Ces Cru with special guest Info Gates play LVCS June 21, Los Globos June 22 and Vibe Bar June 23
Kansas City (KC) duo Ces Cru’s debut full-length album on Strange Records “Constant Energy Struggles” is out and the duo is taking their music on the road playing in Las Vegas at LVCS June 21, in LA at Los Globos June 22 and at Vibe Bar in Riverside on June 23. This is Ces Cru’s first headlining tour since signing to Strange Records and joining them on the road is special guest KC rapper Info Gates.
Ces Cru is comprised of rappers Godemis and Ubiquitous who for the past dozen years have operated mostly as a duo, which is all that remained of a much larger Ces Cru, which at one time include six full-time rappers. Godemis was impressed by Ubi’s skills during a recording session and invited him to join the group. As time went on, members moved, moved on, went to jail – leaving just Godemis and Ubiquitous.
“Ces Cru was a collective of like-minded individuals,” says Godemis, a founding member of the group since high school. When he first began rhyming, he was simply doing cover versions of albums like Mac Mall’s Illegal Business?”
Ubiquitous, a Colorado native who grew up on acts like Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J and the Fat Boys as well as metal, punk rock, ska and electronica, moved to Kansas City in 2000 and had already been polishing his rap skills over jungle beats.
Together, the duo independently released 2004’s “Capture Enemy Soldiers” (featuring appearances from former member Sorceress) and “The Playground” in 2009 before signing with Strange Music at the end of 2011. Ces Cru has released a pair of solo mixtapes as well, Godemis’ The Deevil and Ubiquitous’ Matter Don’t Money and the EP, “13.”
Info Gates is a producer, songwriter and emcee from Kansas City and the first artist to win both the Scion Sudden-Death Emcee Battle and ButtonPush Production Battles (2006-08). Gates has produced a vast amount of material for a broad array of artists including an appearance on Tech N9NE’s highly successful “Something Else” LP, on the song “Colorado,” along with the Strange Music roster and Grammy-Winner B.O.B.
Info Gates’ unique Drum-frenzy style of production, as well as witty, comical lyrics rarely cease to shine on record. OC Concert Guide was able to capture a conversation with Godemis and Info Gates about making music and life on the road.
Info Gate: So how does it feel to headline your first national tour and how has the tour been so far?
Godemis: It feels amazing. Its been a long time coming but it feels really good. Weve got so much love so far. We toured the south and the east coast already and it was all just amazing. We sold out our first show in boston last week and that was really surreal. They were rapping along with us like crazy it felt really good to see.
Info Gate: Explain the name of the tour?
Godemis: It’s the Constant Energy Struggles tour. That’s the name of our last album. But were also out promoting codename ego stripper, the new one, which drops in August.
Info Gate: How do you feel about the new album?
Godemis: Man I think it’s the best album we’ve made. I really do. We broke thru a little bit on the Strange roster with the last one, but man, this one felt really good. Different. But still noticably Ces Cru style at the same time. Ubi is really rappin hard on there. The beats are ill too. Se7en did the majority, with help from Leonard Destroy and obviously info gates, but the album couldn’t have come out better. Can’t wait to give it to the fans.
Info Gate: What’s your favorite track?
Godemis: Haha that’s like really impossible to say. This joint sound bite, that one goes real tough. We got some great features too. Man, I dunno I love it all haha
Info Gate: Sounds dope. I mean I’ve heard it and I’ll agree too. The whole record really does go. I like sound bite alot too. So what would you tell fans who are about to see you and info gates on the west coast to expect?
Godemis: Strange hop. Sheer fuckery. Haha. I mean we all go hard and were all cut from the same cloth. Info gets it wet, you know what I mean? He has some stuff a lot of our fans will know and some they won’t. But you’ll see undeniable hip-hop talent from him. Me and Ubi, I mean, if u don’t already know I feel bad for you. Haha. We just do what we do. Get wavy and rap real hard. It’s a guaranteed good time, especially for fans of good hip hop.
Godemis: Haha okay. So, what’s been the best memory so far on the road?
Info Gate: Man, I dunno. Been movin so fast so far. I guess maybe the bum in Houston.
Godemis: Haha right?
Info Gate: Ya that was funny. Obviously we know it, but yeah we were pulling the van out of a slim alley and a drunk dude who seemed to be homeless, runs up screamin “Cut it! Cut it! You got it!” which we totally didn’t haha. So ya he was just totally hurting more than he was helping. And he was super duper loud. After we got out he asked us for a tip too haha. That was funny. That and man sellin out Boston. Boston was so turnt up and a real nice surprise.
Godemis: Hell yeah… So the new album, “Make things do stuff.” Shit goes. Speak on it.
Info Gate: Haha. Uh yeah it goes man. I’m real happy with it. It’s really a lot of me. My last one had a ton of features. Not this one. Only 2, you obviously, and Bre the first lady, an amazing singer from KC. Was glad to finally work with her man. But yeah it’s 15 tracks. It’s selling really well so far. Goin up you could say.
Godemis: Right. Well what do u look forward to or see in the future?
Info Gate: hopefully just more of this. More love. More music. Im always looking ahead and this tour is really giving me hope for both Ces and myself. They really recognize our craft out here. It’s such a good feeling. I just wanna keep making organic music and spreading in as far as it’ll go. That’s what im put on this earth to do. I really believe that.
Godemis: Word up brother. Well yo. We got a fuckin show to do here in toledo right? so with that said, come see Info Gates and Ces Cru in a city near you, know what I mean? Jason Deevil aka Jason Hasslehoff if you nasty, signing out. Ya’ll know what it is. And oh, go cop that deevil 6.0 like yesterday! Bddddat!
Info Gate: Yeah what he said. Come see us. And swoop that deevil 6.0, the remixed interpretation of Godemis’ “The Deevil” mixtape. Just dropped on iTunes June 1. Shit goes. We out chea. KCMO hip hop worldwide baby.