Interview With Curtis Roach

I had an opportunity to sit down with Detroit lyricist Curtis Roach. We discussed topics such as his placement in Detroit hip-hop, his venture into the art scene, and his new curated projects. The interview lasted a little over 20-minutes, but felt like a 3 minute breeze. Read the interview below.

You can see the full video here.

Ayesharp - Curtis Roach. First off. How are you doing, brother?

C.R - I'm good. I'm tired. How are you?

Aye - I'm good, man. Tired? I know you're super busy. I saw your performance at the El-club on YouTube the other day.

C.R - Yeah. Yesterday, I had an art show that I curated. And it was from five to nine p.m. But I was there all day, like trying to get everything together. It was my first time curating an art show. So I didn't know like the ins-and-outs of what I had to go on. Like I was there waiting on the installer. They're just like, trying to get everybody's band to load in and like making sure DJs were good and everything was good. It ended up great. Like it was a beautiful experience. But yeah, I've been up since like, 3am. I got like a little bit of sleep last night, but I definitely need a nap.

Aye- Why can we postpone this man, c’mon!

C.R - no, hell no. Because I'm bringing the energy!

Aye -Dope! So what made you want to start curating events?

C.R - Um, I guess the biggest thing is just like, I love art, I love artsy things. And I love building community. You know, I came up in the art scene in Detroit and I’ve always loved it. I felt like I had a different vision for certain things like, dang, it would be cool If we did something like this, and just combined different things. It was a little bit like, once I was in it, I was like, Oh, I get why people only do DJs. And I get why only people focus on one end of things. It was a learning experience. And I think I'm gonna do more stuff like that, because I love building community and seeing people just come together and like enjoying themselves.

Aye - So what are you going to try to do like, once every month, once every couple months? Or just, you know, a few a year? What's the plan with this?

C.R- Yeah, I want to do once a month for right now. And then maybe if it like, gets super popular, maybe we can do something like weekly or something like awesome. Or like, a different venue every time? I don't know. But yeah, I think the way that I got the response last night, a lot of people were like, “Yo, you need to do this, like all the time.”

Aye - So from a sound of things you had art and you had a DJ going. So it was like performances too?

C.R - Yeah, I had my band with me. I performed and I had Stupidly performed with his band. And my homie Ronnie, he performed too. I actually was DJing for him. So I was wearing many hats last night. Yeah, I was all over the place, actually.

Aye - You're the curator, the DJ, and the performer. Damn.

Aye - All right. Well, first, this interview was gonna be talking about your music and saying, but you know, the art scene is pretty interesting, too. But my first question is that, in the Detroit music scene, you have a name that's national at this point. It's all over the place, but in the Detroit music scene, your name isn't typically brought up among those with that traditional Detroit style. I was always wonder why you thought that was?

C.R - I think it's because, I guess the general topics that I talk about aren't like, what, our Detroit sound requires. I've definitely tried to do that sound a few times. Last year, I put out a song that was kind of like that called “Where The Money At.” But it was one of them things were I was having fun and said, You know what, let me let me try this because, I know it's me. You know, I'm saying the spirit is there and I appreciate that side of our music. seem to like I feel like when I first started rapping, I feel like there was some type of like, being rebel, Indigo Child, trying to be like, “Y'all know, we could be more than that.”

C.R (cont.) But that's really my whole thing is like, I came from the offspring of Dilla. I got Tribe Called Quest tattooed on my hand or on my arm, and I'm from the native tongue offspring. Just naturally, I'm a hip-hop guy, and not to say that those guys aren't lyrical. And that's not because they're super lyrical, they're bar’d out, it's just a different offspring. They're from the offspring of the blade ice woods and stuff. In middle school, I was bumping Doughboys Cash Out and Team Eastside. It was just like, it was no way to avoid it. And I think the fact that they're they get to shine first is great. But I think I just, I'm just a naturally like, super artsy kid.

C.R (Cont.) - Um, I wear bands. And I'm like, you know, I was always just kind of like the outcast and I kind of like, I just kind of made it. So it's like, my music spoke to like, the weird black kids from Detroit. You know, I'm saying to show that there are different kids from Detroit, like, not everybody in Detroit is, you know, drug dealing, that everybody is, you know, toting guns and stuff like that. You don't have to do that to be a rapper.

C.R (cont.) - I remember when I was a young kid, I thought that you had to be on that shit just to get successful in rap. Because, you know, we, by the time I was four, or 5, 50 cent was like the guy. So like, gangsta rap was still just in our face. And then we got the Kanye, and Pharrell and all that stuff like that to make it like, Okay, you could do some different, but it was like, still, like, you know, even in Detroit, it's just like, the mainstream is that, you know, but um, yeah, I just kind of, I think I don't take it personally, whenever somebody is like, Yo, you should is like super weird or different. I'm like, hey, that's what I'm here for, you know, I'm saying we need to, because we're three dimensional people, you know, I'm saying, or five dimensional, six dimensional, wherever you want to let you know.

Make it stand out

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Aye - I get you. In future songs, Do you think you'll ever, like collaborate with those people? Like, with the common Detroit artists who simply does talk about, you know, what Detroit artists specifically talk about? Or usually talk about?

