Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody Francis.
Cody, before we jump into specific questions about your music, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Music and service have always been a part of me from a young age. My life is built around that. Cody Paul is my stage name as a Hip Hop Artist, and I use my music as an avenue to bring people together and promote unity. I started releasing music back in 2009 with “The Transformation Mixtape” and released my first full-length album titled “Universal” in 2011. Since then, I have married my beautiful wife Tamarah, and she has given me two handsome sons, Cody Jr. and Carson. I pushed music to the side for a while because I wanted to make sure that my family got every part of me. I released my second album titled “5th Sunday” in 2015, took another break, and released my 3rd album “Back to Basics” in 2019. I am almost finished with my next project that should be releasing some time in May. Music isn’t the only part of me, even though it is a huge part of me. I have been a licensed minister serving at my church since 2015, and I assist my wife Tamarah Francis with running her business titled CenterStage Education and Consulting, which is a business that is pouring into the lives of children all over this area to succeed where they were struggling before. Like I said above, music and service have always been a part of my life, and I move forward every day, focusing on how I can help someone else.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, especially when it comes to music. The main thing you have to do as an independent artist is to stay consistent to build that fan base that you would need to get noticed. I have made decisions to push my music to the side for my family that I don’t regret by the way, but those decisions stopped my consistency. I have been able to get back to it as recently as last year by releasing an album and two singles, and I’m releasing music this year and doing features with other artists. It has been easier as of late, but this is also 9-10 years in the making. It doesn’t happen overnight. That is why my advice is always when I talk to younger artists who don’t have a family to go for it. My advice is to give your all to it because you won’t be able to give all of your time to music or any career for that matter and have a healthy family dynamic. They have to be a priority. I am grateful for my wife because she is the one that pushes me back out there when I stay gone for too long. She makes sacrifices that allow me to be the artist and person I am. She is a Godsend.
Please tell us about your music.
My mission is to unify people and bring people together. That is why Cody Paul is more than music. Cody Paul wants to see people unify in the community for the better of the community. That is why music is just one of my focuses. Assisting my wife with CenterStage is something I give significant time to because I can see up close how the children are being impacted by what CenterStage offers. I want every kid in the community to get the same support. I do what I do as a part to impart change in my community. Down in Columbus, there is a social and economic divide, and it takes people coming together to change that. I want my music to inspire people to know that there is a higher purpose in their life, and I want my life outside of the music to show that I mean what I say. As far as what sets me apart and what I’m known for, I am a lyrical artist down here in a world full of trap artists. I am a truth teller in a era of rap that spreads lies, and I am an artist that doesn’t sell drugs and women for money but wants to show that it is a life that steers clear of drugs and respects our women that goes far in this life. This is more than music.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment so far was when I released my last album “Back 2 Basics”. It was after a four year layoff and after a lot in life happened, including the birth of my youngest son Carson. It was a way to say I’m back in the biggest way possible. I’m excited about that project and elated about the next.
Contact Info:
- Email: codypaulmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/iam_codypaul
- Facebook: facebook.com/codypaulmedia
- Twitter: twitter.com/iamcodypaul
- Other: www.centerstageeducation.org
Image Credit:
Jasmin Lee
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