I can not recollect how I first stumbled upon the sauntering bars of Beantown’s next up emcee Cam Meekins, but I do remember that I had no trouble spinning his first two projects NTRSPCTN and : ) :/ :/ without interruption. I am the first to admit that an artist keeping my attention for that long is a feat in of itself. His uncanny ability to extend narratives beyond just a verse, but to entire tracks ad the project at large, tap into the core of the hip-hop legacy that might sometimes get lost in the smoke and mirrors of the industry. With Meekins the words are easily digested, but the meaning behind them has a habit of lingering enough to warrant more spins.
Two weeks ago he landed on the iTunes charts with his follow up project Lamp City, and has solidified his status as a young artists to watch in the North East. Subject matter deviation seems to be his strongest tool in the craft, but it would be a discredit to his drive to say he doesn’t back it up with solid flows and original self-produced instrumentals that dwell on live piano utilization. With plans to take the music on the album beyond his homebase of Boston, Meekins took some time to connect with us about his history, the new project, and what Lamp City is beyond an album title.
Speaking towards the genesis of the name, and keeping everything internal and independent, what are the origins of your umbrella brand Lamp City?
Me and my friends used to say it as a term, meaning ‘chillin.’ Then when I started the music shit I wanted to brand my label with that name. The whole motto of the brand is making honest music, working with musicians who take the initiative in their producing, writing etc. We want the music to be honest, and not some calculated product, but still give it mainstream appeal.
Tell me about your household musical background, and how that influenced on you to take up instruments at an early age.
My parents are actually not musical at all, but my older brother was into music. I used to steal his guitar when I was 5, so that’s how I first got into it.
What about coming up in Wellesley. Was there a local hip-hop scene there that got you started, or did you go seek it out in Boston?
Not at all. Some of my friends from Boston went to school with me. We started to get involved in the Boston scene and make music together. That’s really how I first got started, and then we kept pushing. I graduated and really started to be out around Boston trying to meet everyone, that’s when I met Tim [Larew].
Who were your early musical influences in and out of hip-hop that have stuck with you when crafting your sound?
Atmosphere. Kanye. Sublime.
What was your initial motivation to pick up the pen and inevitably start rapping in a serious way?
I had always been writing. When I was 16 I was going through a transitional period really trying to figure out my path. At some point I realized I wanted to make music forever. I knew if I made the decision I wouldn’t stop til I could prove it was the right decision
Although Boston is a notoriously associated with having a caucasian demographic, have you had to deal with racial barriers when trying to disseminate your music to your city and beyond?
I don’t really think that shit matters. I just love making music and my friends do, too. Backgrounds can be different, demographics too, but we all relate to the same values at the end of the day.
What are your freestyle skills like? Do you see any value in that medium/ability?
I’m alright [laughs]. I wish I was better. Me and my friends do it all the time though.
Going into writing and recording Lamp City, what were the new sonic territories you wanted to move into that you had not done previously?
With this album I just wanted to keep the music real natural sounding, experiment with some new live instruments, and bring the production up a level. Not settling for a 95 percent there beat. Doing whatever it took to make it all the way 100. We did a lot of solo instrumentation, breakdowns, and outros that I really take pride in.
Given you produce for yourself, what is your writing process typically like both on this project and historically? Do you pen lines to use your handmade beats to enhance them, or do you look to the beats you make to inspire your stream of conscious in writing?
It can go a couple different ways, but for the most part I write the whole song together. I build the beat and the verses almost simultaneously. I just try not to force it and let the music come to me whenever I feel inspired. Sometimes I’ll feel the need to write when I’m not making the beat, and I’ll write that down, then go and make a song with it later.
Can you talk about the collabs on Lamp City, and how those connections came about?
My homies from Pilot Nation out of Boston, Stizzy and Jefe Replay got on the album early on in the process. They were around with me during a lot of the writing process out in Boston, and I love collaborating with those dudes. Also Skizzy Mars was featured on the last track. That’s the homie, me and him have known each other for a minute, done some shows together, and I thought his vibe was perfect for the song so I reached out. As far as production on some of the songs I had my dudes Geoffro Cause, Matty Trump, and Jimmy Gonzalez on the keys with me. I love working with those dudes. We are going to do the whole next project, too. Colin Munroe also co-produced “High” with me.
After the record do you plan on hitting the road and bringing the music beyond your region in the live setting?
Yessir, I’m in Toronto right now for a show. We’re tryna go all over the country this Summer and Fall. Stay tuned for dates and everything
In the digital era that is flooded and saturated with competition, how does the artists Cam Meekins set himself apart on every level of the game?
I don’t think there’s a lot of artists making music like me with the same subject matters. I just really want to tell my story and create an energy in the business of artists that can speak for themselves, and still do big things on a mainstream level by being educated and actively involved in the business side and creative side of their careers.
