Today we’d like to introduce you to C5.
Hi C5, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Inspired by Lil Wayne, I started rapping in the 8th grade at 13 years old. Two of my friends and I booked a session for about $40 for a couple of hours and made our first song, “Strapped Up,” over DJ Khaled’s “Brown Paper Bag” beat. We put the song on Myspace, and everyone at our middle school and the other local middle schools loved it. That moment changed everything. I felt heard and seen, unlike I’d ever felt before. I knew I had found my purpose and what I wanted to do. After that session, I decided to get my own equipment and record myself. I’ve been recording myself ever since. In my first years of high school, I dropped multiple projects and would press them all up on CDs and sell them at school.
Living in Oakland, CA, and heavily influenced by the hip-hop I was listening to, I became infatuated with the street life and began to indulge when I got to high school. All while doing my music, I end up joining a gang that was based in my neighborhood. I ended up catching a case at 17, and this was a turning point in my life. After a little over a month in a juvenile facility, I knew that was not what I wanted for my life. I was released on ankle monitor for 6 months, and I went hard on my music and focused on school so I could graduate and get out of Oakland.
I got accepted into CSU Dominguez Hills, and that was my ticket out of Oakland and how I overcame the streets. When I got to CSUDH, I released my first mixtape, “5matic,” which I had been working on before I left Oakland. It was very underground and street and didn’t really resonate with people at the college. Then, however, after a year living and experiencing LA, college life, and living in the dorms, I dropped my 2nd project, “Dorm Flow”. This project made a massive shift in my career, and people began to know who I was. I was working in the school’s student union at the time as a custodian. I would pass out hard copies of my CD while on the job, and people would come back to me saying how dope the project was. I even had “Dorm Flow” shirts made that got really popular on campus. Then, however, I got in trouble because I shot a music video for the title track “Dorm Flow” in the dorms, and there was alcohol and drug use in the visual. This almost got me kicked out of school. The only thing that saved me was this organization on campus called Male Success Alliance, that I had signed up for but wasn’t really active. The Vice President of the school was also the founder of MSA, so he vouched for me, and I ended up getting a year on probation. After that, I got really involved in the program and started mentoring middle school kids in South Central. It was my best and most rewarding job. I’m so grateful for that opportunity. The whole experience of almost being kicked out of college and working with those kids changed me, and my music changed with it. My message became very positive and uplifting (it always was, but it was also very raunchy, lol). In 2016, my final year of college, I dropped “Dorm Flow 2”. This project was a huge success. My merchandise became more prevalent around the campus and in California. The school really got behind me as well. My merchandise was sold in the school bookstore, and I was headlining shows on campus, getting paid as a student! I was also performing at all the other surrounding CSUs and popular venues opening up for well-known artists. I remember winning REAL 92.3’s “REAL SHOW” contest and getting to perform at the Forum opening up for huge artist like Chance The Rapper, Usher, Bryson Tiller, Big Sean, Tory Lanez, and more. The first artist I ever opened up for was Nipsey Hussle after I dropped the first Dorm Flow.
After graduating, I dropped my 3rd project, “Only Up From Here”. This project is when management stepped in and suggested I move out to Atlanta with them so they could be more hands-on. I had a job opportunity at an ad agency in LA that paid a pretty good salary once I graduated, but I took the leap of faith and decided to be 100% devoted to my craft. I was living on the outskirts of Atlanta with no job as a struggling artist. It was rough, but it was worth it. I stayed in Atlanta for about 10 months, going back and forth to LA and the Bay for business (music). I learned so much around this time about how the industry works. I felt like the music that truly fed my soul wasn’t resonating in Atlanta at the time, and I began to conform to their music. Listening to a lot of outside influences, I slowly drifted away from the music that felt true to me, and I wasn’t happy.
I moved back to LA, and this is when I dropped “Be Patient”. This project was a collection of songs that I created when I was living in Atlanta and LA. After a pretty devastating breakup, I moved back to the Bay with my mom for 6 months. In this time, I released my project “Overdue”. This project was very Bay Area influenced, and I had a good time making it. At this point of my career, I just didn’t understand why I hadn’t popped. I felt OVERDUE. People knew about me, and I had a good support system, but I was still a struggling artist trying to find his way and nowhere near where I wanted to be.
