Ep. 19: C1| The Danger Den Podcast w/ Danger Foley @MMW

In this Miami Music Week edition of The Danger Den Podcast, host Danger Foley sits down with C1 — DJ, producer, and creative visionary — to talk about the journey from faith and music to the pulse of Miami’s nightlife.

C1 opens up about how his early years in church shaped his connection to rhythm, how spirituality continues to influence his art, and how he stays grounded while performing on global stages. Together, they explore authenticity, intention, and the balance between hustle and inner peace in the modern music industry.

If you’ve ever wondered how purpose meets performance, this conversation is for you.

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Transcript

0:04

Hello. I am Danger Foley, and this is the Danger Den podcast. And we are live in Miami for Miami Music Week and Ultra music Festival and the Winter Music Conference. All the things are happening right now. I'm here with C1, Corey, who is a, becoming a good friend of mine. I respect you so much. Likewise. And it's an honor to have you here, especially in Miami. I am honored. C1 and I first met when I opened for him at, New Conscious. New Conscious. Back, what was it last year? Last March? Last March? Happy anniversary, dude. One year man. First person I played with. And that. Right here. Is something that is so cool. So you originally started in music as a rapper, right. And then okay, so let's back up even further. Where are you from? Milwaukee. You're from Milwaukee. And what's your family dynamic or do you have siblings. Yeah. Two sisters. Okay. Step brother, few step sisters. Okay, got it. So you've got a Brady Bunch type of situation going on? Yeah. Yeah. Did everybody get along? Yeah. For sure. Cool. so Milwaukee and you first started rapping. How old were you? Probably nine. Dang. That's early. What were your what were your rhymes about when you first started? They were just the same as they are now. It's just evolved. Cool. Tell me more about that. So you were writing very poetically from a young age then. Yep. So this wasn't any, like, school playground diss tracks. Awe yeah, I went through that, I used to have to battle. Yeah. Okay. Okay. So you weren't always Tupac. You were a little bit. A storyteller, just. A storyteller. I love to write so it just kind of evolved into writing raps. My cousin, one of my cousins, he's like, you should rap. I'll show you how to do it. What was his formula? What did he teach you? He just about bars. Like you know how to write bars. Well, how do you write bars? Like two sentences. Like, you know the last word rhyme here. And the last for a rhyme here. Okay. Then, skip some lines, and then the same, repeate the same thing. All I want in this world right now is for you to just give us an example. You can't do it. He's like, absolutely not. You told me at one point that you don't rap in front of people anymore, do you? I don't freestyle, you don't freestyle, which is essentially what I'm asking for. Yeah, because it's sacred. Because, throughout that journey with freestyle and then go see an artist and they saying what I was saying in my freestyle. So, you know, be like they were biting what we would call it. They biting rhymes. So I just stopped freestyle in front of people in that way. So they're just taking it taking your stuff. It was always brand new when they heard me. For sure. Okay, so you became a lot more private and close to the vest with what you were creating. Yeah. Did that make you want to be less collaborative or was rapping always a solo project for you? No, it, you know I didn't collaborate with other artists like it took until became part of the, a band that I'm still the food chain. That was the first like rapper crew or group that I've ever, you know, opened up a collab with. Before that, I really it was just me, you know, solo. What did they do to earn your trust? It just felt right. I did some solo songs, and the mastermind of the band, he’s like, you know what? You should be in the food chain. I gave it a little thought. I was like, you know what? Why not? I'm gonna try this out, this group thing out. And the rest is history. So you did the rap thing for a bit, and then you transitioned into production from there? Yeah, well, I was rapping and then I was around like a bunch of DJs One in particular, his name is Hippie. He was part of the collective H Foundation, but kind of like one of the pioneers of the underground techno-house scene in Denver, and just happened to be hanging around him and his brother, him and his brother would they would throw parties. So they was bringing all the big DJs out at that time and just being with him, he's like, hey, Corey, we’re going over to play some records. I didn't know what I was doing. I'd just go back there and play a little bit. But this was vinyl, and it sparked there. So I start buying vinyl and stuff, had turntables. I got deeper into the rapping, so I let it go. It's like, you know, the brain can focus on one thing effective at a time. So I didn't want to be rapping and trying to DJ at the same time. So I had to make a choice like which being that I was already rapping, I just stuck with the rapping. Left the DJ behind for a minute. Start messing with production. I had a buddy that had like wet Fruity Loops or something like that. He's like, hey man, try this out. So I messed around a little bit. I was like, nah, this is distracting me from the rapping. So I went back to the rapping. And, and for the last, like