 by Toki Wright
In a city oversaturated with fly-by-night rappers you really have to find a way to stand out. Everyone has access to a computer, knows someone with an MPC (or Playstation), and you could probably get a show on any night of the week even if you just started rapping last Thursday.
He’s down with the Black Eyed Peas. He emcees and sings. He’s from Pennsylvania. He’s white. I’m sure by now you’ve concocted all sorts of assumptions in your head about Golden. He must be an underground backpack rapper. He must want to be like (fill in white rapper’s name here) when he grows up. The former S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S. front man returns with a new and improved project, live stage show and all around hustle. Throw all of your assumptions to the side. The first thing that Casey Golden will tell you is that “It
Ain’t Me.”
I sat down with Golden on a late September afternoon to discuss his new frame
of mind and the direction of the new 12” "It Ain’t Me/Keep
It Jumpin.”
 PULSE:
Golden has multiple meanings. Where does your name come from?
Casey Golden: It’s my birth name. Golden is my last name. Casey Golden.
PULSE: What do you think is the biggest misconception about Golden?
CG: I think the biggest misconception is that I’m “high-post”
and that I don’t involve myself in this community. The other is that I don’t
fit into the box of underground hip-hop in Minneapolis by being considered too
pop or too commercial.
PULSE: Of all your new material what do you believe is your most standout
song?
CG: Probably “Falling” or “It Ain’t Me.”
“It Ain’t Me” has good timing and it gets the inevitable comparison
to other white rappers [over with] right off the bat. “Falling” is
probably my most well-written song front-to-back. It’s real personal and
I think it says a lot about how I feel from my worldview and interpersonal relations
to how we deal with one another. It’s a song about how everybody is at the
top and everybody falls sometimes.
PULSE: Who all was involved in making this project?
CG: This record was produced by Printz Board who does the music direction
for Black Eyed Peas, has produced for Busta Rhymes, Macy Gray and Tre from Pharcyde.
All the members of the Peas played an instrument on this record at some point.
Dylan Dresdow and Tony Maserati engineered the record. Oasis Mastering. DJ Squeeze
is on the cuts.
 PULSE:
This 12” has standout material. How does this project differ from your others?
CG: The only other project has been S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S. records. It’s
a lot less moody. Jay (Jayechs) would be the first to tell you that. The 2004
Local Mixtape was just some verses over jacked beats.
PULSE: What do you think this project contributes to hip-hop, especially
to the local scene?
CG: In general, I think it contributes 1,000 more pieces of vinyl and 1,000
more pieces of paper that need to be recycled [laughter]. Locally it means every
DJ gets two free records if they come up and talk to me. You ever see “Bill
and Ted’s Excellent Adventure?” I’m Wyld Stallion [more laughter].
PULSE: A lot of local stars seem to be hitting the road lately. Do you
have any tour plans?
CG: Yes. Plan A will be to go all over the country and hit different college
radio markets. Right now I’m looking at Boston down to Atlanta as opposed
to spot dates in the Midwest.
 After
the interview Golden steps out of the room just as he stepped in. It seems that
he is a man on a mission to make major things happen with this album. Golden also
adds his name to a short list of locally based emcees to have released vinyl.
His time away from the local spotlight has helped him to restructure his craft
and hit the pavement hard with a brand of hip-hop that is rarely seen around these
parts: hip-hop music that is tolerable to the pop consumer. The best part is that
he has no shame in saying that some of his music has a pop feel.
Oftentimes, you find local artists are still trying to prove themselves and “keep
it real.” What Golden is saying is that this is “real.” There
is nothing wrong with living outside of the parameters set up by the local or
regional style. Yes, he makes catchy hip-hop. Yes he’s down with the Black
Eyed Peas no matter what anybody thinks about them. Yes he’s down with underground
music. Now that he’s got that out of the way he wants you to know that whatever
false impression you had of him before, “It Ain’t Me.” ||
Golden plays the release show for “It Ain’t Me” on
Fri., Oct. 14 at the Cabooze. With DJ Squeeze, Jayechs, Cheap Cologne and many
many others. Hosted by Desdamona and Carnage. Music by Plain Ole Bill. 8:30 p.m.
18+. $7. 917 Cedar Ave., Mpls. 612-338-6425.
For more info on Golden, check out Golden-MC.com.
 Must
See in the Local Scene!
Wed., Oct. 12
Third Annual Anti-Columbus Day Show.
Seventh Street Entry. 8 p.m. 18+. $5. 29 N. 7th St., Mpls. 612-332-1775.
with: Los Nativos, Dessa and Mictlan (Doomtree), Def Ch’ld, Quilombolas,
Palabristas and Music by DJ Nikoless
Sun., Oct. 16
The Kick It Spot: Monthly Showcase and Hangout.
Dinkytowner Café. 7 p.m. All Ages. $6 / $5 w/ Student ID. 412 ˝
14th Ave. S.E., Mpls. 612-362-0437.
with: Trama Sutra, AD (OAC Ent)
Jamela, Prof and Rahzwell.
Sun., Oct. 16
Hangar 18 and Cryptic One of Atoms Family.
Seventh Street Entry. 8 p.m. 21+. $7. 29 N. 7th St., Mpls. 612-332-1775.
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