Producer and rapper CapoFlexx! is a multitalented $careboy who has seemingly appeared out of no where, and has began creating tracks from the ground up; crafting his own sounds that cater to an audience he was oblivious to. While not a resident of the underground evolution, he has organically found a niche in which his music is being accepted, learning more about the the community which simultaneously using his outside influence. While not well known to many, CapoFlexx! has an energy and mindset that could push him ahead in an era where copious amounts of artists are emerging by the day. In our 20 questions with CapoFlexx! we learned about the influences of several aspects of his life; from the people who have motivated him along the way, to the artists who have unknowingly shaped who he is today.
Question 1: Where are you from? Have your surroundings shaped you in a creative sense, and in what way(s)?
CapoFlexx: I’m from Cincinnati, Ohio. I grew up here, I still live here. Honestly, just being fucking bored, having nothing to do. I just needed an outlet some way, and I got into music that way. Also just seeing so many people not doing anything with their lives, people getting addicted to shit just kind of had me like “Damn, I need to do something.”
Question 2: What did you start doing first, producing or rapping? How did you get started?
CapoFlexx: I started rapping when I was like 13. My mom needed extra money back then so she picked up a job bartending, and met this chick Monique. She lived with us for like a month or so. At that point I had just written my first rap.
She took my phone from me and told me I had to rap or I wouldn’t get my phone back. And once I did she said “Don’t stop.” and it kinda stuck with me.
So since 13 until now, 20, I’ve been rapping. About two years ago I started producing. I took a couple years off from rapping, and I started making these wack ass beats, and Nick [preachernicky] would make fun of me and shit on me for everything I did. So at that point I was like “Fuck, I gotta start actually rapping again.” Now I’m finally at a point where I can make beats I want to rap on.
Question 3: What was your introduction to the underground scene?
CapoFlexx: Honestly, nothing. I didn’t really know that what I was doing would fit in this scene until Nick told me. I guess you could say the first ‘underground’ artist I heard was OG Maco before he blew, and Denzel Curry. I’m just now getting to where I understand the whole underground thing, I still don’t understand the half of it.
Question 4: At what age did you being creating, and in which mediums?
CapoFlexx: About 11 probably. I can’t draw for shit, I can’t paint for shit. At 11 I wanted to be in a band, and the kids in my neighborhood and I would say we’re in a band even though we never had instruments. I wanted to be a drummer, I loved percussion. Later I started skateboarding and listening to rap more. I also got a guitar when I was 12, I played it for a month then gave up.
Question 5: Tell me about your involvement with Scareboy$. How did you get involved with them, and when did you come into the picture?
CapoFlexx: I came into the picture about 2 years ago, I met Nick through school. I was in a different rap group at the time, and we didn’t do anything. I got sick of fronting the money for everything and nothing coming out of it. I knew Nick rapped too, and he stood out at as a person so we started making music together. We were doing a remix to Threatz by Denzel Curry. After I wrote the verse, I was like ‘oh shit’, dipped, and took it to my other crew to do it with them. I was a dick at the time. I ended up getting sick of that group, so eventually it swayed to me working with Nick. He’s really embraced me, and has taught me the way.
Question 6: Who have you produced for? Who would you like to produce for?
CapoFlexx: Mostly for myself right now, not many people really know I produce. I produced for my homie Gibby Stites out of New Jersey. My brother is an R&B singer, I’ve produced for him. As far as who I’d like to work, Go Yayo, Yung Thug, and all the people I’m working with now.
Question 7: If you could be any inanimate object in the world what would it be and why?
CapoFlexx: I would just be a condom. Saving people and shit. Definitely a condom.
Question 8: Where does your influence come from?
CapoFlexx: On the melodic side, a lot of Yung Thug. OutKast too, one of the first CDs I listened to was OutKast. I feel like every chapter of my life has a different sound, like growing up there were things that really inspired me: OutKast: speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Green Day: American Idiot, and it sounds corny, but Linkin Park too.
Question 9: Do you have anyone that you consider your mentor? How has their help or advice shaped you?
CapoFlexx: Probably Nick. Working with him showed me the underground genre. I didn’t really have that community before, but he showed me that and believed in what I was doing.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BcfcY3ghzp8/?taken-by=capoflexx
Question 10: How does your creative process differ when you are creating beats versus vocals?
CapoFlexx: I can definitely be more creative with producing, and generally do more. There’s less of a pressure to release everything that I’m working on with beats as there is with vocals.
With beats I can kind of be more creative as I go, whereas with vocals I know what I want the end product to sound like.
Question 11: How long have you been making music now, as CapoFlexx?
CapoFlexx: Probably a year now. I’ve changed my name a lot, and I probably still will. Capo is a part of my last name, so it’s how i’ve always been known, so it will probably still be around that.
Question 12: What is one experience in life that, without it, you wouldn’t be the artist you are today?
CapoFlexx: Going through breakups all the time, probably. I don’t really talk much about my problems with my guy friends, so when I have a girlfriend I open up, and too much. When I go through breakups, I lose that person to talk to, so there’s a lot of pent up anger and negativity. If I don’t release it through my music, it will manifest into my real life
Question 13: Who are your top 3 favorite bands of all time?
CapoFlexx: Remo Drive, Green Day, and Metallica.
Question 14: So your instagram features a lot of comedic content. Have you always been a jokester, and has that become a big part of yourself as CapoFlexx?
CapoFlexx!: Not necessarily for my artist persona, but like I’m a Gemini. At times I’m just a fucking idiot. I’ve always just wanted to make people laugh, and I’ve always kind of been the goofy one. I definitely do want it to be a part of my artist persona, because I’ve always wanted to be real, and it is a part of myself.
I don’t ever want to seem like not myself, or uncomfortable to be myself in front of a lot of people.
Question 15: If you could take anyone in the world dead or alive on a date, who would it be?
CapoFlexx: Janice Griffiths. J-A-N-I-C-E G-R-I-F-F-I-T-H-S. She’s a pornstar. I don’t know what it is about her, but she has this dyed hair and stretched ears.
Question 16: Tell me about the first song you ever made. Was it a success or a failure in your opinion?
CapoFlexx: I didn’t release it. I was really fucking stupid, I was always recording over Eminem beats. It was super wack. It was a success because I learned from doing it, and I’ve gotten better. But it was just really wack.
Question 17: What haven’t you attempted yet that you hope to?
CapoFlexx: I’m really open to anything. I’d love to try punk shit some time, like in a band.
Question 18: What is the story behind your song Go Peepop Go?
CapoFlexx: The song Go Peepop Go is actually about Nick’s dad, he’s really our biggest supporter. He’s really the best, most supportive person. He listens to all our music, SoundCloud is all he listens to. So, I said “Fuck it, I gotta make a song about Peepop.”
https://soundcloud.com/capoflexx/go-peepop-go-master
Question 19: What do you hope to accomplish this year?
CapoFlexx: Build up social media, build up somewhat of a fan base, and just build rapport for my name. Hopefully hit 15-20K on instagram, and definitely build up my followers on SoundCloud, that’s all he listens to. It’s dope.
Question 20: What is next for CapoFlexx? What do you want your supporters to know about you?
CapoFlexx: Just keep working no matter what happens. I’m sick of the 9-5. I’m sick of a normal life. Regardless of how this goes, I’m going to keep pursuing it works. I want people to know I’m not one dimensional. I’m more than just hard, thrashing sounding shit. I’m more of an artist. I hope I can get more to that point, and create more sections to my discography.