I would say, 15 years, my DJ friends like the guy that mentioned Hippie, did a song with him. He's like, Corey, you should do some vocals. You ain't got to rap. Just talk, you know? And so I did a song with him and it ended up being really successful, and it got remixed by like some of the top DJs like DJ Sneak. Joeski, seen him last night. Trip Masters out of. I think he's in Russia in H Foundation. And, they was like, hey, man, you should keep doing this. You know? my buddy BNA. He never met me, but he loved the song that I did with the, the that first song. And he was looking for me, and I met him one night, random at a party or going in to a party, and I told him I was like, yeah, I'm C1, and he freaked out. He's like, man, I've been looking for you. He's like, we got to do a song. So I did a song with him, and he's working with different artists from around the world, so they start remixing the tracks that we did, and before we know it got all these house tracks with different artists from around the world, like man, when I go out, I never hear none of these songs. So, I’m like, somebody got to play them, you know. It's my duty. Yeah, it just to bring you up to speed. And that's when Nelly came in and showed me how to catch it, or help me get up to speed with the new technology. You know what I'm saying? And I'm like, I'm going to play all these records. And here we are today, you know. That's amazing. And you've been invited out for the 25th anniversary party of Stereo Productions. Stereo. Out of Spain. Very cool. DJ Chose, BNA, there's another guy from Spain, David Herrero. We did a, song like, we did that song before Covid, but right before Covid, released it last September, and it was the number one tech-house, track. Gangster. It's really cool. That's really cool, man. One stereo. And, I just being in Miami. Got to meet David for the first time in person. Sick. You know, DJ Chose too, the owner of the label. Really? Just last night, first time. Wow. I got to meet these these guys. So it's been a really good trip for you then. Oh yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. I love that. What's been the highlight? The highlight is, this, doing this. Whoa. Cause this is like, whoa. Whoa, that means so. It’s rare that you see Corey on camera besides performing? You know, just, you know, chopping it up. That really means a lot to me. You’re an amazing human ya know? Dude. For real? Thank you, thank you, thank you, means so much more than you know. And it's an honor to host you, truly. You're making some really big moves, and, know, balance is really, really difficult to come by, especially in a place like Miami. Oh yeah. Yeah. Try to stay focused. Yeah, you can literally go off the rails. You know, we've had friends call us that have missed flights and they're just too, you know, like it. Things just can get off track. And it's, a really cool opportunity to still be here and be in it while being a solution to some of it. Right. You know what I mean? And see, I can't go to sleep. I got an early flight tomorrow. I'm like, if I go to sleep. Oh. I missed that flight, I’ll have to be in Miami on Sunday, too. Well, it wouldn't be the worst place in the world to spend a couple extra days. I love the ocean. Totally for sure. Oh, I love the ocean. So, speaking of stuff like that, when you're traveling, when you're doing all of this crazy stuff. Balance. What do you do to feed your soul to be creative? And even when you're not traveling? I guess, you know, being sober is really an amazing thing. from Milwaukee. So we love our beer you know. Yeah. Started drinking beer, yeah, you know? Yeah. And that's literally the social thing to do. And so I had to let it go and, see if I could still find that without it, which I'm at today. Like, I can hang out people drinking. Hey, I'll get me a Sprite. Totally. I’m feeling all right, you know. And that's, that's a solution. I mean, I, I would say that I'm 90% sober, which is a vast improvement. Especially during Covid, I was like, go and harden the paint like two bottles of wine a day, like full send. I have some videos that maybe one day will resurface of me making music videos in various costumes in my house. Like, weird times. But yeah, I mean, drinking is such an easy way to numb your shit, you know what I mean? Oh yeah. Like, what made you want to get sober in the first place? Well, I had a shoulder surgery and they gave me medicine, and, like, you can't drink. No alcohol. So that, I was already thinking about not drinking anyway. And this is like, maybe 3 or 4 months before Covid started. So I went into lockdown a little early with the surgery, you know, and. Dang it. I was just like, you know, I don't need to drink. I was puffing a little herb, you know, I loved it. I like the Colorado flowers. That's my. That's my. Here here, here, here. Yes, same. And so, I guess learning how to produce and how, how that's getting more deep and into it helped me block out, hey, wanting to drink, you know, it was more like, hey, take the puff off this joint. Chill out. You know what I’m saying, and. Whole different energy. Yeah. Seriously, I feel like it has helped me open myself up like more creatively. To just like the different parts of myself that I wouldn't otherwise necessarily think to look in. Right. You know. Yeah, definitely me too. Yeah. Because I was more of a drinker than a smoker. What was your drink of choice when you were drinking. Some beer? Tequila. Tequila. You know, a little Heineken, or a Guiness, But with some tequila. Nice. And I wouldn't smoke any herb, or I wouldn't have Colorado, because I'd be spinning. So I didn't smoke a lot. But, I still smoke. Never. been really a social smoker. Few people though. Yeah. But something I would smoke by myself. Right. Get all deep and creative. