Brooklyn native Cezur III is making waves with his new single F.A.B.C.
The model turned rapper has already taken 2020 by storm which will surely continue with the release of his debut album BK Baby later this year. Fans compare Cezur’s eclectic sound to contemporaries such as Amine, Chance the Rapper and Jaden Smith.
Cezur’s signature look caught the attention of the fashion world modeling for outlets such as Rolling Stone and Vogue. As he pivots to music, we had the pleasure of speaking with Cezur regarding all things music as he prepares for the launch of his latest single.
The Knockturnal: What was your main inspiration for your upcoming EP BK Baby, and how have your roots from Brooklyn influenced your sound?
Cezur III: The idea of BK Baby was created when I was missing home. I had been staying in LA for a while, and my trips back home were short and busy. It wasn’t until I went to Toronto to record with Bijan Amir that I officially decided to call the project BK Baby. This project is an ode to the melting pot of a city I grew up in. Brooklyn molded me in ways I can never fully explain. The different soundscapes and genres on the project play into that idea.
The Knockturnal: Could you tell us a little more about your creative process when writing and producing your music?
Cezur III: Every song has a slightly different process. Much of my material is inspired by things people say in conversation. They are things that resonate with me, and I store them for later. By the time I’m in a session, I already have a bunch of things I want to talk about. This makes my process a lot easier when trying to figure out a vibe sonically and being able to drive it home lyrically. I like working with producers from scratch in the room, but there are times I’d rather be alone to help finalize a lot of these records. Because I record and produce a bit myself, it helps along the song.
The Knockturnal: How did you start your career in modeling and what made you decide to start a music career?
Cezur III: I met Greg Chan a few years ago through a mutual friend. Greg is one of the Head Agents over at my first Agency. I shared with Greg my love for fashion and music, and we decided this was something we could do together. Music has always been a part of my life, even when I wasn’t seriously pursuing it. Once I had the opportunity to do both, I knew it was destined.
The Knockturnal: If you had to explain your sound to someone who has never heard your music before how would you describe it?
Cezur III: My music is a blend of Hip Hop and Alternative genres. It’s a medley of all the stuff I listened to growing up. At the same time, it’s something unique to me.
The Knockturnal: What are your goals with your music in 2021?
Cezur III: In 2021 I’m hoping to go on tour for the first time. Granted, Covid has mostly canceled live performances over the last year. I’m hoping that once the flood gates open back up, I’ll be able to grace a couple of line ups.
The Knockturnal: Who would be dream collaborators for you? This could be artists or producers.
Cezur III: Oh man, there’s a couple of people I would love to work with within the near future. I would love to do a song with Brent Faiyaz. He has that smooth R&B/Soul sound from the 90s we all idolized growing up. I would also like to work with Mike Dean. That man is a Synth god. I know we could make some spectacular records together. One rapper I would work with right now 100% is Benny the Butcher. He’s probably one of the illest out of my city making real Rap records.
The Knockturnal: Tell us about your new single “F.A.B.C.”
Cezur III: F.A.B.C is a freestyle I made when I finally started getting verified. While I thought the blue check was cool, it made me think about the importance of social currency, and how I’d rather not value myself on those “rewards”. I’ve been verified before anyone or any platform decides to deem it so. I’m the BK Baby! This record is really just the most outrageous slapper where I let it be known that I’m a problem. Forget the numbers. Forget the cosigns. Hear me.
You can watch Cezur’s latest music videos for his singles here F.A.B.C:
and FEEL IT
