Raised in 3rd Ward, Houston, Texas, Cal Wayne (formerly Killa Cal Wayne) is the epitome of a lyrical storyteller. His niche is being able to give his listeners and fans a vivid mental picture of his fight for survival as well as his mission to make his community proud by telling his truths in the rawest form imaginable. With his current release Ghetto Royalty – The David Ruffin Eddie Kane Jr. Story, he understands that what doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger. His lyrics are definitely a testament of that.
Robbed of a descent childhood and of his music royalties several times over, Cal Wayne still goes to the studio and aggressively puts in work because of his passion for the music and love of his 3rd Ward neighborhood. He carries the legacy of the likes of Big Moe, Big Pokey, Fat Pat, and the torch of Z-RO and Scarface.
Cal Wayne has never allowed misfortunes to halt his drive and success. He has been blessed to collaborate on songs with Houston rap legends: Lil’ Keke, Scarface, J Dawg, and Trae Tha Truth to name a few. His performances as opening act for Boosie Badazz as well as MoneyBagg Yo not only broadened his fan base, but has afforded him worldwide recognition spanning all the way to London, England where fans voted for his chance to perform at Coast 2 Coast Live. Other notable awards and nominations were for Best Male Rapper (Broadcast Houston Scarface Award) and the Street Choice Award (4th Annual GO DJ Awards).
EXCLUSIVE WRECKSHOP NATION INTERVIEW
Cal Wayne is notorious for being one of the few hip hop artist who is truly living the life he raps, and the personification of the “Houston Ghetto”. During his exclusive interview with Wreckshop Nation, Cal Wayne gave the most raw and trillest answers ever as he broke down what made him start rapping, his motivations throughout his music career, and the meaning behind naming his most recent album, Ghetto Royalty: David Ruffin Eddie Kane Jr. Story.
Growing up in the hood, the T.V. was my mama, and the radio was my daddy. I didn’t have no family to hold me down. Everyone I knew was either in jail, dead, or selling dope. There were times when I wouldn’t have a place to lay my head at night. In fact, I had an “Aunty” who stayed around the corner who wouldn’t even let me crash at her crib. That’s just how I grew up, but I knew as long as I had a radio I’d have a daddy. Music helped me grow through the pain and hard times. I don’t know where I’d be without it.
Since I’ve been in this rap game, I feel like a lot of niggas changed up on me and started acting funny. Similar to what happened to Eddie Kane Jr. of the 5 Heartbeats and David Ruffin of the Temptations. In my eyes, they were the true stars of their groups…the baddest ones who had the same type of upbringing as me. Along the way they got lost in the fame and drugs, David Ruffin died of an overdose, and I feel like I can relate to what they went through because I’m living it.
The person that has motivated me the most throughout my music career within the hip-hop/rap game was Tupac, but the biggest motivation in life is my brother.
VIEW ONE OF CAL WAYNE’S LATEST VIDEO AS WELL AS A THROWBACK FREESTYLE