August 24, 2023

#APBMusic: Cameron Butler

Presenting our new monthly series.

Introducing APB Music, a new monthly series where we highlight the talent found in our neighborhoods, the champions of tomorrow. Through live performances and an insightful interview, get to know the artists you’ll soon be quickly adding to your playlist. First up, Cameron Butler.

Born in Section 4 of Co-Op City in The Bronx, New York, Cameron started making music out of “boredom.” With no dedicated plan on creating music for the rest of his life, it just happened to be an outlet and form of entertainment for a young kid growing up in a small town.

Now Cameron Butler, as a self taught rapper and producer with 10 years of experience, has turned his interest into a meaningful talent that informs his view on life.

WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

CAMERON: My creative process varies so much from day to day. Some days, I may start with an idea in my head that I thought about on my way to the studio then lay that down. Other days, I may have the song already written or the beat already made. In those instances, I’ll do what’s required of that particular song.

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCES?

CAMERON: Being from The Bronx, I’d say my biggest inspirations in rap were a lot of the 90s to 2000s NY hip hop. Jay-Z, Nas, Jadakiss, Fat Joe, and a whole host of other staples to the culture are some of whom I take inspiration from as a rapper.

As a producer, I’d have to say the south has way more of a grip on my musical DNA, with the exception of Kanye West. The Neptunes, Timbaland, and Organized Noize are some of the producers I’ve patterned my creative endeavors after in the past.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE ARTISTS RIGHT NOW?

CAMERON: Who I’ve been listening to on a regular basis - as of lately is PHOENIX, maybe some Freddie Gibbs here and there as well. I just got put on to this artist named Sideshow who I really have been having on repeat. My taste jumps around a lot. I could listen to Young Thug one moment then wanna switch to oldies the next.

WHERE DID YOUR SOUND COME FROM?

CAMERON: The artists that have been some of my biggest inspirations to what I do are Lil Wayne and Jay Z on the rap aspect. Pardon my redundancy… As far as the production side, Timbaland, The Neptunes, and Kanye West were my initial beacons of light that I looked up to when I first began. I started getting into more underground acts like Flying Lotus, Mndsgn, Knxwledge, and Ohbliv to name a few when I was about 15-16 years old and that expanded my creative curiosity even further.

Watch Cameron Butler’s intimate performance of “Tango,” “For Sale,” AND “Itchy Palm” written and produced by himself.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS?

CAMERON: In 5-10 years, I see myself living very abundantly off of the fruits of my labor and working to multiply opportunity for others. I’m not married to how that necessarily looks in the future but I’m certain that it’ll be fitting for who I am in that moment of time.