MazziOmerta Tells His Life Story (Full Interview)

Now what is your opinion on Adlibs in a song? I feel like Adlib is really dependent on the artist, like it made the song for it. Like a lot of artists don't blow up just out their adlibs, not even their lyrics, for real, for a song. I feel like it's an amazing part of the song. Now when it comes to your adlibs, do you have a strategy when you implement them at all in your music? No, not really. I just got to tell my head. And be that as it may. Do you have a signature adlib by any chance, a main adlib you're known for at the moment? No, not really. No, not really. Now question here, I know you have collaborated with other recording artists. Have you ever added your adlibs to another artist's verse on the same song? Yeah. And not just introducing yourself like you're about to be on the track, but have you ever had your adlibs maybe sprinkled behind another artist's feature or verse on that same song? Yeah. Now how does that work? Is that something you just voluntarily do? Does the other artist ask you to do that? I just do it. I just like to buy this song. And what about this? Something similar here. What are your thoughts on songs with another artist's adlibs, but no hook or verse from them on that song? It's just their adlibs sprinkled throughout the track. Now let me just give you an actual example just so we're on the same page because I don't want to confuse you. Kanye West has a song called Can't Tell Me Nothing. GZ adlibs sprinkled throughout the track. No hook or verse from GZ on that song. That's different, like, that's different, but me personally, I wouldn't do it. And why not for you? Just curious there. Because it's like, I don't know. I just feel like a hook and a verse they made this song. So adlibs come after that. I don't know. I feel like this is weird. Now just curious here, have you ever been asked just for your adlibs on a song? Not never. Okay. Now I share a variety of questions here on the subject of adlibs, anything else you want to mention about adlibs here before we move on to another subject of your music. And speaking of that next subject, your debut mixtape, Pain to Profit. Now can you explain to the audience everything they need to know about this project? It really came about like the title, Pain to Profit is like self-explanatory. I blew up off of a pain music and made it a way of living for myself. So I turned my pain into a project. I guess self-explanatory. But behind the tape really was just a lot of traumatic life experiences I wanted to put into my music. And we'll dive a little bit deeper with some of that here. But before we get into all of that, the phrase pain music, that subgenre there, are you able to explain to the audience maybe those that have heard of that phrase pain music but don't know what it is exactly? To me, I feel like pain music is more. I wouldn't really say pain, like I could explain it. Take your time. It's more of something you can feel like like I take my real life experiences and put into music and the people who listen to me feel like they want to do the same thing or they more than likely have want to do the same thing. So it's just me speaking for everybody. Now is pain music just melodic music or can pain music be like bars as well? It could be bars. It could be bars. That's like it's more melodic than bars though. And okay, you explained to the audience here the title of the project and you know the meaning behind it and you online on your social media, specifically your Instagram. And for those in the audience, getting to know you here for the very first time, care to share your screen name, your user name, your handle on that platform, Instagram.com/myselomer. Now in one of the posts you mentioned, this was your debut mixtape. You actually use the phrase mixtape. Why do you consider this a mixtape? Why go that route for this project? Why not an album or maybe something shorter like an EP perhaps? Because at the point of my career, I don't think I'm personally the type of music I make, I don't think I opened up more as much as I could for now. I'm like I want my album to be real like every song you don't feel every song like I'm gonna get real deep into everything I've been through. And EP, I just like two EP's before. I never jump in mixtape. So I don't go in mixtape route. Now for those in the audience that are familiar with mixtapes, some mixtapes have a DJ hosting them and some don't. In this case, no DJ hosting your mixtape. Was there any thought on having a DJ host? Why no DJ for you here in this instance? It never really be nothing. I've been into everything. So I just didn't do it. And rewinding back to the title once again, when it comes to this title, was this something that you came up with or someone coined for you? No, this wasn't what I came up with. And some additional insight into the creation of this title here. You know, some recording artists have a concept for a project before they start creating and recording that music. Sometimes the title can come as they are creating and recording that music. And then some they come up with that title at the end of that collection of that creation and that music. For you, do you recall when this title came to you? Was it before, during or after? Or before? Were there any scrap titles? Were there any titles you were thinking about calling this mixtape before landing on this one? No, this one been stolen since forever. Now, what about the artwork here? Can you break down the artwork for those in the audience? Any meaning behind it, any symbolism, so on and so forth? Yeah, the titles is like, I mean, the cover art is basically me at my best friend Gravesite. Like, so am I made it. Everything we talked about, I'm doing it. So, that's really where the cover art came from. And care to share who this best friend you're referencing is. L.Y. is. On the L.Y. is. We'll talk about him a little bit later in this conversation as well. What was the reaction from those that know him? And maybe not. That saw this artwork. You, and it looks like you're in a recording atmosphere, almost like you're recording music, right? At the cemetery where his Gravesite is. What was the reaction to that? Was that a controversial piece of artwork for