Cage Interview

Cage is an emcee from Middletown, NY. Growing up, he was arrested numerous times for drug possession and fighting. To avoid jail time, he was deemed mentally unstable and sent to Stony Lodge psychiatric hospital for 16 months. He was misdiagnosed in a test group for Prozac and became suicidal. Cage was released at age 18 and started writing rhymes while working at Burger King. Inspired by the Stanley Kubrick film, A Clockwork Orange, he recorded demo songs with content relating to the characters of the film. Cage hired a manager and was introduced to Pete Nice of 3rd Bass and appeared on the 1993 album Dust To Dust. Pete later introduced Cage to Bobbito, which led to many appearances and freestyles on WKCR’s Stretch & Bobbito radio show. Necro was one of the many New York artists that Cage ran into, and the two recorded “Agent Orange”, a cult classic song that was heavily praised in the underground hip hop community. “Agent Orange” and “Radiohead” were the two singles released on Bobbito’s Fondle ‘Em Records in 1997. Soon after, Cage met The High & Mighty and they formed the trio, Smut Peddlers. The album Porn Again was released in 2001 on Rawkus Records, featuring Kool Keith, Kool G Rap, Apani B. Fly, R.A. The Rugged Man, and more. Cage’s debut album, Movies For The Blind, was released in 2002 on Eastern Conference Records. That same year, Cage teamed up with the late Camu Tao to record the album Nighthawks. The Weathermen group was formed and album The Conspiracy was released in 2003, along with Cage’s Weatherproof EP. In 2004, Cage formed the duo Leak Bros. with Tame One and released the album Waterworld. In 2005, Cage released his official sophomore album, Hell’s Winter, on Definitive Jux, produced by El-P. His third studio album, Depart From Me, was released in 2009, with a rock-influenced sound. In 2010, Cage appeared on Kid Cudi’s album Man On The Moon II on the song “Maniac”. In 2012, Cage reunited with producer DJ Mighty Mi to release the album Kill The Architect.