That Kid CG

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Contemporary hip-hop is in a constant state of flux. Gone are the days where one hip-hop style dominates. A quick listen to popular hip-hop tunes today, and you’ll hear elements of rock, pop, jazz, R&B and more. Hip-hip is a pop-culture behemoth largely due to it effortlessly permeating into other sub-cultures and genres. Enter Craig Lashley aka That Kid CG. CG has maneuvered the twists and turns of hip-hop, with his latest Change The Game EP, is now committed to sharing his own genre-bending interpretation of hip-hop. In 2015, CG wrote and performed vocals on “Set it Off” in Disney’s hit musical Descendent’s. The catchy, sing-along, pop/hip-hop crossover hit is certified gold and went viral with over 110 Million views on YouTube. In 2017, CG released his debut solo album Good Intentions and showcased his ability to smoothly flow over trendy trap production. CG doesn’t shy away from hip-hop’s malleability, he embraces it. “I love where rap is at right now,” CG says. “I feel like what rap is going through what rock went through when metal, punk, new ... [ more ] Contemporary hip-hop is in a constant state of flux. Gone are the days where one hip-hop style dominates. A quick listen to popular hip-hop tunes today, and you’ll hear elements of rock, pop, jazz, R&B and more. Hip-hip is a pop-culture behemoth largely due to it effortlessly permeating into other sub-cultures and genres.

Enter Craig Lashley aka That Kid CG. CG has maneuvered the twists and turns of hip-hop, with his latest Change The Game EP, is now committed to sharing his own genre-bending interpretation of hip-hop.

In 2015, CG wrote and performed vocals on “Set it Off” in Disney’s hit musical Descendent’s. The catchy, sing-along, pop/hip-hop crossover hit is certified gold and went viral with over 110 Million views on YouTube.

In 2017, CG released his debut solo album Good Intentions and showcased his ability to smoothly flow over trendy trap production. CG doesn’t shy away from hip-hop’s malleability, he embraces it.

“I love where rap is at right now,” CG says. “I feel like what rap is going through what rock went through when metal, punk, new metal, and emo were first introduced. It’s cool that hip-hop is getting to the level where it can have sub-genres like this. The most important thing in hip-hop today is making something fresh and new—everybody who is hot right now knows that and is doing that.”

Making something new and fresh perfectly describes CG’s Change the Game. Bouncing between New York and Los Angeles, Change the Game marks the beginning of a fresh chapter for CG and his coast-to-coast changes in scenery have given him creative freedom to publish his own genre that he self dubs “jock-rap”—a modern twist on the popular Jock Jam compilations in the late 90’s.

Tracks like “Bow Down” and “Change the Game” epitomize what CG is going for. With deep bass lines, inspiring synth rises, punchy snare rolls, and timely beat drops, That Kid CG is able to flow on top of it all to inspire his listeners to strive and perform to the best of their ability.

“I want people who are trying to be the best they can be to listen to [Change the Game]. People that are fighting and, in the process of, being the best they can be,” CG says. “This music is for athletes trying to improve, for the college sophomore trying to get through classes, or for the janitor that’s trying to make it to the top.” \r\n\r\nCG has a diverse range of flows and styles when he spits. His delivery is dynamic. He isn’t afraid to sing, and you’ll never hear redundant rhyming patterns. Every bar is an opportunity to up the game. \r\n\r\n“I try to switch [the flow] up either every two bars, or every four bars just to keep it fresh for the listener so they’re never bored.”

That Kid CG’s Change the Game is the antithesis of boredom. It’s evident that CG is steadily mastering his own corner of the hip-hop world, resurrecting the “rock-jock” era. Much like the tempos and powerful rhymes in his music, CG won’t be slowing down anytime soon. [ less ]