The debut album, “Look at Me,” from Cadillac Don and J Money features
guest appearances from Bun B
and Paul
Wall.
Cadillac Don and J Money
Look
At Me
IN STORES November 7
Asylum Records
The history of Southern hip hop is replete with duos that have
made an indelible mark on rap music and popular culture. Over the
years, legendary artists such as UGK, Outkast, Eightball &
MJG have moved crowds as well as millions of units while, at
the same time, helping to set the foundation for the current explosion
of Southern hip hop.
“We have listened to music all our lives and
groups like Eightball & MJG and
UGK have been nothing but and inspiration to us! We
feel like we want to continue the history and continue to take hip hop
to another level along with these other great artist that have pave
the way for us,” says Cadillac Don. “We
started out a lot like those groups hussling trying to become heard by
someone who would just give us a chance!”
groups like Eightball & MJG and
UGK have been nothing but and inspiration to us! We
feel like we want to continue the history and continue to take hip hop
to another level along with these other great artist that have pave
the way for us,” says Cadillac Don. “We
started out a lot like those groups hussling trying to become heard by
someone who would just give us a chance!”
Born in the Northern Mississippi town of Crawford
Mississippi, a small country town where everybody’s knows
everybody, both Cadillac Don (AKA Donald Sharp) and
J. Money (AKA: Tiyon Rogers) grew up poor in single
parent homes where music like blues and r & b took center stage in
their lives, but as the two childhood friends grew older they soon
gravitated toward hip hop. Cadillac Don list hip hop
stalwarts like Big Daddy Kane as his chief influences
while J. Money cites LL Cool J and
Tupac as major influences.
Mississippi, a small country town where everybody’s knows
everybody, both Cadillac Don (AKA Donald Sharp) and
J. Money (AKA: Tiyon Rogers) grew up poor in single
parent homes where music like blues and r & b took center stage in
their lives, but as the two childhood friends grew older they soon
gravitated toward hip hop. Cadillac Don list hip hop
stalwarts like Big Daddy Kane as his chief influences
while J. Money cites LL Cool J and
Tupac as major influences.
Cadillac Don say his love for hip hop was so strong coming up
that at the age of six he and his older brother would sneak out the
house and hit the streets at night break-dancing in front of adults
for money.
that at the age of six he and his older brother would sneak out the
house and hit the streets at night break-dancing in front of adults
for money.
After finishing high school both guys attended
college with full scholarships for baseball. They also pursued
professional baseball, but the prospect didn’t appeal to either
one of them. An injury sidelined J.
Money’s dream, while the lure of a steady job
as a high school art teacher benched Cadillac Don.
While their dreams of becoming big time pro ball players didn’t
prosper the two decided to continue to develop their rap skills with
the hope of one day becoming rap superstars.
college with full scholarships for baseball. They also pursued
professional baseball, but the prospect didn’t appeal to either
one of them. An injury sidelined J.
Money’s dream, while the lure of a steady job
as a high school art teacher benched Cadillac Don.
While their dreams of becoming big time pro ball players didn’t
prosper the two decided to continue to develop their rap skills with
the hope of one day becoming rap superstars.
“In my free time I was developing and typing
raps between classes,” says Cadillac Don, whose
name is derived from his love of classic Cadillac cars
–according to him he owns three of them. “I often said
that being a black man from Mississippi I would have to make a choice
that is either jail or make something of myself, so I followed my
dream and, shortly I met Big Fruit, the producer, and
he began showing me things on the keyboard and how to work the Triton
and Pro Tools. After a short period of time I started learning to
record myself.”
raps between classes,” says Cadillac Don, whose
name is derived from his love of classic Cadillac cars
–according to him he owns three of them. “I often said
that being a black man from Mississippi I would have to make a choice
that is either jail or make something of myself, so I followed my
dream and, shortly I met Big Fruit, the producer, and
he began showing me things on the keyboard and how to work the Triton
and Pro Tools. After a short period of time I started learning to
record myself.”
Meanwhile his partner in rhyme was a member of a rap group
called The Crawford Boys. The group became one of the
town’s most popular groups. While enjoying his time with the
group, J. Money decided to pursue a career as a
soloist. That’s when Cadillac Don introduced
him to Big Fruit.
“My man Cadillac hooked up
with Big Fruit,” says J.
Money. “He always asks me to come by the studio but I
was too busy. One day I decided to go by there, and when I heard
the beats I thought they were unreal. I was like with his beats,
my hype and Cadillac’s flow we could go
somewhere.”
with Big Fruit,” says J.
Money. “He always asks me to come by the studio but I
was too busy. One day I decided to go by there, and when I heard
the beats I thought they were unreal. I was like with his beats,
my hype and Cadillac’s flow we could go
somewhere.”
Initially Cadillac and J
were going to be solo rappers, but because they were such
good friends they would often do guest appearances on each
other’s songs. “We would sound so good on each
other’s songs that Big Fruit suggested that we
should be a group,” says Cadillac Don.
“That’s how we became a duo.”
were going to be solo rappers, but because they were such
good friends they would often do guest appearances on each
other’s songs. “We would sound so good on each
other’s songs that Big Fruit suggested that we
should be a group,” says Cadillac Don.
“That’s how we became a duo.”
Under Big Fruit’s direction
the duo begin to carve out a unique sound that captured the ears of
rap fans through out North Mississippi. Their sound also caught the
attention of 35/35 Entertainment’s CEO
Clarence Weatherspoon, a native of Crawford
Mississippi.
the duo begin to carve out a unique sound that captured the ears of
rap fans through out North Mississippi. Their sound also caught the
attention of 35/35 Entertainment’s CEO
Clarence Weatherspoon, a native of Crawford
Mississippi.
Produced by Big Fruit “Peanut
Butter & Jelly,” the album’s lead single
is built around a hypnotic joog beat and menacing piano chords and a
steel pan melody, “Peanut Butter &
Jelly” celebrates the supped up rides with the
candy paint and tan leather interior.
Butter & Jelly,” the album’s lead single
is built around a hypnotic joog beat and menacing piano chords and a
steel pan melody, “Peanut Butter &
Jelly” celebrates the supped up rides with the
candy paint and tan leather interior.
With the initial success of their lead single
“Peanut Butter &
Jelly” and the response that many of their other
songs are getting in the streets Cadillac Don
& J Money are more than confident
that they are going to a major force in the rap game.
“Peanut Butter &
Jelly” and the response that many of their other
songs are getting in the streets Cadillac Don
& J Money are more than confident
that they are going to a major force in the rap game.
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