In 2018, I moved back to LA with no place to live. I was couch-surfing and sleeping in my car. I had been living a legit life since I left from Oakland to go to college and up to that current point (2012-2019). I just got so tired of struggling, so I found myself back hustling in the streets while doing my project “Interstate 5”. I was struggling with alcohol at this time. You can listen to these albums and hear exactly what I was going through at the time. I think it’s dope that my life is documented through my music. “Interstate 5” is a great project, but still not my full authentic self. I was still finding myself and my sound.
“Swimming With a Pisces” is a time where I really start seeking and finding my true self. I started meditation, breath work, and reading at this time. The song “ISSUES” got good traction, and I was added to Apple Music’s New Bay Playlist. This was my first big playlisting.
My project, “ME vs. Me” was an extension of me on my healing journey. “The Crossover” was me stepping into a new version of myself! A more confident version of myself and more faithful. I stopped doing all illegal activity around this time and haven’t looked back since.
February 2022, I dropped my song/video “Trader Joes” and had my first viral moment. Everything changed after this. I started creating song for brands, public figures, and causes alongside my creative producer and now partner Laura Seddon a.k.a. Penny Lane. We’ve worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, like Sephora, Cookies, Target, Good American, Ubatuba, Casper, Hart House, PETA, Mercy for Animals, and more! We’ve made tributes for public figures like Tabitha Brown, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Marshawn Lynch, and Hill Harper, and they have all gone viral. Every person we have done a tribute for has responded in some way.
I dropped my album “Never Going Back To The Streets,” dedicated to the love of my life, my partner and creative producer, right after we found out we were having a baby. A year after that, I dropped my latest project, “Enjoy The Journey,” dedicated to my son as a guide through life. He’s on the cover of the album. This is my most authentic piece of work thus far. It’s been one heaven of a journey, and I’m only getting started!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I definitely wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road, but if you think of anyone who’s made an impact in the world, neither was theirs, and that’s what makes their story so powerful. It wasn’t smooth, but it was worth it. Anything I go through that isn’t pleasant I just always tell myself, “It’s only adding to the story.” I think the biggest challenge is supporting yourself and your craft as an upcoming artist. There was nights I didn’t know what I was going to eat or where I was going to sleep. I also think it was a challenge not to conform to what everyone else is doing when everyone is telling you that’s what you have to do to be successful. If I could go back and tell myself anything it would be, BE YOURSELF!
Oh yea, distractions. There’s been a lot of things trying to distract me along the way, but you have to be strong-willed. Someone once told me, “The thing that’s distracting you is far less important than what it’s distracting you from.” That stuck with me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a storyteller. I tell my life story in a way where it’s relatable to others. I talk about it all, from the highs to the lows. I use my story to inspire others and give hope. My music is very intentional and faith-filled. I intend to leave you lighter than before you pressed play. I specialize in connecting with listeners through my vulnerability and honesty. I also specialize in telling other people’s stories that have inspired me by giving them their flowers, and that’s something I’ve become known for, as well as making custom songs for brands and causes.
I’m most proud of getting to a place where I’m confident enough to be my full authentic self, personally and throughout my music. Being successful, being my unique self, feels so good. I listen to what I feel and take outside advice with a grain of salt. I’m confident in my work and the abilities God has blessed me with. I’ve accepted that I was sent here to be a leader meant to shift the culture in a way it’s never been shifted. What sets me apart is that I’m not in competition with anyone but myself, and most importantly, I’m ME! Nobody can be ME better than I can. I’m reserved only for ME, so my job is to be the best version of that every day.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Spending time with my family and loved ones makes me happy. Eating good, healthy food makes me happy. Spending time at the beach really makes me happy. Recording music makes me happy, of course. Collaborating with like-minded, loving creatives makes me happy. Serving others and putting my loved ones in position makes me happy. Spending time with youth and elders makes me happy. Reading and meditating makes me happy. Performing my music makes me happy. Watching movies and/or a good show makes me happy. Going on hikes makes me happy. Swimming makes me happy. Getting paid to do what I love makes me happy. Nice views make me happy. Good people make me happy. God makes me happy.
All these things are good for my soul and well-being.
Contact Info:
- Website: officialc5.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialc5/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialC5/
- Twitter: twitter.com/officialc5_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/officialc5
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/officialc5
Image Credits
Kenneth Theophin
Sadfi Photoz
Sean Muniz
