C-Flow ‘s style has substance
C-Flow’s debut single, “Apples and Oranges,” has been getting heavy burn on 103.9 in the past three weeks.
And the beat was made on a PlayStation 2 by his cousin.
That’s a hint at the raw hunger and straight-up charm of Chauncey Jones, aka C-Flow.
C-Flow has been making a name for himself locally by ripping it up on stage, most recently when he opened for 2 Live Crew this past Tuesday at the Big Easy Concert House. He is the two-time winner of the Spokane Freestyle King competition at Spokane Falls Community College, and he’s been tearing emcees a new one at house parties for the better part of a decade.
But C-Flow is just now getting the recognition many say he deserves with the radio airplay and a full-length solo album, “Without Further Ado,” due this Tuesday.
C-Flow headlines a double-header Saturday night at Northern Quest Casino, where he’ll be backed by a live band, including two keyboards, drums, a guitar and a bass. The first show is at 8 p.m., followed by a second performance at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 ($20 for VIP), through Larry’s Afro Barbering and Styling Shop, 3017 E. Fifth, Urban Fashions, 4601 N. Nevada, and at the door.
Produced mostly by Andre Irvin of Irvin Entertainment, along with his brothers, who C-Flow calls the Irvin Legends, “Without Further Ado” is an album local hip-hop fans have been anticipating from C-Flow for nearly three years. “Without Further Ado” contains 17 tracks of lyrical surgery and hip-hop precision with commercial appeal that doesn’t sacrifice substance.
On “Apples and Oranges,” C-Flow looks back on his childhood, most of which he spent in Los Angeles, and compares it to his high school years in Spokane, thus the Washington apples versus the California oranges. The song features R&B vocals by Adrian McKinnon, who recently signed with VU Records.
“We’re Just Kids” is a personal song in which the hook is sung by C-Flow’s four kids, who range in age from 3 to 9.
C-Flow said he’s out to change the negative image of hip-hop by adding his two cents.
“Hip-hop is taking a black eye in the perception of most people’s eye that are just coming in to it. It’s gotten to the point where you can press mute and it’s all the same video. It’s all about booty shakin’ and platinum chains. No stories are being told in the videos, and unfortunately that translates to the rest of the album,” C-Flow said.