Artist Spotlight: Cameron Butler


Bronx native Cameron Butler has been rapping since 8th grade and producing for nearly as long. In 2013, he realized he had the potential to pursue a career in hip hop and since then he has been honing his craft with the hopes of becoming one of the greats. Butler is currently on the New York label BANY (Born Again New York) and stays loyal to his crew the Bayce Cannibals. His latest album, a sophomore effort titled Bootleg, finds Butler extrapolating on his previous projects with the comfortable confidence only experience can provide, resulting in a flourshing of his unique sound and style. Let this Artist Spotlight serve as your introduction to Cameron Butler as a lyrisist, producer, and individual as he begins his pursuit of the legendary status he covets. 

OK-Tho:
What are your inspirations both within and without hip hop?

Cameron Butler:
My inspirations within hip hop are DOOM, The Neptunes, Roc Marci, Ka, and Earl Sweatshirt at the moment. DOOM, Earl, Roc, and Ka really helped me understand the meaning of being an ill lyricist as opposed to just a "rapper." I take pride in every line I write and treat it all with care. The Neptunes have always been my favorite producers because without them, a lot of my favorite songs wouldn't exist today. They're definitely pivotal in the idea of pushing forward and really creating a lane for yourself.

Outside of hip hop, I listen to a lot of Mac Demarco because he's tight as hell. There’s days where I wish I could make the music he makes but that's not my lane hahaha. I've been listening to Erykah Badu a lot lately too; she helps me maintain my calm nature when necessary. Plus, I mean, she's Erykah Badu. haha. Outside of music in general, life really inspires me (as cliche as that sounds haha.) a lot of events that have happened in my life find their way into my music, whether it's in little segments or an entire song about moments in my life. I often write about being a broke rapper because it's what I feel like. I don't get a big head off of the numbers that are generated with each track. It's cool, but I know there's more to this music than play counts.

OK-Tho:
What are you looking to get out of your music?

Cameron Butler:
Personally, I want to be a legend at the end of it all. At the moment, I want to be a name where people hear it, they're like "oh yeah, that dude is crazy with rhyming." Like my biggest goal this year alone was to be a versatile person in terms of production so I channeled all of that into Bootleg. I look for the challenge rather than let it find me. I really want to help put my brand BANY on, my collective Bayce, as well as any of my affiliates who I keep in touch with on a weekly basis.

OK-Tho:
Describe the path that led to your decision to become a Hip-Hop artist.

Cameron Butler:
Well, I’ve been rapping since around 2010. I started taking it seriously around 2013, when I realized I could actually become something with this talent I’ve developed. I started making beats in 2012ish. I also got tired of hearing literally the same shit on the radio, every single day. Not to say that I’m a radio friendly artist, but I like to hear different things every once in a while to keep my ears fresh. I'm trying to shy away from listening to rap music right now because everything is sounding carbon copied to me. I'll listen to certain types of rap depending on the mood, but most days I’m chilling bumping older music.

OK-Tho:
What is your greatest accomplishment to date?

Cameron Butler:
My greatest accomplishment to date has to be the show I did with my label BANY in Charleston, South Carolina. Although it wasn't all of us, it was an amazing experience. I probably haven't been that happy since finishing my album Bootleg, which was like January/February of this year. But yeah, just being with my label mates and performing music I make in the comfort of my room is probably the greatest feeling ever.



OK-Tho:
Top Five Albums?

Cameron Butler:
Ah man, this question lol. It changes for me. But for this moment in life, I’ll say (in no particular order)

1. Dr. Yen Lo - Days with Dr. Yen Lo
2. Mac Demarco - Salad Days
3. Earl Sweatshirt - I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside
4. Garrott Odom - The Power of 3 (Garrott Odom + Dijon Stylez combo is ridiculous)
5. Cameron Butler - Bootleg (not conceited. I put a lot of work into it, so why not?)

OK-Tho:
What is your go to site to find new music?

Cameron Butler:
Honestly, Twitter points me to more new material than any other music site. It’s crazy how social media plays a huge role for 80% of artists today. Without it, a lot of what you hear on the radio wouldn't be there. It’s a blessing and a curse.

OK-Tho:
If you were to sign to a major label which label would you pick and why?

Cameron Butler:
Stones Throw. I've known for the longest that that label was my dream label. The diversity is crazy, from Homeboy Sandman to Mndsgn, to James Pants. Like what? That's a great environment. Plus, everyone has creative freedom. I was watching the Stones Throw documentary and i was just like "wow, one day." Plus, my rap idol (DOOM) was on that label.

