The more things change, the more they remain the same is a cliche’ often stated in the midst of adversity. In the music industry some may beg to differ. Adjustment and adaptation may be better terms to describe today’s technology based music industry.
New Orleans legendary producer Cise Edwards professionally known as Cise involves himself in mixing, mastering, video production, and editing. Cise is known for forming Big Boy Records with Robert Shaw and Charles Temple. He also produced all of the albums released on the Big Boy label throughout the 90s. Some of those artists include Mystikal, Black Menace, Ghetto Twinz, G Slimm, Partners n Crime, Fiend, G Quikk, and more. Cise is also credited with working on Juvenile’s album Cocky & Confident. The Heat Magazine had an opportunity to discuss and discover what’s happening within Cise HD.
The Heat Magazine: What are your latest projects or endeavors?
Cise: I will be working with a lot of people who you all think I should be working with, and I will be working with a lot of people who you all think I shouldn’t be working with. It’s going to be a hot summer. That’s the bubble right there.
The Heat Magazine: What separates you from other producers?
Cise: Nothing separates me from other producers. Everybody is individually dope within their own right. I don’t do what Mannie does, Mannie does not do what I do, and KL does not do what Mannie does. That’s the era we come from.
The Heat Magazine: What are some of your accomplishments?
Cise: My resume is decent. It could be better. In a bundle, starting my own label Big Boy Records with Charles and Rob, finding Mystikal, putting that project together and sending that out to do what it did. That is the one I am going to go with.
The Heat Magazine: How do you feel about the state and condition of the music industry?
Cise: The music industry is being rebirthed in a way. There are ways you have to do things. You still have to do the meat and potatoes of the game: promote, have quality product, have a good image, and the “it” factor never dies. The business of music has changed. The state of music is in rebirth and you either have to get with it or get gone. It really doesn’t affect most people like it affects some people. Some of us come from where we had to create what we had. We had to create our own opportunities. For us, a rebirth is more of an advantage.
The Heat Magazine: What advice would you give to upcoming artists and producers?
Cise: The main piece of advice to the upcoming artists in the music industry is to make sure you have your publishing rights. Make sure you get a fair shake on your publishing. Make sure you get an advance on your publishing and not sell your publishing. Make sure your songs are registered. You can’t expect someone to have their paperwork together and your paperwork is jacked up. Get your publishing.
The Heat Magazine: How is tour life and how does it affect relationships?
Cise: The road, the tours, the concerts, the promotional tours. Some artists can’t get past that phase. It’s an everyday job. It’s more than being at home. When you’re at home, you have time off the clock. When you’re on the road, you’re on call 24-7, you have to get it while it’s hot. A lot of people won’t make it because of the situations they are in. Some of the situations happen to be relationships they are in. I’m glad I never had that problem. You may have to go from a promotional event earlier that day to a promotional performance to an appearance at an after party to somebody’s studio recording until it’s time to get on the bus and leave. It’s no different from being a doctor or lawyer, that’s the business. It’s the life, it’s a job.
The Heat Magazine: Who inspires you?
Cise: When I get up everyday, I’m basically self-motivated. I get up and go get it. The times have changed. It’s more I can do now in a day than I could have done ten years ago. This digital game is the bubble.
The Heat Magazine: What are your goals as a producer for 2012?
Cise: As a producer, I am going to try to work with as many people as I can work with. This is something I haven’t done in a while. I am going to spread it thin this year. If you’re hot, I am with you. If you’re trying to do the right thing, I am with you. It’s not a problem for 2012. We’re going to go get it!
The Heat Magazine: What defines a complete artist?
Cise: An artist like Juvenile puts it in all day. He spends money on things he needs. You have to be more than a microphone fiend. It’s a lot you have to do before you get on the microphone, and it’s a lot you have to do after you get off the microphone. Being a businessman makes you a complete artist. Most successful artists are businessmen like Rick Ross, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne.
The Heat Magazine: You have produced for many artists, how does it feel to be considered a legend in New Orleans?
Cise: As long as I am being considered for the job, I am cool with it.
The Heat Magazine: Being from New Orleans, what is it that you think is unique about New Orleans rap?
Cise: The unique thing about New Orleans music is that it’s culture music. It’s all about what goes on at that time during that generation. It depicts the culture at the time: secondline, jazz, and rhythm and blues. It’s culture music. That is what I love about it, it’s real.
The Heat Magazine: How important is education to you?
Cise: Education is a must. I talked to a group of kids at Xavier University a couple years ago. It’s easier with your whole struggle for you to achieve what you achieve with an education. I can’t stress it enough.
The Heat Magazine: What is your favorite dish?
Cise: My favorite dish is from Acme Oysters house. It is grilled oysters on a half shell. What!!!
The Heat Magazine: Whats the biggest lesson you have learned in your career or life?
Cise: The biggest lesson is to have everlasting patience. I’m talking about patience to continue your grind until you get what you want. Don’t worry about what you don’t have, work with what you do have and beat the competition at something else.
Cise Discography
5654 Mystikal Mystikal (CD, Album) 1995 01241-42330-1 Mystikal Y’All Ain’t Ready Yet (12″) 1995 BB0002CD Black Menace Really Doe (CD, Album) 1993 BB0010C G-Slimm Fours Deuces & Trays (Cass, Album) 1994 BB0011C Partners N Crime* P-N-C-3 (Cass, Album) 1995 BB0015C Sporty-T It’s All Good (Cass) 1995 BB0016C Black Menace(Cass, Single) 1995 BB0019 Partners-N-Crime Pump Tha Party (Puttin’ In Work) (Cass, Album) 1995 BBR0012 MystikalMystikal (Cass, Album) 1995 BBR-0017 Black Menace Drama Time (CD, Album) BBR-0017 Black Menace Drama Time (Cass, Album) 1995 BBR-0017LP Black Menace Drama Time / Hit ‘Em Get ‘Em (12″) 1995 BBR-0018 Fiend (2) Won’t Be Denied (Cass, Album) 1995 BBR-0018LP Fiend (2) Won’t Be Denied / Baddest M.F. Alive (12″) 1995 BBR-0020 Ghetto Twinz* Surrounded By Criminals (CD, Album) 1995 BBR-0021 Insane (10) Camp 4 Life (CD, Album) 1995 BBR-0021 Insane (10) Camp 4 Life (Cass, Album) 1995 BBR 0023 Elaté Elaté (CD, Album) 1996 BBR 0023 ElatéElaté (Cass, Album) 1996 BBR-0024 Various The Compilation Album – We G’s (CD) 1997 BBR-0024 Various The Compilation Album – We G’s (Cass, Comp) 1997 BBR-0025 J-Dawg Smokin’ & Rollin’ (CD, Album) 1997 BBR-0026 J-Dawg The Dawg House (CD, Album) 1997 SCMG-0013 Mystikal Mystikal (CD, Album) 1995 SCMG-0014 Partners N Crime* P•N•C•3 (CD, Album) SCMG-0015 Fiend (2) Won’t Be Denied (CD, Album) 1995
Contact Dion Norman at itsdevious@yahoo.com for more information on Cise Edwards or Cise HD.
