By
PrettyKon
Whats The Buzz Presents: Rufus Sims
Rufus Sims navigates the trials and tribulations of a so-called career criminal seeking to obtain freedom – physically, mentally & spiritually by any means necessary – as he grapples with the prison industrial complex, fronting ops, trifling baby mommas, haters & nonbelievers in real-time. Rufus gives us exclusive insight on how he has evolved musically below!
When you started your music journey, where was your confidence level? It stood pretty high because I was a young, dumb kid. My energetic youthfulness closed my eyes to how terrible I was. It took for me to get better to see how bad the old stuff was 😅😂
Did you come from a musical background? Nope. I come from the black mob, which is a street background.
Did you ever want to give up in the process? I’ve said I might give up a few times, but I don’t think I wanted to. Of course, my goal is to make this a profession, but music is also therapy for me. It keeps me sane. If it weren’t for music, I would be in the streets!
What would you say is something you need to work on as an artist? Something I need to work on as an artist is never getting too low or too high. Balance is essential in our field. We have to balance personal with the business. Often, it seems like one world, but it’s two different worlds. I am working on shutting up and listening more, too!😅
What was the creative process behind making House Arrest? I was at home on house arrest for two years, fighting my 4th gun case. They were offering me 9yrs as a chronic (career) criminal/ extended sentence. I was almost positive that my old ass was done rapping. My life was going down the drain. So, I started recording music at home again as therapy. As a way to laugh and keep from crying. And somewhere in the process, I started making many hip hop music. (Weasel Sims was a trap rapper mixed with hip hop). Rufus switched over to only hip hop(my true love). While on house arrest, I recorded more songs than ever, making me a better artist. It’s sort of like what multiple jail bids did for my songwriting, but this time, I got to hone in on my recording style, too! I started rereleasing music while still on house arrest. My music began to chart, and it was the first time “What’s The Word” ever considered me for their yearly list. I decided to make a project about what I was going through, and the idea was to record it fully and shoot every video at home. I didn’t finish it before I had to take my time and turn myself in. When I came back home, some of the files for house arrest had been mistakenly lost, and one of my team members had run off and spent my entire house arrest budget while I was in jail. So, when I was released, it took me another two years to release the project. My fans tell me it’s a classic!
Do you have any visuals (videos) from the House Arrest album? I’ve probably shot 8-10 videos or short content videos for House Arrest. The song “Enough” had a video that did well. It’s a breakup song, so Z (the feat. singer) and I are standing back in the rain in front of a heartbreak hotel. It’s an AI video, so it looks different. I’m also dropping one of the craziest purple box videos to date next week for the intro “Skeleton Key” from the House Arrest project.
What is a highlighting moment in your career that encouraged you to do music? Some of my highlighting moments are having several projects charted on iTunes. As an indie artist, that’s big to me. Another moment is when NPR music is doing a Write on Me. And lately, having labels reach out showing interest keeps me motivated to keep going.
Do you write your own music? Absolutely. I help others write too.
Do you think having a ghostwriter is beneficial to artists? To many artists, yes. It takes an intelligent person to realize multiple brains trump one brain. It’s frowned upon in hip-hop music to have another artist help with your bars because hip-hop is all about bars. But I don’t think it’s as frowned upon in mainstream music because there are so many elements to making a hit song: melody, cadence, feel/vibe, words, delivery, etc. So yes, I think it’s beneficial for mainstream artists, but that doesn’t apply to me because I’m a hip-hop dude.
Would you be interested in collaborating, and if so, who would it be? People like Roc Marci, Boldy James, Currency, J Cole, and Kendrick. Artists that are in my lane of music. I was a trapper in my past life, and I like trap music, but I make and love hip-hop music.
Are there any specific Chicago artists you’d like to work with? Saba, Bump J, Lupe, Kanye.
What is your favorite thing about being an artist? Creative expression is seeing the world through my specific lens and sharing it with those who enjoy my vision.
What does 2024 look like for Rufus Sims? I will be dropping more projects than I ever fell in 2024. I have projects, partnerships, and distribution situations with significant labels; I’m dropping a few vinyl projects through different vinyl companies and a project through the Even platform. Collaborate with people like Jae Haze, Panamera P, and Tyre Hakim. There is more content and music than I could ever produce and release. I’m also a co-owner of Purple Box (no one knows that ), so I’m focused on growing the platform outside Chicago this year. It’s time for the Purple Box to go on tour. Fresh off aiding and assisting with the Renaissance of the Culture show, we are throwing the 1st ever, first-anniversary Purple Box festival.
What is a guilty pleasure of yours? Performing off pre-workout drinks. I will be ready to jump off the stage and tackle somebody😤😂
What never fails to make you smile? My daughters and hearing the first playback of a great song I just made.
What’s your Chicago Mt.Rushmore? Kanye West, Lupe, Chief Keef, Durk
If you’re 39, is it ok to date a 21 year old? Definitely not. My daughter is 5 going on 15 so hell no I like mature women.
Who’s your favorite “problematic artist”? Kanye for sure!
