CMULA, born Christopher Ramsey in Chicago and later transplanted to sunny San Diego, is a rising rapper committed to putting his adopted home on the map. His debut album, Black Boy, is an intriguing amalgamation of the styles of both of his hometowns, combining the aggressive trap drums and heavy bass of Chicago’s drill scene with the laid-back, coastal vibes of San Diego. While his talent is self-evident, his increasing success is a testament to the idea that hard work and hustle pay off, putting him in perfect position to help make San Diego a hip-hop hotspot and CMULA a household name.
The 22-year-old rapper has slowly built his buzz independently, self-financing the production of Black Boy and its accompanying music videos, while networking at music festivals like SXSW to extend his reach and his contacts as far as Atlanta. Tapping into the local underground of the Peach State, CMULA was able to recruit some of the region’s most popular up-and-coming producers and artists, like Wheezy and Gunna, to his project, releasing it via his own label, Benji, with his manager, Harley Hoyt.
CMULA says he became interested in making music at an early age, watching music videos instead of cartoons while growing up in Chicago. After moving to San Diego in 2010 for a fresh start with his mother, he became inspired by the local culture as he wrote and performed his first raps and freestyles. Two years ago, the nascent talent began to hustle in earnest, linking up with Hoit and Benji to pursue his dream of rap stardom.
His hard work has already paid dividends; a SXSW performance at the Dirty Dog this spring led to his connection with Atlanta’s Gunna, who makes an appearance on Black Boy, as well as gigs opening for established stars like Lil Yachty, Post Malone, and more. Now, he has a song with Gucci Mane in the works, he is setting his sights on mainstream notoriety as an artist whose DIY ethos sets him apart from other rappers who lucked into fame via viral hits or over-the-top gimmicks. CMULA wants to put himself, and his hometown of San Diego, at the forefront of hip-hop and he has the drive, persistence, and skills to make it happen.
You recently released your debut album Black Boy. Can you explain that title and elaborate on what the goal of the release was for you?
Gowing up in Chicago, there was a lot of same people around me, we all looked alike, and came from the same struggles. You just always heard the “n-word” or you were just another little black boy. So, growing up, I always felt like I had strikes against me. I just wanted to take that into my music and tell my story. Just a young black boy from Chicago trying to put my family on, trying to better my living situation, and tell my story through music. So that’s what I basically did with this album.
On the Black Boy cover, it looks like you’re holding a bag of Skittles and pouring them out on the camera. How did you come up with that image?
That was a little Trayvon Martin reference. Rest in peace. But he was just another black boy. You feel me? That can easily be me. I can be in that situation. Obviously, it’s a lot going on in the world. Now I just wanted to pay my respects to him. He was gone too soon. I feel like that can be anybody, so we just have to be careful out here in this crazy world. But, I’m able to be here and tell my story and he’s not. I just wanted to give a little reference to Trayvon.
It’s interesting that you mention Trayvon Martin, and the perception of young black men in America. What are your thoughts on America’s treatment of black boys?
I feel like, my perception is the same as everyone else’s perception: It’s hard growing up here for black boys. We’re definitely perceived differently. I feel like we’re definitely a target until people get to know us. It’s like… if we’re walking down a street, you’re gonna go the other way or whatever, but that guy might be someone who can save your life or someone who really cares about you. You just need to understand people’s story.
For instance, Joyner Lucas recently put out a video where he had a white man and black man, they was just sitting in a room, and he had them rapping to each other. Basically just like getting off their chests how they felt about each other. And then by the end of the video they felt like once they got to know one another they’re just the same. They have the same struggles. The media portrays things very differently. How the media portrays it is really what plays a big part. But that was a very cool video and it really opened my eyes personally.
On Spotify and iTunes, your label is listed as Benji. Could you explain Benji for me?
So Benji is our independent label that we have right now. We’re not signed, we’re doing everything on our own, out of home. Benji is just the vision that me and my peers, my team, always had once we first started it. We said “Benji stands” for, like… Obviously, Benjamin Franklin is on the hundred, so I’m CMULA, and money makes the world go around. But Benji is just like keeping it a hundred. Giving it a hundred percent at everything you do. You feel me? Get out here and get to the hundreds. Just get to it. That’s what Benji is.
