Classic Speaks On His Cat3gory Otha Brand, New Music, & More (@ImClassic)

Since 2016, Muskegon, Michigan emcee Classic has been a regular here at The DigiSpot (S/Os 2 E. Smitty!!!). Recently, he chopped it up with us about various topics. You can give what was discussed a read below…

VannDigital: How did you get the name “Classic”???

Classic: I really fell in love with the Renaissance period music and took the name “Classic” because I use to rap over a lot of those samples from Mozart & Beethoven to name a few. I wanted to represent hip hop in a Classic way. From the beat selection to the lyrics I spit.

Tell us about your upcoming single.

“Beat Bullies” is a single off my ‘Lake Michigan’ project featuring Skyzoo out of Brooklyn; Murakulous out of Muskegon, Michigan; and produced by Casso Beats, who’s out of Buffalo, NY. We’re just doing our thing, I had good chemistry with Skyzoo on here and of course, Murakulous, that’s my cousin. Casso Beats and I have been working with each other for a few years now so it all just blended nicely. This one’s for the culture, this is hip hop.

What was the inspiration behind ‘The Chillzone’ project???

Just making something that would appeal with more of today’s sound. That was the inspiration behind it and motivation but to keep my substance within the fabric of my lyrics. Last but not least, I wanted to make the listener laugh with the skits.

Tell us about your Cat3gory Otha brand.

It’s the signature to my sound & flow and for the people that follow me. Be Otha! To be in a different category in life not just the music. A lot of times, people perceive an artist to be some type of way due to the masses, and in an era of hip hop where the sound is much more different than when I was growing up, I stand out to be Otha! I don’t want to let go, I don’t want to change. I will keep bringing substance and real hip hop to the forefront. The past always repeats itself and I have been very consistent with putting out material easily. I’m not going to stop either.

How did you come in contact with Richie Evans (fka Juice McCain)???

I met Juice back in 2008 in Chandler, Arizona, I had recognized who he was and told him I was new there and sled him ‘Phoenix New Sun 3‘, my latest mixtape at the time. He liked my tape and after we did a feature, he took me under his wing out there in AZ and showed me a lot of the business which I had never been introduced to at the time.

Tell us about your upcoming projects.

‘The Black Side’ project is a soundtrack for all the police brutality and resurfacing of racial tendencies and a message to those that are awaken in a state of consciousness in the Black communities worldwide. I’ve been working on this project for over a year and it’s funny how it’s always a relevant topic in the U.S. because there’s always unjust things happening to Black citizens in this country. The intro to ‘The Black Side’ says it all, there is good music on here as well. The other project is ‘Lake Michigan’, which is almost done and a reflection of my love affair with my hometown and what sound we grew up on in that area.