King Cruff’s creative vision is pushing musical boundaries across reggae, dancehall and hip hop
Photo courtesy of Tuff Gong International.
Daily Reggae spoke with King Cruff to lean about the talented artist’s new music including his latest single, “Soufflé”, what it’s like being part of the Universal Music Canada and the Tuff Gong Collective family, and the experience of honoring his grandfather, the legendary Bob Marley at the opening of the The Bob Marley One Love Experience in Los Angeles.
Hey King! Your latest single, “Soufflé” is a vibe! You have such a unique sound blending reggae, dancehall and hip hop. I especially love how dance friendly “Soufflé” is. How did this track come together? Did you team with a producer that you often collaborate with?
Thank you for the kind words! Soufflé was honestly one of those "happy accidents" type of songs. I wanted to try and challenge myself to experiment with a new sound. Putting more focus on my melodics than on my lyrics this time around. At the time, the dance pop vibes of Soufflé were something I had never tapped into. But as an artiste, I believe you grow the most when you're out of your comfort zone.
I didn't know the producer Cheap Limousine that well when I came across the beat but it caught my attention right away. I loved how it was very groovy but still had enough space for me to add my character and my story into it. Good synergy.
The beat on your track, “Samurai Chop” is super bouncy and fun. When you first heard the riddim, did the hook or verses come first? Do you have a favorite place to listen and write your music at whether it’s at home, the studio, or does it just come to you wherever?!
The beat for Samurai Chop was actually made by the same person who made Soufflé! When I was creating that song, I wanted to see if I could follow up Soufflé with another dance track. That's why the two tracks go hand in hand like that. For Samurai Chop, the hook definitely came to me first. It was the specific line "words cut deep like a samurai chop". That came to me and I wrote the whole story of the song around that piece.
Usually when it comes to creating music, I don't have a specific space in mind, but I do like to be alone. When you have other people in your space, they tend to colour your own opinion sometimes. I feel like when you're in the middle of the process, it's good to have trust in yourself and your abilities first.
What’s the reggae scene like in Toronto and Canada overall? Is there one or two hometown venues that you love performing at? What’s it like being signed to Universal Music Canada?
I'm still learning about the reggae scene in Canada as I go. Caribbean influence is so massive in Toronto, but I feel like the city itself is more known for its hip hop and R&B affinities.
A venue that I love performing at is the Rum Runners venue in London, Ontario. I've thrown a couple of shows there and the people who own it are like family to me.
Being signed to both Universal Music Canada and Tuff Gong Collective has been a crazy experience so far. It's exposed me to new opportunities and amazing new people. My team at both labels are so passionate about my career and the project itself. It's a blessing to be surrounded by good people who only want to magnify your creative vision.
I had the opportunity to see you perform at the opening of The Bob Marley One Love Experience in Los Angeles and your energy was contagious! What was that experience like performing in front of hundreds and honoring your grandfather?
I'm glad you enjoyed it! It was a bit nerve wracking, I can't lie. The crowd was massive and I'm sure to many, that was their first introduction to King Cruff. But the response that we got from the audience was just loving and supportive. The best part of it was that it was a genuine family affair. Getting to have DJ support from my cousin Shacia Payne was very important to me and getting to get the crowd ready for Skip was an honour in itself.
What can fans expect from King Cruff this year? Are you planning on releasing a lot of new music and hitting the road to perform more live shows? We cannot wait for what’s ahead!
For this year, my goal is to just properly connect with the fans. Whether that's through dropping as much music as possible, performing, or throwing my own shows. My commitment right now is to let the fans know I'm an artiste that's willing to build a community with them.
