Philadelphia is a melting pot in terms of hip-hop. From The Roots to Beanie Siegel to Dice Raw to Gillie, you really couldn’t find a group of more different artists. One MC who stands out amongst the crowd however is Philly’s own, Reef the Lost Cauze. Never one to give in to industry standards, Reef’s raps are filled with tales from the block to lyrics that could get any party jumping.

What’s his best attribute? It’s probably the fact that no matter what he’s rhyming about he takes the time to live up to his title as a lyricist. We know it’s not necessary to make it in today’s hip-hop game but Reef stays true to his roots and make sure every line is a line worth listening to.

Sixshot.com caught up with the up and coming MC to discuss why he is called the Lost Cauze, growing up in Philly, and what rapper made him want to be an MC.

Sixshot.Com: Sup man, what's good?

Reef the Lost Cauze: Life is good man. Every day above ground is a good one I'm told.

What was life like for you growing up in Philly?

Reef the Lost Cauze: It was beautiful man, it was violent, and it was fun. Any kid who grew up here in the 90’s will tell you it was a hectic place to be but there was still a sense of community here. Nowadays people in they own hoods hate each other but when I was coming up we were tight as shit for real. We used to have neighborhood vs. neighborhood rumbles (Laughs). I know it sounds somewhat barbaric but I miss the days when young niggas had that camaraderie amongst each other. We had each other’s backs, you know? You fuck with one then you fuck with us all. Now you can't trust no one and homies shoot homies in the back. It’s really just out of control.

Sixshot.Com: When did you really get into rapping?

Reef the Lost Cauze: My mom has books, literally notebooks filled with what she thought was just "cuss words" but she came to now realize that they were raps. And these books go back to when I was 7 or 8 years old. I cut my first demo when I was like 11 so I guess you can say I’ve been doing it all my life. I could play ball and I wasn't a bad looking kid but what got me the most attention and what seemed to be my best gift was my rhyme skills. So it’s been there forever.

Sixshot.Com: Tell us about The High Life.

Reef the Lost Cauze: Yeah we about to re-release that this year actually. That was like my first demo that people liked enough to actually call it an album. The only two producers on that record are my man Sleep E and my brother Bo Blizz. This was like in 2000 or 2001. It was basically just me learning how to record. I was 19, broke, and on maaaad drugs. But I love it to death and can't wait for more people to hear it.

Sixshot.Com: With Invisible Empire you really handled everything with that project, were you happy with the response?

Reef the Lost Cauze: Awww man that record sells to this day. That's when I knew. After High Life, the response was like "yeah he alright" but after Empire, man that whole year I was smiling. No one to this day can deny that record. That's me at my youthful, reckless, best. I didn't give a fuck about nothing, not a damn thing. I just smoked mad weed, took shrooms, and rapped. I still am obsessed with topping that record.

Sixshot.Com: You've won some freestyle competitions, what were those experiences like?

Reef the Lost Cauze: They were always fun mostly because I never lost. (Laughs) But I always felt like I had to do those because that was something I was always easy with, the freestyles and battles. I'm from Philly, we all know how to verbally destroy someone. It’s all we know. (Laughs)

Sixshot.Com: What do you find more challenging, freestyling or songwriting?

Reef the Lost Cauze: I would say freestyling because it’s just your subconscious taking over. And as much as weed helps that ain't easy to do. Getting lost in your head and creating a rhyme from nothing is just way harder to do than having time
to sit down and write. That's nothing. But being asked to create art on the spot is much more challenging for sure.

Sixshot.Com: Tell us about Feast or Famine.

Reef the Lost Cauze: Feast or Famine was an album I dropped in 2005 that was on EC Records. I love it to death because it got me touring and got me the attention of other labels and people in the game. I'm mad proud of that one.

Sixshot.Com: How is it working with Vinnie Paz, 7L and Esoteric, Apathy, etc?

Reef the Lost Cauze: They’re all talented, hardworking dudes. They’ve all been in the game for
years so I respect them and what they bring to the table.

Sixshot.Com: Do you feel hip-hop is in a good place?

Reef the Lost Cauze: (Laughs) I mean there's no place for it, good or bad, it just is what it is. It’s always changing, always growing and right now new blood needs to enter and keep that tradition alive. Its time for a new crop of MC’s because the game has been seeing the same faces pretty much for the last ten years. I think if that can happen, where the old heads fall back and let us young bucks tear at it for a while then you'll see a rebirth.

Sixshot.Com: You're a real lyrical dude; do you feel that's something that's missing today?

Reef the Lost Cauze: I think its a given that you don't need to be lyrical to make it big in rap. The less lyrical you are then the more likely you are to appeal to a wider audience. But me personally, as a man first, I really have something to say, and I know how to use the English language and I'm not afraid to show that.

Call it backpack or old school or whatever but I was raised to believe a man speaks with conviction and pride and doesn't just ride with the pack. So people can be as ignorant as they want, slang crack and pussy all day but that's just not me. This is not an act to me. I'm an MC and that means something to a nigga.

Sixshot.Com: Who are some of your musical influences?

Reef the Lost Cauze: As far as hip-hop I think Kane is the greatest of all time. That dude is the reason I rhyme. He just did it all and I've always followed that blueprint. He had street shit, lyrical shit, political shit, party shit, emotional shit, and the whole gamut. So I've always made records trying to copy Kane. That's straight up. Other then that of course the greats like Stevie, Marvin, Donny, and Prince etc etc. But all time is Bill Withers. His songs were so simple yet they said so fucking much. And if you read about him, he never gave into want the industry wanted. He told them to kiss his ass. And that's been my stance from day one.

Sixshot.Com: Tell us about Long Live the Cauze.

Reef the Lost Cauze: That was my first crack at the mixtape game (laughs) a lil' late right? But nah on the real I had so much music just sitting around and nothing to do with it so we grabbed like 30 tracks and put them out there. People went nuts and we’re about to do a Vol 2. So it was a good move.

Sixshot.Com: How did you get your name?

Reef the Lost Cauze: My mom gave it to me. This was right around the time High Life was being completed. I was damn near homeless, working shitty jobs, and just lost out there and she called me a "lost cauze". And me being in my defiant youth stage I took as a badge of honor. So it became my "Slim Shady" as cheesy as that sounds. But its true, it allowed me to stop caring about what Sharif would say.

Sixshot.Com: What projects can we expect to see from you in the near future?

Reef the Lost Cauze: New album A Vicious Cycleout soon I swear (laughs). Expect a few mixtapes and an album wit my man King Magnetic and a million guest appearances as par with every year.

Sixshot.Com: Anything you'd like to say to the fans at Sixshot.com?

Reef the Lost Cauze: I will rap for food.