Cherokee Bux on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Cherokee Bux. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Cherokee, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
First off, I just want to say thank you for having me—hello to everyone at Voyage LA Magazine, and a hello as well to all the readers out there. A normal day for me right now is structured, busy, and very intentional.

I’m up early handling my first shift as a logistics supervisor, getting the workday started before most people are fully awake. Once that’s done, everything else revolves around building—mentally, physically, and creatively.

After work, I’m checking emails, coordinating with producers, and putting together music proposal kits for sync placements in film, TV, sports, and digital media. Some days I’m in the studio recording or writing, other days I’m deep in strategy—outreach, follow-ups, and creative planning.

I stay disciplined physically too. I jog five miles a day, five days a week, and hit the gym two to three times a week. That time clears my head and keeps me sharp. Later in the day, I’m back to writing lyrics, shaping new records, or working on visuals—sometimes even AI-generated short films to support the music.

I also run Cherokee Bux Knife Co., so I still find time to sell and source knives when I can. Between that, music, fitness, and business outreach, my days are full—but it’s all connected. Everything I do feeds the same purpose: building something real, long-term, and meaningful.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Cherokee Bux. I record and perform under the artist name Buxaburn, and I’m an independent songwriter and performer who also runs Cherokee Bux Knife Co. I’ve always lived at the intersection of art, discipline, and craftsmanship—whether that’s music or steel.

Musically, I come from a West Coast, G-funk-influenced foundation, but my focus today is cinematic storytelling. I write records that feel like scenes—music built for film, television, sports, and visual media. I’m heavily involved in sync work right now, creating proposal kits, short films, and visual concepts to pair with my songs so they live beyond just streaming platforms.

I recently released “The W” on August 15th and followed that with “Street Code” on December 5th, both under the Buxaburn name. Those releases represent where I’m at creatively right now—confident, intentional, and focused on longevity rather than trends. I also have more music coming very soon, and 2026 is shaping up to be a very active year for me in terms of releases, collaborations, and placement-focused projects.

Outside of music, knives are another extension of who I am. I collect, sell, and curate blades—tools that represent patience, precision, and lineage. There’s a strong connection between knife culture and hip-hop for me: both are about craftsmanship, repetition, respect for the process, and mastering something with your hands and mind.

I still work a nine-to-five, I’m a father and a son, and I stay rooted in real life. That balance keeps me honest. What makes my journey unique is that nothing is separate—music, business, fitness, family, and discipline all feed each other. Right now, I’m focused on releasing new music, landing sync placements, and continuing to build a brand that reflects longevity, intention, and authenticity.

I’m not chasing trends. I’m building something that lasts.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that shaped me the most is the one I’ve had with music—specifically my own music. It’s been a long, evolving relationship rooted in self-discovery, discipline, and honesty. Music has always been the place where I confront who I am at different stages of life and measure my growth, not just creatively, but personally.

Alongside that, exercise has played a huge role in shaping how I see myself. Running, training, and staying disciplined physically has taught me consistency, patience, and mental clarity. Together, music and exercise have been mirrors—showing me my strengths, my limits, and where I need to improve.

Through both, I’ve learned how I show up in my family, in my work, and in my relationships. They’ve helped me understand who I am when things are going well, and who I am when things are difficult. That combination of creative expression and physical discipline has kept me grounded and continues to guide how I move through life.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized it was never meant to weaken me—it was meant to sharpen me. I grew up with a stammer and a stutter, and as a child that made speaking painful and frustrating. There were moments where it felt like my own voice was working against me.

As I got older, something shifted. I understood that if I could learn to control my voice, master it, and respect it, that struggle could become my strength. I leaned into music, rhythm, breath, and timing. Over time, what once felt like a limitation became my greatest asset.

Today, I make a living using my voice. I’m a vocalist, a performer, and a public speaker. I get paid to show up and communicate—whether I’m rapping, speaking, or telling a story. What could have been a lifelong setback turned into a source of confidence and purpose because I stayed resilient and trusted the process.

That experience taught me that pain doesn’t disappear when you hide it—it transforms when you face it. And once it transforms, it becomes power.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Where are smart people getting it totally wrong today?
With all due respect, I think a lot of smart people are getting it wrong by confusing visibility with value. We live in a time where numbers, followers, and online presence are often treated as proof of talent, when in reality they’re just proof of attention.

I come from an old-school mindset where the goal was to create a memory before creating media. Skill, passion, discipline, and substance mattered more than popularity. If someone was put on a pedestal, it was because they earned it through craft and consistency—not because an algorithm decided they were trending.

Today, popularity is sometimes treated as the main qualification, and that can overshadow real ability. Truly talented people don’t always move loud or fast online, but their work lasts longer. I still believe that quality, depth, and authenticity matter more than reach, and that real skill eventually speaks for itself—whether the internet is paying attention or not.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I was a man who loved his family deeply and made the most of his God-given talents. Someone who respected people, worked hard, and tried to do good with what he was naturally given. I’ve always cared more about being solid than being loud, and I hope that showed in how I lived and how I treated others.

I’d like my legacy to be one of quality—quality music, quality craftsmanship through knife-making and knife-selling, and quality relationships. I want what I leave behind to be something my family can be proud of and something that can be passed down as an example.

Most of all, I hope people say I wasn’t afraid of hard work. To me, effort, discipline, and showing up consistently matter more than shortcuts or appearances. I also hope I’m remembered as someone who supported others, collaborated openly, and worked well with people—whether in music, business, or creative projects.

If people say, “He loved his family, he made good music, and he put in the work,” I’d be at peace with that legacy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @buxaburn @CherokeeBuxKnifeCo
• Linkedin: Cherokee Bux
• Youtube: Cherokee Bux Knife Co