Mello Music Sessions: Cash Lansky on cultivating community with 'Man of the House' LP

Interview by Parisa Eshrati

Photo by Julius Schlosburg

In his most recent full-length release, Man of the House, Tucson-based rapper Cash Lansky delivers a soundtrack for discovering life's purpose. Through personal stories of love, loss, trials, and growth, Cash offers an honest and heartfelt narrative that encourages listeners to reflect and inspire change. "I try to plant the seed of change in my music. I might not change the world while I'm here, but I know I'll be a spark." For the latest installment of our Mello Music Sessions series, we spoke with Lansky about the themes of his album, the importance of community, and much more.

The phrase “man of the house” usually brings to mind a kind of masculinity where you’re expected to “toughen up” and take charge. One of the things I love about this album is how you explore this concept through vulnerability and sentimentality. Can you elaborate on the idea of reconstructing or redefining this role through a more heartfelt lens?

Yeah, “man of the house” label comes with a lot of responsibilities and showing any emotions is not one of them. We were taught that it was a weakness and to never show any. This built a callus through my adolescent years. This way of thinking was passed down through generation trauma and survival.  As I got older and had kids, I started to understand the power of emotions through them really. But it wasn't until the passing of my grandmother that really opened the gate to be vulnerable. I needed to express it or holding it in would have killed me literally. It turned into a therapy session for myself and everything just kind of came out. Thinking about it, most of my friends who had that responsibility are either dead or in prison. They weren't bad people, just products of their circumstances. This has always caused me to have survivor's remorse. I knew when I chose the name from the project it was going to find exactly who needed to hear it.         


As someone who also grew up at recreation centers, I love how you describe your album as “rec center rap” in the liner notes. In tracks like “A Mother’s Joy”, your mother shares a favorite story about picking you up from the rec, along with other nods throughout the album. Can you discuss how these memories shaped the album's framework? What major influences did growing up at rec centers have on your life, and how did that community ultimately impact the sound of your music.

I love hearing my mom tell stories that made her feel good as mom. She wasnt able to give us everything we wanted being a single mother, so I know how important those moments are for her. Growing up in the rec center was everything to me! I couldn’t wait to get out of school or the weekends to go hang out. That's where everybody used to kick it, from the squares to the drug dealers to the athletes. That's were you got tested and had to show your heart. When I was 11, I got punched in the face for the first time there and remember being scared because he was bigger than me and remember my cousins telling me if I didn't fight back I couldn't hang out with them anymore. That's all it took. I went out there swinging. I didnt win, but it showed heart.  I learned so much from just being around it all. Thinking about it now, that was the starting point for the path we were going to chose. The rec center help me understand the importance of community  


You're the founder of A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out, an organization in Tucson that offers mental health and lifestyle resources for Black and Brown communities. The play on the phrase “hand up/hand out” also appears in your single “It’s Givin’.” Let’s further discuss this idea of receiving and giving help. Specifically, how does your songwriting process connect with this concept? Does exploring it through lyrics help you achieve that balance?

I feel like that was something that has been ingrained into me as a kid. From 3rd-8th grade I used to go to an after school program called The Pre-empt Program that focused on at-risk and African American kids. When I used to come in doing things half ass, the director of the program Dr. Thomas used to tell me, “What do I look like helping you if you ain't even going to help yourself?” I remember thinking “damn, she’s right”. It made all the sense to me. I learned so much from being in that program that I wanted to create it once I was able to. I wanted to be able to create that safe space that I once had. So not only do I use it in my song writing process, it is a way of life for me.      


Furthermore, how would you describe the relationship between your organization’s goals and that of your music? 

It goes hand and hand with me. I want to make a change in my community and I understand the power of music. So, I try to plant the seed of change in my music. I might not change the world while I'm here, but I know I'll be a spark. 

There are so many great features from Tucson artists on this album, including a spoken word piece from local author Marquez Price. For those reading this interview that might not be familiar with the Tucson hip hop scene, how would you describe it? Additionally, how would you say Man of the House is a distinctly Southwest sounding album?

We are still working on the exact sound. What I can say is when you hear the sound it is one with the desert. You can hear the hunger in the tones. You can feel the absence of bright lights and inspiration that is drawn from cactus. The music gives you that feeling when you smell the rain hit the dirt. Man of the House embraces all of that.       


This was your debut on Mello Music Group, and now that it’s been just over two months since the album release, tell us about the experience thus far. How have things evolved since working with the label?

Working with Mello has been great for me! Their loyal fans have done nothing but show me love and make me feel like a part of the family. I’ve had people from Iceland to London reach out showing their support for the project, so that’s been super dope for me. I’ve learned a lot just in those few months of being with them. Definitely makes me want to continue to grow as artist. 


You’ve described this album as a soundtrack for those figuring out their life purpose and persevering through the process. What albums have served as a similar soundtrack for this journey in your own life?

Oh, I have so many that have played a key part. We would be here for days with me naming. It would all depend on what part of my life I was in too. I think just music in general has helped me navigate through this thing called life. I wouldn’t be here without it!


Anything else you’d like to mention? What else can fans look forward to from you for the rest of the year? 

I don't think I have anything else. If you made it this far in the interview I just wanted to say thank you for taking time out of your life to read this, you are a real one! Just to the new music, new visuals, and hopefully performing in a city near you!  

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Man of the House is available via Mello Music Group
www.mellomusicgroup.com

Stay in touch with Cash Lansky
Instagram and Bandcamp
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