C.R - Yeah, I mean, I'm open to it, I think. I think more now than ever. I've seen like, a lot of people collab on that that spectrum, too. Like there's been more, even on the, you know, “hood side,” because I don't even want to call it hood music, but it's like, I see that they also got a little weirdness to them, too. Like, they sample things that have like, their musical people on there. So it's like, I can see meshing so perfectly.

C.R (cont.) - I think there's just some type of like, there's some disconnect that I feel like, with a conversation or a song, it could just like, be the most beautiful thing ever. Obviously Detroit is the shit, like, hands down on all spectrum. Everything that come from Detroit is dope, from Motown to now. We're talented. This but there's no reason why we shouldn't be on the same (team). I think it's just a disconnect, because it's like, maybe on our end, there's like, “damn, they they overlooking us.” I think we're all the same. I'm saying at the end of the day, Niggas got the same experience. We all had our bikes stolen at one point, you know, I was just talking to my homie the other day, he's from the east side, and it’s literally no different from the west side. So it's like, I mean, there's only a few couple things that's different, but it's all still Detroit.

Aye - Wait, you from a west side, right?

C.R - Yes. I was all over the place. I had divorced parents. So like, I was just moving around all the time.

Aye - Got it, First off, when did you cut your hair? I knew you cut it at a certain point, I wasn't sure when you cut your hair.

C.R - Yeah, I cut my hair at the beginning of 2021-2022. I think I forgot now at this point, but um, I think, for me short answer, it was just like an energetic thing. I just wanted to let go. Because I had my locks for like seven years. And like, every time I feel like for a year before I cut my locks, I was telling people and everybody was like, “Oh, people know you for your locks. Know that everybody knows the locks is like your look.” And I was like, I'm way more than my hair. First off, let's stop that. But yea, I felt way better when I like cut my locks. For some reason. I feel good. I can like, jump in the water and not have to worry about my hair like drying for like six hours.

Aye - It feels free. That's dope, man. But yeah, I was gonna ask about the band. So tell me how did this all come about? Like you say, Okay, I'm tired of performing solo, I want people to join me. What was the thought process behind getting the band?

C.R - I got an opportunity to do a live band a few years ago for like, two songs. And I was like, damn, this is really dope. And then I went through a period where I wasn't doing bands. I was just back on my DJ stuff. And then I saw, I'll give Stupidly, the inspiration for sure. Because I saw Stupidly with his band. And he just, he's incredible. He's amazing. He was at our show yesterday. And he was like, “Bro, why don't you have a band? Like you would sound dope with a band? I'm like, why don't I have a band?” And it was actually it all kind of just felt together because like my my homie Raven, she's friends with my girlfriend. And she was like, “Yo, Do you have anybody that's like playing, you know, you know, music for you?” I was like, “Nah, but we could we can hook that up.” and it all kind of came together and when it came together we resolved rehearsing and then like, we got to a show at the El club and then it like fell in place. So yeah, I don't know if I'm gonna go back to BJs forever. It's like at this point, like, it sounds so good, you know? But yeah, up he definitely put that battery in my back.

Aye -I'll tell you this because I'm in a hip hop band as well. Okay, add a DJ with it. Add a DJ with it. I'm telling you. It will take it to a new level bands.

C.R -Yeah, I've heard that too. Like, I heard some people have like, their beat machines with them. So like they could play like, you know, the stems and stuff. But yea, that's okay.

Aye- What I've what I've noticed is when you have a DJ, one, they set the tempo for the band before your stage gets on or before you get on. So they play like your specific songs, you know, something that's not on the setlist, and they set the tempo. And then on top of that, they do your ad libs with you and then you know, so it's a whole nother element that they had. That's like necessary. Okay.

Aye- So who's on the band?

C.R- Raven on bass. Me, Kevin is on the keys. We just added Kevin on the keys. It was like he did the show last night. Na Bonse on on the you know, guitar. She wasn't there yesterday. She's in LA. But yeah, yes. She she's cool is but. And my homie. Tareekh on the drums. Yeah. So yeah.

Aye- Ravens in my band!

C.R- Yeah, yeah, that's another thing that's so cool about that. It's so dope because, like, everybody knows each other.

Aye- Na Bonse, Yeah, she's in Dani Darling. I just interviewed her. I want to say like a month ago

C.R- Oh my Yeah, it's all connected here.

Aye- yeah. So you did the art show. What show is next as like the next Live Performer?

C.R- So I got to show in Chicago. That's gonna be that's gonna be with George. I'm gonna be with this Jackie Joyce. So it's gonna be DJ stuff. I love when because like, my DJs are all like my homie. So it's like, when I say that, I don't want to go back to DJ, like I said, loosely like, but I love hanging with my homies and like, rocking out with them, because it is still a great chemistry. It's a different chemistry. So yeah, that's gonna be in Chicago. And then I have another show on Cinco de Maya, and at the elk live, actually. Oh, yeah.

