Fresh off their collaborative album Summers Ain’t Forever, Boston’s Avenue and New Orleans’ Chase N. Cashe joined the Bad For The Community crew for a candid conversation about their music, careers, and insights into the industry. Avenue, a Boston mainstay since 2017, has built a strong presence both as an artist and as a co-founder of the label Words Speak Life. Chase, with a rich career as both an artist and producer, is known for producing hits like Lil Wayne’s “Drop the World” and Drake’s “Look What You’ve Done.” Together, they bring years of experience in the music game and offer valuable wisdom to aspiring artists.
The collaboration between Avenue and Chase came together naturally through mutual connections, notably Frank the Butcher, and emphasizes the importance of real-life relationships in the music industry. Both artists highlight that chemistry formed through personal connections is far more valuable than online networking. What began as occasional work evolved into a strong creative partnership.
Boston’s music scene has undergone significant changes in recent years. More venues are now embracing rap shows, and local artists are gaining better representation, with performances in major venues and even at Celtics halftime events. The city’s landscape has also changed, particularly in areas like Seaport, which is experiencing major development, offering new opportunities for creatives.
Avenue and Chase discuss the need for Boston artists to create their own established touring routes, similar to the HBCU circuit in the South. The duo stresses the importance of Boston artists staying true to their identity rather than trying to assimilate to other cities’ cultures. In today’s digital age, documenting the creative process and telling their stories is crucial for building a lasting impact.
What started as the name for a mixtape evolved into Avenue’s co-founded label, Words Speak Life. The label’s foundation is built on the principles learned from Frank the Butcher, focusing on branding, music release strategies, and creating visual content. Avenue places a strong emphasis on nurturing young artists and passing down knowledge to the next generation.
Avenue and Chase also delve into Boston’s historical reputation for racism and how it is slowly transforming. They stress the importance of Boston artists staying authentic to their roots while making music that can resonate with broader audiences. The artists believe that just like Boston sports teams are proud of their identity, the city’s music scene needs to vocalize its pride and ensure its place in the broader cultural conversation.
Avenue and Chase differentiate between a “scene,” where creative things are happening, and an “industry,” where there is proper infrastructure to support sustainable growth. They highlight the need for Boston’s music scene to evolve into a full-fledged industry, with more investment in development, marketing, and promotion to ensure that Boston artists gain the recognition they deserve. The conversation also included the duo emphasizing the need for a better system to promote local talent, much like how sports teams market their players and much more.
