Topeka’s Seuss Mace on having Something to Cry About

Seuss Mace // Photo Courtesy of Seuss Mace’s Facebook

Just before the brutal Winter weather came in a few weeks ago, we popped into downtown Lawrence’s Replay Lounge to catch a hip hop bill featuring Booga Bang, ChuCho, and GeezGuala, but the real reason we were there was to catch Topeka rapper Seuss Mace, whose viral videos have become almost inescapable.

His 2024 album, Something to Cry About, dropped in  September, but while the record is an impressive display of Seuss Mace’s wordplay and delivery, you really need to check him out live to understand just how talented this musician is. We took the opportunity to speak with Seuss Mace last week to discuss Something to Cry About, which will be showcased at the event, as well as his most recent single, “Fickle Faith,” and its stunning music video.

The Pitch: What’s it like for you, being in Topeka, to try to reach your way east to Lawrence and Kansas City?

Seuss Mace: I mean, I’ve been doing that for years now, so it kind of feels like a second home in Lawrence and Kansas City, as far as performing there and stuff like that. I get a lot of love.

Yeah, and you put in the work. I saw the new video you dropped last month. Does being able to post videos on social media and YouTube help spread the word?

For sure. That’s been the main source of the brand building. The big production music videos, like the “Fickle Faith” one you’re referring to, those are good. But honestly, the ones where I’m just sitting in my desk, rapping–Those usually tend to spread like wildfire in comparison to the big production ones.

Just me rapping over like this Eminem “Without Me” beat did—and it’s just me sitting in my desk—like 10 million views last year. I’ve never had any big production music video do anything like that. I still do the big production music videos. I edit them all myself. My homie shoots them and I edit them. But yeah, I’ve never had one of those do as well as just janky videos.

What do you think the reason is for that? Is it just that people relate to realness?

I think so. Just the spontaneousness, spontaneity, or whatever of just a dude sitting in front of his camera. I think just raw.

How did you develop your flow over the years? It’s unique, because you know when to speed it up and slow it down. It feels like you’ve really got a good sense of where your foot is on the throttle.

I started rapping when I was eight. I just turned 30. I used to do the fast thing. I still rap fast sometimes, but I guess what I’m saying is I used to just put my foot on the gas and just be like pure chopper all the way through, and then, over the years, you kind of get tired of it, but I just don’t know. You find your way of just growing into something else.

It morphs into something else after a certain amount of time where it’s not just one thing. It’s all of them combined, I guess.

You’re performing a lot the next month to celebrate this new album, Something to Cry About. I’m curious as to how long it’s been in the works and what it took to get it out.

Something to Cry About is, I think, my sixth solo studio album, and it covers a lot of the more painful things to talk about. A lot of the subject matter on it is the first and last time I’ll talk about some of it. It’s a lot of sensitive subject matter. It’s a real personal album.

It didn’t get a lot of push when it first came out ’cause I’ve been going through a lot of health issues, so me and the homie Steddy P were talking about doing a show that put some spotlight on the album since it didn’t get that initially. I’m excited about it. It’s going to be a dope night.

Is there a difference for you between performing in Topeka or KC or Lawrence, or do you feel like you get like the same amount of love wherever you are?

I guess it just depends on the day. I would say it seems like Lawrence always comes out and supports really tough. See, it depends, ’cause I’ve had really great shows in all of them. It just depends on the season, I guess.

Given the subject matter on this album is so tough, is it hard getting up there on stage and performing these songs sometimes?

Yeah, sometimes, but a lot of my songs have dark undertones and raw human nature. I think that’s part of why people love me, actually, because we live in the Midwest and not everybody’s having the greatest time all the time.

When you were on stage at the Replay, it just seemed like it was a celebration. Your onstage demeanor just comes across as really warm and inviting and you’re just like, “Yeah, everybody’s here for this thing. Let’s all have a good time. Let’s all be together in this space,” which feels like you’re really connecting with folks.

Well, that’s good. I’m glad you felt like that. I’m glad that was the takeaway. That’s all I want.

How do health issues affect trying to make it as a performer in today’s world? Does being able to go online when you can’t make it out help?

So, as far as me personally, I have Ménière’s disease and it’s affecting my left ear, specifically. I have like low frequency hearing loss from it. I have extreme bouts of vertigo randomly. It’s a terrible thing because, constantly, this ear’s ringing, so it does affect my ability to record music comfortably and perform comfortably. So, sometimes, it messes with me, but I’m learning to deal with it and I’m seeing a specialist and shit. But yeah, it sucks, but you got to deal with it.

Do you find that that’s affected the way you perform, whether it’s in the studio or on stage because of that? Has your music changed as a result?

No, not yet. I hope not. I hope it never does.