Blues music is in Cedric Burnside’s blood.

Burnside is the grandson of legendary blues musician R.L. Burnside, a prolific guitarist and vocalist from Mississippi. His grandfather’s influence has been profound, spurring Cedric Burnside to embark on his own musical career as a drummer and singer.

Cedric Burnside appeared in the 2006 film "Black Snake Moan," which included numerous references to his grandfather. Recently the north Mississippi native has toured with guitarist Lightnin’ Malcolm. The two performed Friday night at the Roots ’N ’Blues ’N BBQ Festival in Columbia. They sat down for an interview with the Tribune to discuss R.L. Burnside’s influence on them, connecting the blues to a younger audience and how their influence is resonating across the country.

How did R.L. Burnside influence your musical career?

Burnside: Well, I always say that he taught me pretty much everything I know. When I first started, I was like 6 or 7 years old, beating on buckets and stuff. You know, driving my parents crazy. And I started playing with my granddad. I did my first show when I was 13 in Toronto, Canada. And from there I’ve been doing it ever since. He always told me never to give up. … And that’s just what I try to do.

Your grandfather has influenced popular culture, especially being infused in the film "Black Snake Moan" starring Samuel L. Jackson. You were in that film as well. What was your reaction to the movie?

Burnside: I liked it. I really liked it. It was very funny. A lot of people ask me, "Was everything true in that movie?" You know, about my grandfather. And I have to tell them, no. You know, he didn’t have a white woman tied up in a chain. And no, he definitely wasn’t no preacher. But it was a good movie, man, and I liked it. It was a funny movie.

How would you describe your music to somebody who has never heard it?

Burnside: Ass-shaking music.

What do you mean by that?

Malcolm: There are a lot of little things mixed up in there. A lot of hard blues and funk and hip-hop and beats. Try to make it funky, you know?

Burnside: When I write my music, I try to write it so that people can relate to it. I try to think about things that I’ve been through that maybe somebody else has been through. … But everywhere we play at, people seem to like it, and they seem to jam to it. So, that’s why I say it [would] be some ass-shaking music.

How do you reach a younger generation that might be into more contemporary music?

Malcolm: Well, someone asked me one time, … "What would you say to somebody that hates the blues?" I said, "Hey, I wouldn’t even be talking to them."

Burnside: I know some of my friends normally just listen to hip-hop all the time. They thought they wouldn’t like the blues. They come to the club one weekend, and they were just loving it. … So a lot of them, they just don’t take the time out to just listen to it.

Malcom: We make our songs tight. The rhythm is tight. You can dance on it. That’ll turn them on to it. I think when they say they don’t like the blues, they’re probably thinking it’s real old. I like the old blues. But you got to have rhythm with that.

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