Funkadelphia: "Let's start out basic; what's your name and from where do you hail?"

Cas One: "My name is Jacob. People call me Cas One. I am from a little place called Evansville in Indiana."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "So you're a hip-hop artist- when did you first gain interest in hip-hop?"

Cas One: "I think I really started to get into it arond 1993. I liked Snoop before that simply for the curse words, but genuinely dove in around '93."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "How do you define the difference between hip-hop and rap?"

Cas One: "I don't, really. I think that is more up for the listener to decide. I know a lot of people go through great strides to put a wedge between the two, but I've heard commercial rappers tat a lot of people don't consider to be hip-hop say some incredibly insightful sh*t. I've also heard what people call 'backpack' rappers say some really dumb sh*t. I don't know if it's a state of mind or what. I don't like niche genres."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "Who have beeen some of your biggest

influences inside of hip-hop and outside?"

Cas One: "I really love Andre 3000 from Outkast. He stands out to me. Eyedea and Atmosphere as well as Sage Francis stick out too. I am more so into rock music right now and really like the song writing from that. I think Alt-J is really great right now. I also really love EDM music and am inspired by Figure and Wick-It the Instigator. My friends are a constant source of me wanting to do better."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "Is this a debut release, or a follow-up?"

Cas One: "This is my second full-length solo album. My first was called 'Liberation'; it came out in 2005. I took a break to concentrate on family and find my balance."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "You've collaborated with some of our favorite producers, including Figure and Wick-It the Instigator. Who else did you work with on the new album?"

Cas One: "Eric Hunter did 99% of the production of this album. He played efvery instrument. But, Prolyphic of Strange Famous Records also produced one song on there."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "Are there any other producers,

or lyricists you hope to work with in the future?"

Cas One: "I would really like to work with Kill Paris on something just to get out of my element. As for rappers, I would die a happy, happy man to do something with Outkast."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "A lot of your tracks, leading to this album at least,

have had a heavy electronic- in most cases dubstep or

drumstep- sound. I this something you want to continue 

with most of your music, or do you typically remain 

in the realm of a more classic hip-hop style?"

Cas One: "I am more in the realm of hip-hop than anything. I did some stuff with Figure to get out of my comfort zone and to do something new. A lot of people don't know this, but he and I were rapper and deejay way before he got into the electronic world. We used to tour the 'Liberation' record together.'"

 

 

Funkadelphia: "You just did an album release party in your home state, but do you plan on going on tour to further promote the album? If so, where can we expect to see you?"

Cas One: "We sold it out! That was nuts! I do plan on touring. We are booking for spring, planning on east and west coast with a few midwest dates thrown in the mix as well!"

 

 

Funkadelphia: "'The Monster and the Wishing Well' is certianly an interesting name;

is there any sort of story or explanation behind the title?"

Cas One: "The Illuminati is going to get pissed that I am giving this secret out, but I am a really big fan of things that contrast and have an ugly underbelly. I think our wishes make us monsters. It's a different spin on careful what you wish for."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "Eric Hunter and yourself sometimes go under the aliases 'The Wolf' and

'The Rabbit'; who is who, and is there any sort of story behind these names as well?"

Cas One: "We are both the rabbit and the wolf. That again, is the contrast. When I am more aggressive, I am the wolf. When I am more introspective, the rabbit takes over."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "There's always a constant conversation in the media

about how 'hip-hip is dead'; what are your thoughts on this claim?"

Cas One: "I think that making music that is not disposable is becoming a lost art. I do think that. I think people are more concerned with singles on their albums than the ALBUM [as a whole] itself. I still get excited for artists [new releases] to come out though. I was really excited that El-P and Killer Mike did something together. I think hip-hop is hiding."

 

 

 

Funkadelphia: "It's also been said that hip-hop is dying, or in need of a revival since Kendrick Lamar's verse in "Control", and Skream started a craze in the EDM world

when he said dubstep was dead. Do you think the melding of electronic music

and hip-hop that we are seeing become more popular could be a key factor in

the revival and progression of the genre?"

Cas One: "Absolutely. I saw what Kendrick did, and that made a spark that really needed to happen. Remember how you would get to see Nas and Jay [Jay-Z] respond to each other?! We need that!"

 

 

Funkadelphia: "We are really big fans of the festival circuit, and I have to admit, I'm always hoping to see more hip-hop on festival lineups. Can we expect to see you on any festivals this upcoming summer of 2014? If so, can you tell us where?"

Cas One: "I really hope so. I love playing festivals. I am in talks of doing a few; nothing concrete...yet; but, from time to time I jump on with Figure."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "Give us a quick run through of your favorite rappers of all time-

who's 'the king', who's overrated, who's good now, and so on?"

Cas One: "Andre 3 stacks for king. Jay-Z is incredible. A lot of indie rap artists are extremely great at what they do. As for overrated, how about Riff Raff, but that dude is incredibly entertaining, so maybe my opinion on that is overrated. I think people in the spotlight are usually there for one reason or another."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "Do you have any participation in the production of your beats,

or do you just have producers make beats, then lay lyrics over them?"

Cas One: "Eric Hunter and I usually speak heavily of a vibe before we jump in. Or, I will give him a line, and we will build off of that. We are always talking about what type of song we want to make or the theme of it. I don't have a hand in producing the actual instruments. He is me if I were a producer. I am him if he were a rapper. It's weird."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "Does 'The Monster and the Wishing Well' have a central theme, does it address a bunch of stuff, or was there any particular goal with the album?"

Cas One: "It's a documentary of the years. In one way or another, everything I have went through in the years it took to make it is all there. The song 'October' is a really shining example of that. It's dark and light. It's all about contrast."

 

 

Funkadelphia: "Anything else you'd like to say to the readers and listeners?"

Cas One: "I want to talk to y'all. I want to know what you think, even if it urts my feelings. I love conversation. I won't take as long to make my next project. I want to slap you a five- maybe even make up our own secret handshake- but most importantly, I am just like you if you are not like them."