You’ve created a very interesting sound. It’s very trap influenced, but the west coast is very evident throughout.
You hit it right on the money. Like you say, I’m from Chicago, so you listen to this. New Chicago music (drill) is a lot of hard trap beats, lot of really up-toned music. So, I always grew up istening to that, but moving out to the west coast, I’ve always been into that [style] too. Dr. Dre and Snoop, and even the new sh*t going on. So, basically, I just wanted to take my influences and mix them together. On the album itself I have a lot of production from Atlanta artists like Wheezy and Turbo The Great, who did a lot of things for artists like Gucci Mane and Future and so on. So, that’s where the hard trap comes from. Within my lyrics and like my vibes is where I get the West Coast Cali feel from. I just mix them all together. Try to tell my story there.
I made a bunch of songs, and me and my team got together, and like we talked about what we wanted to do, then we decided that we didn’t want one major sound. We wanted to mix it up a little bit. That’s why you hear a little R&B feel in there, a little west coast, a little trap. Once we had our songs laid out, that’s when we sat down and picked what songs would be good for the album and the vibe and what songs we can throw in there to switch it up.
What’s your favorite song on the album?
Personally I like “West,” just because it’s a different vibe. I really tried to get in touch with the west coast sound, and it was different. Like you said, I have a lot of trap beats and trap influence in my production. So that was a good switch up. The production actually came from a San Diego producer named DZON, which was cool that it was local and an at-home feel. Made it at home. Everything was just fun and original.
A lot of people might not be aware of the San Diego scene as much as The Bay or LA. Do you think that coming from San Diego has changed how people perceive your music? Is there anything about the San Diego scene that you would like people to know?
I feel like coming from San Diego they definitely looked a little different because like you said, we don’t have a scene and a main sound or upbringing. But over the past years, the San Diego music fan base has definitely been growing. There’s been a lot of local shows, and a lot of people are trying to come together and really push the scene. Right now, it’s more of an underground scene, but it definitely has potential to get pushed into the mainstream and catch the public eye. We got artists like Rob Stone, who’s earned some mainstream attention. So, that’s brought a little more attention to San Diego.
But I just want people to know San Diego’s definitely coming up. We’re definitely working, coming together, trying to get something going for the city. So, it’s been fun coming out of San Diego. It’s not just like your typical big cities, you know with big artists already. You really got to get out there and network and once you do that, you know you can definitely find some talent.
You personally have started to see more success lately. It looks like you’re starting to blow up with appearances at SXSW and Rolling Loud and now, you’re even on the lineup for XOXO Music Fest this year. How does it feel to be blowing up in that way, especially so soon after really taking it seriously?
It’s definitely a blessing. You know, I’ve put in a lot of hard work in it. I got a strong team behind me and we’re all just working together as one. So, it’s definitely a blessing to see your hard work pay off. I’m definitely not satisfied yet. Got to keep going, keep striving, you know.
So, what’s next for you after Black Boy?
After Black Boy, we’re keeping it going. We’re actually dropping a new video June 29. It’s called “Tonight” that’s basically about seeing the start of the summer and it’s a party track. In the video, we’re having a bunch of fun on a yacht. Just living life as young people trying to live a dream. So that’s what we’re gonna do while the summer’s here, we’re gonna get some party songs going, really just try to have fun, and then once fall comes, get back to the music and the storytelling. We definitely have plenty of visuals coming within the next couple of months. XOXO Festival. Keep touring and doing shows. Promoting. Keep the ball rolling.
Where would you like to be in terms of your career next year?
A year from now I plan to be on the iTunes charts up there with the big names. I plan to be a household name in the music industry.
Any last thoughts that you’d like to share?
Black Boy is out right now. Be on the lookout for CMULA. Big things is happening.
Black Boy is out now via Benji. Get it here.
