Flotown's Finest: The Musical Life & Times of Crimson Khaos
Flotown's Finest: The Musical Life & Times of Crimson Khaos  
Podcast: Mattsuuii's Hip Hop Talk Shop
Published On: Thu Mar 19 2026
Description: Meeting Minutes Summary Guest Artist:- Crimson Khaos (Chris Johnson) - Crimson Khaos (Chris Johnson), independent hip-hop/rock fusion artist from Florence, Alabama (born in Dallas, TX). - Active since late summer; ramped releases after Thanksgiving. - Focused on singles-as-album strategy; alternative hip-hop blend with rock influences. Upbringing - Born in Dallas, Texas, and later raised in Florence, Alabama. - Raised primarily by a single mother after his parents separated when he was very young. - His father, Rick Johnson, played professional minor league baseball. - His mother worked at a sewing factory, and the family lived around lower-class to lower-middle-class conditions. - After his mother remarried, household finances improved somewhat, but he still described having to work for what he had and not benefiting much from the rise in class. First Full Music Project - Crimson Khaos said he has mainly been releasing singles rather than a traditional full project. - His strategy has been to release singles first and let them accumulate into albums later. - He did not identify an earlier EP or LP as a first full project during the discussion. Definition of True Artistry - Crimson Khaos described artistry as something created from the mind that captures a person’s aura, energy, and current life experience. - He said real art should culminate into something meaningful, beautiful, and interpretable by other people. - He emphasized that artistry can heal, connect creator and listener, and move society forward. - He also noted that art exists in many forms and that even the way someone does something can be artistic. Lyrical Inspirations - Crimson Khaos named the following as major inspirations: - DMX as his number one influence. - Juice WRLD. - MGK. - Linkin Park. - Papa Roach. - He described his sound as alternative hip-hop with strong rock influence. Writing Process - Crimson Khaos said he has to be in the right mood before he starts writing. - He usually listens back to music, often his own, to lock into the emotional tone he wants. - About 90 to 95 percent of the time, he writes the verse first. - He is considering trying a hook-first approach because he sees the hook as the backbone of the song and believes it may create a more complete structure. Upcoming Music Projects - Current featured release discussed: “Flowtown’s Finest.” - Upcoming album: Neon Heartbreak. - Expected release timing is either the end of the month or sometime next month. - He said this will be his third album.