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. Just Yeah, I found that for a long time, I was using it to literally put on rose colored glasses because dealing with, like, pain, it's just like can’t. Blocked. Yeah, it just kind of changes how you view the world. Like the opportunities for self-reflection in the moments I think especially, you know, when there isn't alcohol present. Right. You know, it just like allows you to see things more clearly in a way that isn't, as like shameful. I always just feel like the Sunday scaries are so real for me. When alcohol is heavy in my life. Right. Do you get anxiety when you? From the herb? From herb, yeah. Or without, when you don't smoke or when you're just drinking? I'll get anxiety sometimes when I'm smoking. Oh yeah. Yeah, yeah. Get paranoid. Get the freaking out. Thinking about the, oh man, oh my god. For sure. You have some releases coming out. Well, I can't say anything. Oh. But definitely some releases coming out. That's really exciting. Some major, some major major major. Major major major major major. Yeah. Can we at least have a timeline as to when you're going to be able to talk about it? Because now I just feel really rude for half. I just found this out like, yesterday. Geez, the biggest week ever. Yep. Something was laid on me, but I just can't. I can't even, it was like, don't say nothing about it. That sounds like a lesson learned the hard way. And it said more than enough. Well. For me, in in this journey with, you know, working with these different artists from different parts of the world, this is another awesome, opportunity to share some good music with the world. That's so great. Congratulations. Even though I don't even really know what you're talking about. But. New releases. New releases exactly that I can't wait to be extra excited when I get to hear details. So, as you're choosing what to say and what not to say, obviously there has to do with the legal aspects of releasing things, but have you? You seem like a pretty private person. Is there a point in which you release something to the world, whether it's news, whether it's a new track? Whether it's, something, you know, that you're really passionate about? I do all the time, like on my TikTok and Instagram stories, always. Like if I make something new, I'll. I'll post it. Like I don't, I don’t even hide it. I just let it go up. But it'll be up for it then, I won't, probably won't hear it again. Because I have it, like for my own production, I haven't really released anything. The records that are out from features or collaborations, but my original, I'll post stuff. Just to see how people, what they say and then it goes away. As someone who deals with, I’d say. Impostor syndrome is running rampant right now for me. I was supposed to release a track on Thursday, which then became a sneak peak, which then became me not even playing it. And I have just, like, a lot of frustration with myself about that just because I've never released anything. And I really am excited about it. And I want to, but for some reason, I just like, I'm I'm scared and I don't like it's too. You gotta let it go. That's what I, that's what I learned. Because of, shelving it. Nobody gonna hear it. I know, but it's like not ready yet. I want to like, do it justice. When is it ready? It's not. I mean, it's mastered and it's ready to go. When is it ready? You know, every track that I ever done, I was like, oh, I should have did this. Oh, I should have. No, let it go. Life is short. You know. Yeah. Let it go. Let it go. Because the next one is going to be even better and even better. It just keeps getting better and better, you know? But if we don't let it go, how it's going to get better? And you just never know, like, again, go back to like, the number one tech-house song. Like I never, it never even crossed my mind of it charting, let alone going to number one. Hell, I was like. For real? You know, when I heard it, I was like, oh, it's alright. You know, it's it's tight, you know? But, never thought that it would do what it did. So you just never know, you know? Yeah. Never know. Let it go. Like. It didn't work on another one, then let it go. Okay. Can we do one? Yeah, I think we should. Yeah. I think it'll be really cool. We’ve been talking about it. It's long overdue. I know, I know, that's something else. I think, you are someone who I got to see perform for your first time as a DJ. From being a an extremely talented producer. And when I first got to see you play, you were playing your own stuff. And that, to me, was so inspiring. And it was. I was just I, you know, there's that feeling of like, oh man, like God, like, look at how far ahead he already is. Look at how much he's already, you know. Oh. But like, there's this other element of just the inspiring piece of it, of just seeing how far you've already come with the DJing piece and just the unique, certain flavor of spice that is C1, actually being defined as you're doing it. And yeah, and a time when I'm, you know, personally feeling just slightly deflated. It's really special to have the opportunity to sit down with somebody who's on a different rocket ship. You know, in the same sort of part of the solar