CJ Hilton is finally getting the chance to shine
If you haven’t heard of CJ Hilton yet, allow me to put you on. During his grind to the top, the 25-year-old R&B artist earned several notches on his belt with only one mixtape on file and two Grammy nominations. Now Hilton isn’t ready to stop as 2014 looks to be his breakthrough year.
Between working with Stevie Wonder & Raphael Saadiq, the Baltimore native is continuing to branch out and make his music known around the country. He recently headlined the Sol Village Showcase at S.O.B’s with several other artists including Maxine Ashley. What’s next for young singer? Hilton talks about his new mixtape Sextape, his recent performances and more.
The Source: Where do you feel like you are in your career?
CJ Hilton: I’ve achieved a lot of things. This is gonna be my second mixtape that I’m releasing. My first mixtape I released that with Idris Alba called “The Package” was a success. I’ve been nominated for two Grammys. I wrote and produced a song with Raphael Saadiq & Stevie Wonder called “Never Give You Up”. This year, I got a song on Salaam Remi’s project entitled One In The Chamber and I was also nominated for that.
How do you feel like you define yourself? How do you define your sound?
If I had to put myself in a box, I would have to say I’m like a young R. Kelly. I can write a song like “I Believe I Can Fly” but at the same time I could put out a song like “Sex & My Jeep”. It’s broad but it’s all good music. I’m not really an R&B dude, I’m not like Musiq Soulchild, I’m just a musician. I like all types of music.
You recently headlined a show at S.O.B’s with Maxine Ashley, Miesa, and Honey Larochelle. Was that your first time headlining there?
Not my first time, just my first time in a long time that I’ve headlined a show. I’ve done a lot of shows so it’s not too different to headline. But this particular show, with all those dope artists there and the nice crowd, it was cool. It was a good show.
For this next mixtape, what direction are you taking it?
For this mixtape, it’s definitely for the ladies. It’s called Sextape so its real sexy but it’s fun at the same time. I feel like a lot of my music before now has been a little more serious and mature. You know that’s one side of CJ Hilton but this time I just really wanted to show the fun, sexy, just-let-your-hair-down side of CJ Hilton. That’s pretty much what it is.
For the next project after Sextape, will be shifting the focus or will you stay on the R&B lane?
I feel like for the EP it’s going to be a little more serious than the mixtape. The mixtape was just for fun. I’m rapping, I’m singing and I’m producing. I just got in the studio and did whatever I wanted to. I feel like for the EP, which is called Threesome, it’ll be a little more serious. Still fun, still young but just showing a little more of the classy side.
Do you plan to tour for Sextape?
Yes sir! We got a lot of shows coming up for this mixtape. That was really my thing for this year. That was one of my New Year’s resolutions was to perform as many places as I could and to release as much music as I could. We’re starting of the year releasing and getting ready for the shows.
Tony Centeno (@_tonyMC)
