said… was curious to hear about The Hulk. I had a good idea of where you were coming from with it all, and when discussing it with my girlfriend… said that my take on it was that some people do nothing but perpetuate the images that alot of people have towards not only gangsterism, but races as a whole… (keepin it real here).
i like the fact youre willing to stick your neck out and call em how you see em.
thanks for the tracks.
peace
glenndiligent
October 16th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
I’m glad you guys are diggin this interview. Cubbie gave some real honest and open responses — made it easy on me.
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September 5th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
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January 17th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
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January 28th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Nice.
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