It may have been a first for the Connecticut City Hall.
Conscience Castillo, a Hip-Hop artist with 100,000 YouTube subscribers, recently filmed a music video at Hartford City Hall with Peedi Crakk, “known for his collaborations with Jay-Z, the 5x platinum hit Stay with Ne-Yo, and the classic ‘Flipside’ with Freeway,” according to Conscience.
“This marks the first time Hip-Hop artists have been allowed to film inside this iconic venue, thanks to a collaboration with Hartford’s Department of Arts, Culture, and Entertainment,” said Castillo.
“This project isn’t just about music, it’s about bridging culture, entrepreneurship, and community through art in a government space that has never before opened its doors to Hip-Hop music artists,” Castillo went on to say.
We got the chance to ask Castillo a few questions about his introduction into Hip-Hop and filming in the state’s capital city. Here is what he had to say:
How did you get into Hip-Hop?
“I first got into hip hop at a very young age, around 12 or 13, when I saw Chris Brown dance in Stomp the Yard. That moment inspired me to dance a style called ‘krump’ which still continues through my career.
“I didn’t start recording little rap videos until I was about 21. I was video recording with my camera my written freestyle in my car until more and more people started to encourage me to make music. I began taking music seriously around 24. My first song was called ‘Dope love’ which is out on all platforms.”
Conscience Castillo, a Hip-Hop artist with 100,000 YouTube subscribers, recently filmed a music video at Hartford City Hall with Peedi Crakk, “known for his collaborations with Jay-Z, the 5x platinum hit Stay with Ne-Yo, and the classic ‘Flipside’ with Freeway,” according to Conscience Castillo. (Courtesy: Conscience Castillo)
Why did you choose the Hartford City Hall as the venue for this music video?
“I chose Hartford City for this shoot because I wanted something that felt official. I always like to go big and beyond, and Hartford matched the energy of my unreleased song Slide. I also wanted to build real connections and create something different, not just a typical music video. I needed that unique look.”
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Can you talk about the song in the music video?
“The song itself highlights the struggles of entrepreneurship and the reality that not everything in the industry is as glamorous as it seems. It touches on things like losing friendships over business, and understanding the harsh truths of pursuing a career not just in hip hop, but in life.”
What was it like working and collaborating with Peedi Crakk?
“Collaborating with Peedi Crakk was an incredible experience. At one point, it even felt like we were brothers. He came all the way down from Philadelphia to Hartford to shoot this video for free. He didn’t charge me a dime because he genuinely loved the song and believed in it. He even told me his daughter dances to the track when he plays it at home.
“Peedi didn’t carry himself like a ‘Hollywood’ artist; instead, he shared valuable lessons about how he grew up in the industry and built his name. That meant the world to me.”
Check out Conscience Castillo on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