system, but I'm really inspired by you. Hey, likewise. Thanks, man. Yeah, I started this journey. You were right there. Literally side stage just. Like. Yeah. No. And you crushed it. Truly. I was so impressed. It was really cool. Oh yeah, you crush it. I can't wait to see what your what your live sets are like now! I'm sure they're awesome. Yeah they’re a little better now, you know. Yeah. Every day. I got a little bit of practice, but I still got a long way to go. So tell me the top three things that are like, the coolest things that you've been learning, like a DJ trick or something that you're like, oh, this is something that has, that's really helped me or whatever. Cue points, anything like that. You know? I've just been just focusing on the mix. I know there's a lot of, you know, you got to EQ a little bit, you know what I'm saying? But though, my thing is just focusing on the mix, because even with the modern technology, you can't have it perfect. But just mixing for me right now. Like next year, you know, if I'm, you know, which I hope to still be at it, then I can move on to some extra stuff. But for now, I mean, I'm like, I need to perfect this mix. Would you say you're a perfectionist? For sure. Yeah. For sure. That's why I still got so much music not unreleased, because it ain't never done. All right. So you're not entirely perfect. And the. And, you know, the let it go thing can apply to you, too. Oh most definitely. Okay. You know, I'm talking to myself, too. Yeah, I try to push myself, too, you know? Yeah. It's. Sometimes you gotta to speak. Absolutely. For sure. You know, wee mirrors of each other, you know, wee reflections. So. And that's a bigger question. What do you, why music? Why do you want to do this. Why do you want to share your music with the world? Because like, I guess I got a gift and I've just been using it, you know, like, you know, nurturing it and just protecting it. And it's just, people feel good. Like, I, I recall, like my first solo show without my band. I walk into a full house at the Ogden, and not one person ever heard any of my music before. You know. And was able to navigate by the end of that show, everybody's like, oh, I’m like, they were singing along like, I ain't never heard this before. You know what I’m saying. So. That's powerful. Was that the first time that you truly felt that tether and that full connection with an audience? Oh, yeah. That's when I, I mean, with my band, you know, it was so many parts going on at one time and like, it just wasn't the same as, like, that first solo show like that at that level. Like I was like direct support for Lupe Fiasco, and. That's great, great lineup right there. Yeah. And, that was just. I was like, woah. Yeah. Yeah. You know. Yeah. Big time. I shared this, I like, brought them into what something I was doing in the living room by myself. You know. Letting the music play. I’m like, just picturing the crowd like, whoa, this works. Yeah. I must be onto something. Yeah. You know, so what's the key? When you feel discouraged, what do you, what do you tell yourself? That it is bigger than me? I'm just a little. You know, a little small universe within a big old universe. You know? I don't know. Just realizing, like my place. Like just looking at the cosmos like aye, you know. This is nothing, I can do this. And how lucky we are to get to do it. Yeah. Most definitely. Is there anything else that you want your people, the people, my people, the general world, the universe at large to know? Like Nike, Just do it. No, no. Just do it. Yeah. That's it. Just do it. Just gotta do it. You know. Don't hold back if you got something, and you know it's positive. Let it go. Yeah. You know. Share it. It's good intentions. Let it go. You know. Yeah. Everybody not going to like it but, it's okay. There's enough people that will you'll find your people. Yeah yeah yeah. C1, Corey, friend. Hey. I love you so much. Thank you for being here. Thank you for being our guest. Hey, I appreciate ya’ll. Yeah, I can't. Amazing, Miami like, it's so random. Yeah, yeah. The little oasis in the middle of, the chaos, the disco, you know, but everything happen for a reason. Absolutely. I know, and I can't wait to collaborate with you when we get back to Denver and hopefully see you at many other spots on the road. And we can just keep doing this all the time. You know. That'd be pretty cool. Yeah, I like that. Maybe you should think about it, because the things that you think about seem to happen. So if you think about it, then maybe it'll come true. Yeah, gotta see it. Okay. Okay. I see it. Thank you so much for watching the Danger Den podcast. Check out C1. Where can we find you? C1 of food chain. C1 of food chain. On IG, Spotify. And, that's the rapper. That's the rapper. The DJ, you can find him live. The DJ though, I got a new name for the DJ. And that's Urs Truly, Urs Truly, c1.com and got my website up. And it’s linked to the different music genres that I'm involved with. And you'll catch all the new releases there too, and some live mixes and yeah. Well, you're going to be my accountability buddy for getting my music out. If you just got them strewn about all over your website, I need to be just following in those footsteps. Seriously, check him out. He is so talented. So, so. And it was. Don't ever. Hey. So, so. No. For real. Extremely talented. And it's, a very, very cool thing to have you here. So thank you so much. I’m honored. Thank you. Yeah. For sure. All right. Catch you next time. Bye.