We Chat w/ Sacramento’s Rising Music Producer “Old Man Cali” [Artist Interview]

Let’s Get To Know Old Man Cali – The ‘Sac Town’ Rising Producer Who Has Been Making A Name For Himself via SoundCloud Battles, Radio Shows, & Concerts

Storm Report By: Garth Jones

Q1: Tell us about your journey into music and how it led you to where you are today.

Old Man Cali: “My journey started as a battle rapper. My family traveled a lot so I battle all over the state. Just kids in the neighborhoods of their cities.”

“So, I was on my way to being a rapper. One kid and two kids later I stopped doing music for them. Sacramento, CA. Is a dangerous place. Sacramento as a rapper could be deadly. I raised my kids and when they made it to a safe age, then I returned to music.”

Q2: Who inspires you the most in the rap industry?

Old Man Cali: “Number one is Ice Cube, he has been my number one inspiration since a kid. Snoop Dogg is two. Redman is three, Busta Rhymes then Cam’ron.”

“The way I see the structure of rap music is Jay Z is King, Beyoncé is Queen, Ice Cube is President, Snoop Dogg is Governor of rap music. E-40 is the ambassador. Nas, Father Joe, Nikki, Cardi B, and Lizzo is the Supreme Court. 50 Cent and Floyd Mayweather is Treasure Secretary. Mariah Carrey, Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, and everyone else is in the House and Senate of representatives.”

Q3: Richie Panelli and yourself are doing a SoundCloud Rap Battle contest where fans can vote via Twitter for their favorites. Where did this idea come from and how is it panning out so far?

Old Man Cali: “Yes, The SoundCloud Battle! It began when I use to screw around at work and talk on three way to my friends. This is some years before the pandemic.”

“I would bet 5 dollars a day a battle. Each day was different Old School Rap & R&B. Then I Challenged and artists and we battled. Then I started setting up battles.”

“I returned to the battle when I challenged Richie Panelli. I held the battle on another site before this battle. This is the first time SoundCloud is being used for a battle.”

The battle is on SoundCloud on Old Man Cali page. It’s the first to one hundred. Vote on Twitter using #SoundCloudbattle.”

“Planning this battle is great because it’s 26 songs 13 songs a piece. I just listen and try to hear what everyone else hears.”

Q4: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Old Man Cali: “I see myself in 5 years being the first music producer on tour. Having my own set to get up on stage and perform to all my songs. I want to change the game. Songwriters and producers should be on tour too. I plan on this winter doing a show in Sacramento of me on stage with my songs. I won’t be rapping or singing but I can give the true feeling of the songs. Take me on Tour!”

Q5: What is a day in the life with Old Man Cali like? Please walk us through your sun-up to sundown experience as a rising artist.

Old Man Cali: “My day to day as an artist is crazy and fun. Example this was yesterday and most days. Sent out an email to the “Media Boys” that’s my team.

“I informed them we are doing a radio station take over. I talked to my flyer person to get a flyer made for the take over. Sent all the songs to the radio station to be played.”

“Got a beat from a artist that wanted to collaborate. Made the hook and sent it for Low Newbreed to sing. Got in touch with all the Media Boys to add drops to the radio station.”

“Tried to get in contact with the engineer who is currently out of the country. Once he gets back, there are five songs to mix and master. Contacted United Masters my distribution to make sure my album release on May 19th is ready to go. Other than that listening to more beats and writing and creating more music.”

Q6: Who do you want to collab with? Any artist or any genre.

Old Man Cali: I would want to collaborate with Ice Cube, C-Bo, Brotha Lynch Hung, Mozzy, X-Raided, E-40, B-Legit, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Beyoncé, Lizzo, Nikki Minja, Cardi B, Mariah Carrey, Mary J Blige, Brandy, Chris Brown, Usher, Metallica, Imagine Dragons, Diplo, Skrillex, Meghan Trainor, Taylor Swift, Reba, and Blake Shelton.

Q7: What’s next for Old Man Cali? Where can we expect to see you perform next or when can we expect more music?

Old Man Cali: What’s next is I have three albums dropping a month apart from each other!

“Off My Hustle ” Drops May 19th. The next album “Off My Hustle” Remix is dropping June 23rd.”

The all R&B album “Love & Play” is released on July 14th.

I will be with the other underground artists from L.A. The Bay, Sacramento and other cities. Playing on Plan A Radio. People can request my music on there www.planaradiostation.com

Q8: Success cannot be achieved without help, resources, or assistance. Who can you give a shout-out to for their amazing contribution to your success?

Old Man Cali: I want to thank my crew “Media Boys” holding it down. Low Newbreed the singer for having my back. Dialect HD and Dre Dowdy, The Dowdy Brothers. Amazing beats. Du Damage for coming through when I need him. Elisa for putting us on her shows and more. Richie Panelli for the battle, Plan A Radio Station. DJ Show and Milli, R.I.P my Mother and my Dad for having my back. The Milliner family and the Edward family. My Brothers and Sister in-law and my biggest inspiration my Kids and Nephew Elijah.