Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Cels Dupri: I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago to a family who were consumed by music themselves. My mother would always play R&B around the house as she cleaned and my father would always play hip-hop, jazz, and soul. I guess you can say the sounds and the history of it just took me in and I begin writing on my own at eight years old. From there it was no turning back for me.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Cels Dupri: My real name is Marcelis Dupree Bilali. When I was 13 I decided to use my nickname “Cel” but just add an “S” to it. But I felt like that was too short, so shortly after I added my middle name but switched the spelling because I figured more people would spell it that way when they looked me up. To me, it always has a stronger ring to it. Haha.Â
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Cels Dupri: I think online music sharing is the new wave and a more faster and efficient way to connect with people around the world. Everyone can be in unison instantaneously without having to go through hoops from higher ups. I give out free music not only because I haven’t had that bigger platform yet, but because I feel as though everyone should be entitled to listen and it would be their choice if they want to further support that artist. It’s all about the vibe at the end of the day.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Cels Dupri: Just make sure you have a solid team with the same passion and ambition as you. That’s critical. Also, just keep making quality stuff and brand yourself until your music speaks for itself.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Cels Dupri: I have a few processes. If it’s a record where I want to showcase my wordplay, I’d just loop the beat over and over and come up with specific lines I want to address for different pockets in the beat. Then I’d come up with a word or two that I want to end each bar with and create a whole scheme/story from that. If it’s a record that’s more on the melodic side, I’d get connected with God first, if you know what I mean. Then specific words and melodies would just start coming to me. Then I’d come down and just fill in the blanks from there …I just gave away my secret! Ha.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Cels Dupri: Yeah, I have my own website at celsdupri.net. I post everything there. All my new music, videos, I have my blog where I talk about everything from self improvement to social issues, and of course my show dates. Besides that, my music is on the typical iTunes and music streaming services including soundcloud.


Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Cels Dupri: I’d honestly just give majority of that to my family and make a few investments. The money really doesn’t sway me. I’d most likely spend that year reading, learning, teaching, building, traveling and still writing music. I can’t imagine life without that.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Cels Dupri: I think the best way will always be word of mouth and the power of one, you’ll never go wrong with that. But besides that, the usual promotional outlets. It’s like having a small scale machine behind you.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Cels Dupri: I just dropped my project entitled “Ambitionz”, which is part one of a series that’s near and dear to my heart. That’s available everywhere but you can download it for free straight from my website. I’ll be dropping more projects this year and I also have a series called #FreestyleFridays where I recreate some of my favorite records every week. That’s on the site as well. Aside from that, be on the lookout for new videos, blogs, show dates, collabs, and new ideas I share to help build a new nation.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Cels Dupri: Saving the world in another form. Creating a platform to speak my mind and uniting the world, whether that be as an activist or something else I can’t fathom. And of course with my hands still in art of some sort.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Cels Dupri: Everything seems to go hand in hand. From what I want to do and what I need to do. It’s all about just taking it one day at a time and trying not to get overwhelmed.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Cels Dupri: I’ll definitely be taking over the Chicago music scene, that’s a start. From there just expanding to the rest of the world. Look forward to new music consistently and just walk with me as I journey through this life. It should be one to remember.