OK-Tho:
Favorite single of yours?

Cameron Butler:
Probably "Yoda." Either that, or "Ravens" with Blue November. Those two tracks at the moment always remind me to just create with no boundaries. I love those two songs so much because i didn't sample anything for it, and they're filled with so much energy.





OK-Tho:
Walk us through your process of making a song. What components are essential to recording it?

Cameron Butler:
This changes with moods. But, usually I'll have the concept ready and write first. Then I'll either search through my files to find a beat to compliment the mood of the track, or just make it from scratch. Lately, I’ve been doing things reversed though. Kind of exhausted with rapping hahaha. Whenever I record, I typically wait until I have an empty house so I can really hone it and attack the track properly.

OK-Tho:
Where is your favorite spot to perform?

Cameron Butler:
Well considering I've only done two successful shows, probably Charleston. One of my goals is to perform at Coachella and SXSW. Maybe even Bonnaroo. My first show was in Charlotte, but it was a bunch of older people in the crowd so it felt awkward because there was disconnect off the bat. But, Charleston was fun.

OK-Tho:
On “Inglorious” you have the line “Can’t wait for the day that I say ‘N-gga we made it’” How do you define making it? When will you know you have?


Cameron Butler:
The day that I know that I've made it is the day where I can walk into my mother’s house, and tell her to "quit working, go on vacation, and don't worry anymore about anything." I know I'll have made it when I can tell my brothers that they no longer need to work anymore. Basically, the day I can take care of my family, blood relatives and the people I consider my family, that's the day that I’ll know I have made it.

OK-Tho:
What track off of Bootleg are you most proud of and why?

Cameron Butler:
"Inglorious" for sure. That song seems to resonate with people the most and it was written when I was at a super low point in life. I feel like the best music I've made is from darker places. Being sad isn't cool though, for the record, and it does take a toll on you. Whether it's physically or mentally or emotionally, it changes you. It's up to the person whether or not that change is for the better or worse.

OK-Tho:
What is your favorite poetic device to utilize in your lyrics?

Cameron Butler:
Alliteration. I absolutely love alliteration. Sometimes I start songs by just trying to find the most words that can be assembled with the same letter but also make sense simultaneously. Also, I love rhyming, of course. I put a lot of focus into creating rhymes that make sense, illustrate a visual to a degree, and are just simply ill to the point where you have to rewind it back at least once.

OK-Tho:
How have you grown as an artist since Broke?

Cameron Butler:
Exponentially. I feel like as a person, I've become a lot more aware of what I want to put out there for people to hear, as well as wised up in wittiness. Euphemisms are my favorite and I love using them to disguise what I'm saying, but not to the point where it isn't clear.

OK-Tho:
On “Topaz” you say “I’m always saying why try.” Have you been able to answer to that question for yourself?


Cameron Butler:
Hmmm... honestly, yeah. There seems to be this thing with my generation where trying is "not cool" or whatever. Personally, I know a try beats a fail any day. So when I made that song, it was from an insecure state of mind. Now, I'm at a point where I know what I want, why I'm doing this, as well as realizing that everything is a matter of balance. Some days I lose focus of the bigger picture. But while having a clouded vision, I always seem to find another piece of the puzzle to help me move forward.

OK-Tho:
Your latest single, "Dust," is, in my opinion, your best track yet. What was going on in your life that inspired its creation?



Cameron Butler:
Well, at the time that I wrote that song, I had just come back from my uncle's funeral in Connecticut. It was probably the wildest shock I've encountered my whole life besides losing my grandmother. At that point, everything seemed to have hit me all at once in terms of a reality check and a self-assessment with how I wanted to conduct myself as a family member. Before that point, I wasn't really keeping in touch with my family members. So once this happened, it was like I could see everybody at the same time, although it wasn't on a joyful circumstance. It's crazy what a loss will do to you mentally. I was sad, angry, and full of hunger when I wrote Dust. But, everything became clear. I knew what I wanted to say, and how I wanted to address the thoughts I had at the moment.

OK-Tho:
What’s next for Cameron Butler?

Cameron Butler:
Lots and lots of videos. I've been trying to really work on editing videos lately and I think I've gotten the hang of it. So once I get some fire going, I'm not stopping. Gonna pump the brakes on the music just to work on other things. Doing things yourself requires a lot of practice in all realms of artistry, can't reject any angle of the craft.


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