Aye- So you're in all of these different art spaces you have. You just said you DJ and you have your art saying you have your music scene as a performer? Is there like a different elements or different moods to all of those things that you like to have to navigate or have trouble navigating?

C.R - Ah, that's a good question. No, no, but I do find myself with like, impostor syndrome sometimes. Which is stupid. I feel like, a lot of artists go through that. I feel like I constantly remind I have to remind myself like, Yo, you belong in these spaces, people appreciate what you're doing. Like, sometimes I just, I think I'm overthinking over in general. Like, I just, I'm hard on myself, you know, in certain spaces, when it's an in person. I feel like it's the biggest, like, confirmation or affirmation of, you know, I'm saying like, whatever I was overthinking it, like always just like, is, is quiet. Because like, there's somebody right there in front of you. It's like, Yo, I appreciate you. Like, I've had people come up to me, and tell me that, like, a certain song of mine, like change their life for like, save their life, like, and it kind of is like weird to hear like, I'm like, Whoa, like, I definitely made this in my basement. Like, like, didn't think that that was going to happen. But like, Thank you, like, this is what I do this for, you know, I'm saying. So I think when it comes down to like, just being in physical spaces, and like seeing people like I really enjoy that shit, too. Like it actually helps with, like, the overthinking and all the imposter syndromes that I go through. But yeah,

Aye- I'm super cool to hear. I can only imagine how that feels. So with that being said, we touched on this earlier, but where do you see yourself? You have all of these hats? Where do you see yourself in the the current music scene?

C.R- I just want to keep on making music. I just want to keep on making music man. Like that's, that's, that's really my biggest thing. I just want to make dope art. And I don't want to give up because I've seen people like when they turn like a certain age or something like that, like, I'm 23 I'm about to be 24 next month, which is kind of crazy. Like, I was just talking with somebody yesterday, like damn, 2017 was seven years ago, and we graduated high school in 2017. And like, I think the pandemic flipped everybody's time perception up and shit, but it's like, I don't, I'm not trying to just move off of age either. Like at this point, like, I love hip hop. I love music. And I want to continue to do that. And if that takes me to different things, like you know, wearing these hats of like DJing every once in a while or curating or something like that. I'm doubt whatever because I'm just all for the art you know, I'm saying and that's yeah, that's my answer. Sorry I give these long answers.

Aye- my rule of thumb as a journalist is never talked more than your interviewer.

Aye- So in 2022, you gave me these those three songs. Trooo, Old Antique Shop, and Where the Money At. How long does it take you to like, typically release a project? Or are you working on a project?

C.R - That's a good question. I am working on a project. I'm working on an EP right now. And I have a single two singles coming out from that project, and I'm just finishing it up. But I take a long time to release music. I'm not one of those people that like, I'm just pumping out music all the time. For two reasons. Like I don't want to over saturate and I don't want to like burn myself out. And I'm also a person that's very, like, delicate with my stuff.

C.R (cont.) - Like I treat it like I have so much attention with my shit. Like, I want it to be something that like, lives on forever and shit. And, you know, I don't want to just put out some shit like, where it's just like, yeah, oh, yeah, I forgot about that song. Like, I don't want to forget about my music. You know, I'm saying like, I feel like I've ran into some, some people were like, Damn, I forgot I made a song like, Yeah, I mean, a To each his own. But like, I think I will get better with like, my output too. Because like, sometimes, like I said, I overthink and like, I think there's a lot of things where it's like, I get in my own way, with with music, too.

C.R (cont.) - Like when it comes down to you know, maybe I'll write something and I'm like, Did I already say this? Or am I saying this like the right way? Or is this rhyme scheme, the same rhyme scheme that I've used before? Or, you know, I'm saying is this topic like, all these things is like getting in the way. And really, music is like, I don't know, like, it's coming. It's not coming out of us. It's like coming through us. It's like something where it's like, the inspiration is right there. And it's happening. So it's like, why should I stop it and be in the way of it? And so like, to answer your question, I am working on a project and I will get better with outputs. But it's just like, it takes time. You know, it takes time.

Aye - Yeah, the one thing that I did notice with your music is that you can hear the detail because all of your songs, they have this sort of musical environment to them where it all feels like you're watching the sunset almost. You can talk about beating somebody up and it still sounds so pleasant. Is The musical environment something that you say “hey, I want to create this. I want to create this atmosphere with every one of my songs.”

C.R - Yeah, man, I think I think the people that I even listened to, like Stevie Wonder, and like, Anita baker. just great musicians that like I learned from, you know, I feel like that essence is what I try and bring to my music is like, I want it to feel like you're you're here with me. Like, I don't want it to be like, where I'm like, untouchable. Shade. Like, Oh, damn, I can't. This person is so unreal. Like, I want it to be like, I'm your homie. And you're listening to this in my living room, and we're both listening to the same shit. You know, I'm saying. So yeah, that's like my goal with a lot of my music too.

Aye- Alright, awesome. Awesome. my last question, is there anything out there anything else you want to put out there? Let the people know.

C.R- Have a great day. Stop overthinking. Don't overthink. We're all beautiful beings, and we all are capable of doing great things.

Aye- Oh, yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much, brother. Thank you.