GET FAMILIAR: Just Cauz
Just Cauz exploded onto the scene with his Land of the Lost mixtape last year, but his story began back in the birthplace of hip hop. A recent transplant to the Green Mountains, his outsize personality, bulletproof flows and grown-man work ethic have opened a lot of doors for him. Get familiar with an artist who will be impossible to avoid in 2020…
VTHH: Land of the Lost had a dope throwback feel -- what were your inspirations while you were putting the project together?
JUST CAUZ: Land of The Lost was heavily influenced by the 90's to early 2000's rap and hip hop scene. While putting the project together I wanted to showcase all the talents that had influenced me over the years. For example, Talib Kweli, Biggie, Tupac, Nas, Jay-Z, The Roots, Wu-Tang, KRS One, Eric Sherman, Outcast, Eminem, Saigon, Papoose, Common, Mos Def, Common, Jean Grey, Immortal Technique just to name a few. We will be here all day if I list them all. I wanted to show people that rap isn't dead!
VTHH: Was it a culture shock coming to southern VT after growing up in NYC?
JUST CAUZ: It was a culture shock but in a great way. I had to get used to the way things where in Vermont. In the city, it’s very fast paced always on the move all the time, go go go, because you could do anything at anytime anywhere. It is the city that never sleeps after all. In Vermont there isn't really a hustle and bustle like there is in the city, and I like that but it will be missed. In Vermont you have to drive everywhere but that makes people come together and congregate, something that is sometimes hard to come by in the city.
VTHH: Has being in a tiny-ass state like Vermont changed your long-term strategy as an artist?
JUST CAUZ: No, if anything it has made me double down on all my goals, long term and short. To work with more people, as many as possible. To be introduced to new styles of music and new ways of thinking towards the creation of music. These things, plus cultivating great people and relationships, all will assist me in growing as an artist, which is the goal.
VTHH: What can listeners expect from you in 2020?
JUST CAUZ: Listeners can expect obviously more music but more collabs, newer sounds, different directions in music and otherwise, building relationships, networking, doing more music videos and upgrading my work as an artist. Trademarked, copy-written, getting more familiar with the business aspect of music rather than just making it, and finally trying to brand myself.
VTHH: How did the 4 Horsemen team come together?
JUST CAUZ: The 4 Horsemen came together out of the sheer love we have for this game called rap. We had been doing shows together in one capacity or another but there was one day we all hit the stage together at an impromptu performance at Magic Aountain, and as soon as we hit the stage I think all of us knew we had something that couldn't be explained. It was just a feeling of unity that couldn't be expressed with words! A couple of weeks later, thank you Raw Deff, he said the name ‘4 Horsemen’ and it just stuck, and you can say the rest is history.
VTHH: Do you think the internet creates more opportunities or makes it harder to stand out?
JUST CAUZ: I'm not sure on a definite answer, only because I'm not that far in my career to give one. I do know the internet definitely creates more opportunities for an artist by giving the artists an opportunity to showcase their music, or at least learn how. For example, putting your music on soundcloud, audiomack, iTunes, Pandora, Google play music, bandcamp, spotify and apple play to name a few, allows the artist to put their music up for free or for a premium. In other ways though it's damaging to an artist because the internet is flooded with artists on any and all platforms and if you want to be noticed, they've gotta sift through it all to find you!! Also I feel everyone is making music nowadays so the game is saturated with shit music because everyone is an artist. Unfortunately quantity over quality is the game now I feel!!
VTHH: Who are your role models in terms of an independent artist grind?
JUST CAUZ: Talib Kweli, Tech 9, Saigon, Common, Mos Def, Jean Grey, Immortal Technique, Masta Ace, Ren Thomas, Locksmith, Homie Sandman, Mad Sqwabilz, Denzel Porter & Chris Rivers. If yah dont know now you know! STAY READY! STAY EARLY! STAY WOKE! #EARLY