CJ The Profit | The Seen Interview
Written by Tranae Cearnal
Interview by Eric Jackson
CJ The Profit lives his art.
When we arrived on scene to discuss his latest project, A Pack of Loosies Volume 9, we were greeted by Push coming through the speakers, Bob Marley regalia, drums, a keyboard (he does a lot of the background instrumentals for his music—Loosie’s Vol 9 producer Profound79 later said, “As a producer, I have no issues with it. His instrumentals are what the song needs”, and his dogs Lily and Blaze.
“Any room I go in, I always feel different. Not that I’m better. I just always feel… different. I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing for a long time. I’m not these other niggas. Period.”
Profound, who also produced A Pack of Loosies Volume 6, agrees:
“We made choices to do this shit for real. If I was laying granite countertops, I wouldn’t be doing this rap shit. But I made a decision to do this shit for real.”
But how does Richmond treat the artists who’ve dedicated themselves to their craft? CJ responded:
“The timing of that [Pusha T] clip going viral—you cannot write this stuff. When I link up with artists here in Richmond, I tell them that they have to leave Virginia. I’ve had artists go off on me! Take it from experience. You literally have to leave. It’s nothing against Virginia. It’s nothing personal against Virginia. It’s the infrastructure. It's where we are placed in the country. But in order to bring people here, you gotta leave. You gotta go to LA. You gotta go to NY. Atlanta. Bring our energy, and then you can bring those audiences back. I felt he was right.”
In fact, CJ himself considered leaving the State for Lovers. Since then, The 80404 Club was born—a group of Richmond based producers started by Richmond rapper King Kaiju. The beat makers, who rotate sets every other Tuesday night at Hot for Pizza, include himself, Kaiju, HernBean 5150, Ty Sorrell, High Club, Glop, Swellthy, Boobie Holiday, and Tortilla Katour.
“I’m pushing that back. A lot of stuff has happened. The community that we’ve built has grown so much. And I just can’t leave that right now. It’ll happen. It’s God’s timing. It’s just not time right now.”
The group, CJ says, was looking for a space to be producers too. “So we can turn off the artist. And now it’s turned into a big thing. We’re getting called to events. Sponsoring events. There are young producers asking to just come to play beats. It makes me feel good that people are asking to be a part of something. That’s success for me.”
So how did the Loosies concept come to fruition?
“Loosie’s started in 2022. I was just getting out of the Army and had a laptop full of music. But no direction. You want an album to make sense, and a bunch of random songs didn’t make sense,” CJ said.
Until a friend suggested he just… put it out.
He continued: “All of the Loosie’s have 10 songs on them. The first 2 or 3 Loosie’s, I put out back to back. And two months later, 3 and 4. Then I was like, OH! We got something here!”
So what was the shift? CJ lends to the idea it was both divine timing and meeting the right artists in Richmond.
“It was him [Profound], Noah [O], and Gritty City [Records]. Meeting them just inspired me. I’m not from here. I was trying to find a foot in this area. Meeting them and just feeling comfortable—they made me feel welcomed and comfortable. I became comfortable enough to start dropping.”
It was soon after A Pack of Loosie’s 5’s release that he met Profound. Producer Ant The Symbol went on to produce A Pack of Loosies Volume 8.
We asked Profound and CJ what has changed in the sound since Loosies 5. The Librans agreed that Loosies 9 was a reflection of their growing friendship.
Profound noted, “We didn’t know each other as well during Loosies 6. When you’re working with an artist—and CJ’s a REAL ARTIST—he’s vulnerable. You get to know somebody better. You build a relationship with them.”
CJ agreed, “We really became friends during that time. We’ve gotten more comfortable in our crafts. Which allows us—when we come together—it’s seamless. We wanted to keep the same formula. With the cover art having the BMW E9. Goes back to Loosies Volume 6, which had a Ferrari. Luxury being the underlying theme. I wanted some audio that described what the vehicle was. And it just kinda fit that beat perfectly. The way the gentleman is speaking about the E9 is a metaphor of the vehicle being my body. Our body is our vehicle.”
When asked how faith played a part in how he creates, CJ responded: “Faith is very heavy for me. That’s what I grew up in. My faith allows me to be intentional with everything that I do. Anything I put my energy into, I’m going to be intentional. I want to convey the message. From my events, my shows, my art, my podcast (he’s currently hosting a podcast called The Music Means), to the way I dress—it's intentional.”
It is this confidence and conviction that keeps Profound coming back for more:
“The best way to get something from an artist is to let them go on their own path. I just create things and sometimes they just speak to people. Our work relationship is Godsent… it’s organic. It’s so easy when we work that we’ll think we’re doing something wrong. That’s what inspires me to do more music. It’s not hard. Our chemistry is a winning formula.”
So where’s CJ The Profit’s album that isn’t a compilation of… loose tracks? CJ says in time.
“In the midst of Loosies 4 and 5, I did an album called Evolve. It was rock, R&B. It was very who CJ is. The issue that I’ve run into is that people are like, ‘Bro, you can’t call it Loosies anymore.’ The blessing to me is that if Loosies is a part of a saga and it’s THIS good—imagine when it’s not a Loosies. It’s only going to get better. We haven’t even gotten started yet. I’m 9–10 albums in, and I feel like I’m just getting started.”
So what’s next after Loosies’ 9?
CJ alluded that although he won’t be going on tour for Loosie’s 9, he will be pumping out merch and visuals.
“I have an idea for a short film for this. At the end of the year, I have an East Coast circuit. Then I’m heading to LA in September for my birthday. But other than that, it’s just not my focus. If I put on a show, it’s going to be something that I put on. There aren’t many venues that cater to us or our culture. But, next year.”
However, he did suggest that 80404 might be hitting the road.
“80404 is going crazy. So we’re definitely going on tour.”
And then?
“Then I’m going to do Loosie’s 10. And that’s it. Stopping at 10 for Loosie’s. No more. Then it’s time to work. Then we’re getting it crackin.”
He gave some insight to A Pack of Loosie’s Volume 10 by saying, “It isn’t going to take as long. I’m going to fully produce it and just have all Richmond rappers on it. I’m not even going to rap. I’m just going to let them get their shit off.”
Profound continued, “This dude’s musical background and the artists he’s had the pleasure with—I can’t even tell you.
Maybe A Pack of Loosie’s podcast?
CJ laughed, “Richmond is locked and loaded. Lots of cool stuff on the way.”
You can listen to A Pack of Loosies Volume 9 on all platforms.
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