Following last weekend’s NOW OR NEVER: RENAISSANCE event at Unity Sports & Cultural Club in Dorchester, one performance moment quickly became a major talking point across Boston’s music community. A video clip of Boston artist Caev punching through the venue’s ceiling mid-performance circulated widely online, sparking debate about stage energy, passion, and artistic expression.
This week, Mike Deez sat down with Caev to talk about the viral moment and the story behind it.
During the interview, Caev explained that the act wasn’t planned, it happened in the heat of the performance. He said he wasn’t thinking about it at the time, only reacting to the energy in the room. Describing himself as a passionate performer who gives everything on stage, Caev said his shows are about letting music translate however it does in the moment.
He also took time to acknowledge Robert Kelly-Morgan, CEO of PUTINWORK and organizer of the NOW OR NEVER: RENAISSANCE event, crediting him for how smoothly the situation was handled afterward. Caev called Robert Kelly-Morgan “a real one,” noting how the two, along with the venue owner, resolved everything quickly and respectfully.
Reflecting on what happened after the performance, Caev spoke about a brief misunderstanding with a security guard who had stepped in during the moment. According to him, they both ended up laughing afterward, recognizing they were each just doing their jobs with intensity. “That’s unity,” Caev said, referring to the bigger message behind the night, a group of Black men coming together to do something positive even when things appear out of control.
He added that he appreciates both the support and criticism that followed online, explaining that moments of misunderstanding can help build stronger understanding within the creative community.
The conversation also touched on Boston’s growing music scene. Caev highlighted Dorchester as home to some of the city’s most talented artists and gave a shout-out to BJ Baller, among others making an impact locally.
To close the interview, Caev played his track “Bullshit,” the same song he performed at Unity that night.
