photo courtesy of Alana Yolande

Rashard Bradshaw is not an ordinary rapper. He is straightforward and very honest – about everything. His music has been labeled by music journalists as a queer rap, a hip hop sub-genre which experienced its boom not a long ago.

Although, he stated in previous interviews that his music is not exactly similar to Mykki Blanco’s or Le1f’s and that everyone of this sub-genre has his unique style. Well, I can only agree to that. Rashard’s funny and snappy verses got my ears immediately and I’m more than happy to introduce him to you in this short interview!

Hello, Rashard. Thank’s for your time, how have you been? What are you up to right now?
I just got back from a show at Dartmouth University and literally the longest train ride I’ve ever been on! The show was amazing. Now I’m listing to Erykah Badu and about to clean my sneakers.

For those who are not familliar. Tell us something important about yourself!
I’m a rapper who happens to be very a very important person. That was a joke. I don’t know what to say to this question.

I read your mum had you when she was like 14, right? How this fact influenced your personality or grewing up at all? Are you coming from artistic background?
Yeah, my mother had me really young but she did everything in her power to make sure I never felt like that was a hindrance. I never missed a Christmas, received a lot of love, and she raised me and mother alone. My mother definitely instilled into me a lot of values especially about work ethic, professionalism and the power of just being a warm person. Not really an artistic background but I’ve always been a creative person since I was little.

That’s wonderful. Does she go to support you on the shows? :)
No. I literally rap about blow jobs and fucking people’s boyfriends not the type of stuff I would want my mother to hear me discuss haha. She may be coming to this festival I’m playing in New York in the summer which would be her first time seeing me live but its a big deal to me and I want my family there since they are very supportive of me.

Cool! Have you always been into hip hop or music generally since like being a child or did this come to you later?
It came on later. I mean I’ve always listened to hip hop but I never really was a huge fan into I started rapping. I draw inspiration from other genres like club music, house and vogue tracks. On the daily I may be listening to a Patti Labelle record or even some stuff from overseas. I have a diverse taste in music.

When did this first urge to start writing verses and rapping appear in your mind? Have you felt any sort of need for doing this, like expressing yourself fully to the world?
When I saw other people rapping in my high school cafeteria and I knew I could do better. Rap is just very fun to me. I’ve always had an affinity for writing and performing and rapping combines that so I love it. I also like to be able to get paid to drink whiskey and entrain people.

Your lyrics are bold but also funny. I’m curious, when you are writing them… where does the inspiration for it comes from? Like from your daily life or just from observing the world?
It comes from everything. A funny anime, a joke a may have though off, a life moment or even a bad hook up. I’m inspired by life – the way I see it at least.

Is there any poet or writer who inspires you?
Richard Bruce Nugent, Foxy Brown, Erykah Badu, E. Lynn Harris, Courtney Love, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, and Camron to name a few.

Besides rapping and writing verses… is there any other form of creativity you enjoy?
Acting, journalism, small talk, drawing, making people laugh and day drinking.

In some older interviews you said that first thing you want to achieve is to people take you seriously… I guess you made it, your mixtape has became quite a popular one (me included). What’s next for you? Are you up for putting some important message through your lyrics? Tell us, what’s next for Cakes da Killa?
Well, I’m working on the follow up to the Eulogy Hunger Pangs which will be out very soon. I know its been a minute since I have released a new project but I take my music very seriously and I describe my creative process as more of an oven opposed to a microwave. I’m also working on an EP, tours and more visuals.

photo: Cakes Da Killa’s tumblr

Great, happy to hear that! Could you tell us a bit more about Hunger Pangs?
It sounds like the soundtrack to a fighting game and I hope people like it just as much as I think they liked the Eulogy.

Are you still at college or did you finish already? How do you find the balance between studying and making music & shows?
I graduated in May thank God. There wasn’t really a balance. I really started performing and taking it seriously around my senior year so school became a huge headache. I knew I needed to finish my degree because not a lot of African American males complete college and I do know the power of a degree but being in school wasn´t fulfilling to me anymore.

You also started to co-operate with Red Bull. How it’s going?
Me and Red Bull are great. Love them and Afro Punk for looking out for me.

What do you think about boom of social media? You stated in one interview that “the Internet is making everything shit, I just want to shut it down.” Do you think that it’s really that bad?
It is but if there was no internet you would not know about me so I can’t complain. Its a double edged sword.

What’s the most important thing in life for you?
My family, my friends, my creativity, and my belief in the power of love.

What’s the best piece of advice anyone has given to you?
Don’t eat another weed brownie.

If you like Cakes Da Killa’s music, catch him live at Tauron Nowa Muzyka in Katowice, Poland (21st-24th August 2014)! Tickets and more info available here.

Cakes da Killa on soundcloud and facebook.