you? Things of that nature? Yeah, I think everybody, yeah, the concept of it was like, everybody really loved it. Like, who know me? Who know? They like, they know how I am about him through. What was maybe the reaction from his personal friends, his family? Yeah, I nobody said anything like, out of the way about it, they didn't feel the type of way. They did it and come to me about it. And was that something you talk about with them before you do this cover? Or is that something you surprise them with? It was more of a surprise than just talking about it. And was this an idea that you came up with? On me and my two other, like, main two people in my team came up with that idea. Do you want to share any of their names? Oh, Ricky, my cameraman, my manager, Brito. And this mixtape was released on August 27th. Was there any significance of that release date there? Not already. And as far as the length of this body of work, you have 17 tracks. Why that amount for this one? Why not a little shorter? Maybe like 14, 15. Why not maybe a little longer? 18, 19. I just feel like me personally, I got a lot of music. Like I go to the studio and go, so I wanted this much work to be put out as possible, because I hold a lot of music like hundreds of songs. How many tracks did you have to choose from before you landed on the 17? I got over a hundred songs, so that was just the ones that stuck out the most. How often do you record with that amount of material? I record every time I get a chance, like when I'm not doing anything, like out of town. Even when I'm out of town, like I take the studio and you out of town, I record any chance I get ready. Like hotel rooms? Yeah, hotel rooms, Airbnb, whatever. What's the most unique location you've recorded at so far? Probably an Airbnb hotel room. Now, rewinding back to that artwork, again, it's a photo of you like in recording mode with some recording equipment at this grave site. Did you actually do any recording there or was just merely for the photo? And also, too, another question that came to mind. Was that an issue at all at the cemetery? Were there other people that noticed you doing this? Did it pose an issue with others that you were doing this? No, it was just me out of the day. Got it. And how did that narrowing process down go for you? Okay, you have 100 songs plus how do you get down to 17? What was that like for you? How'd you do it? The quality of the songs, the cadence in every song, really like what sounded the best. And how long do you think that? That's the narrowing down process took for you to do. Hundred songs to 17. A minute because, like, even picking through the tape, I'm still recording. So, I got new songs, old songs. Take a minute. What do you think's the oldest song? And what do you think's the newest song that was recorded for this project? The oldest song is probably the first song I'm going to take. Sleep is nice. I made that, like, a year ago. Okay. And the newest song. It's for the music eeks. That one here, like, if there's a difference in both, you know, your oldest and your newest. So, it's something for them here. Yeah. What was the new, like, did you record a song maybe five days before you had to turn the tape and type of thing? The newest song. A couple of them. I made them all the same. Three, four days. But the newest, probably, the 119. Okay. And what about this track list? Who put this track list order? It's one thing to, you know, narrow the process down from, you know, hundred plus songs to 17. But this order of the track list. Who did that? My team. And, uh, can you take the audience through that process as well? Do you know how long that took for them to do or? Not necessarily, like, because for me, it was hard to just narrow everything down, put them in this. Because you got to keep going through it, listening to it, see how it sound. Like, there was a lot of, I mean, that's probably the hardest part of the project. So, I don't know how long it took them through. Do you know, sonically, what their strategy of this track list was? No, not really. Okay. And, uh, for those in the audience, what I mean by, you know, strategy for a track list is, you know, some, uh, projects have, like, an up and down feel, like a roller coaster, like one song, a lot of energy, next song, lower energy. You know, up and down, up and down, up and down. Uh, some, it might be a vibe thing. Like, three or four songs might have a similar vibe. And then it transitions to another three four songs that have a different vibe. Then another transition to another three or four songs. And some start fast and slow. And then, uh, some, it's like a storyline from beginning to end like a movie. So, didn't know if any of these descriptions. I think they went for the roller coaster. Like, paying, then some more upbeat back to the pain. Some low, like, that's what they went for. Now that, excuse me, now out of all these 17, what is your favorite song on this mixtape? That's a hard question. Every time I listen to it, I got a new favorite song. I just, I fly the whole tape. You can really go through and listen to it. No skipping. No skipping. And favorite or not, what's your most honest song on this project? Yes. I know you talked about, well, you mentioned in the description at the beginning of this segment that, you know, you opened up about, you know, maybe some traumatic experiences and, you know, putting your pain in music. So, what do you think was your most honest song? Maybe, if not honest, maybe the song you opened up the most about. You showed your most vulnerability on. Uh, probably so close. And what was that song about if you'd like to share with the audience? Well, I was giving up, like, one to give up, but I'm saying reasons of why I can't give up, like, how far I got far enough. Now, just for context here, have you ever actually given up or maybe you just thought about giving up one point in your life? Uh, I thought about it. And is that what stopped you knowing how far you've come? Yeah, like, it's no point. It was all at the point of, you know, trying to, this far. And do you recall the producer behind so close? Um, Uncle Cameron, one of my main producers, one of my main producers. Now, there are three features on this project. Do you have a favorite feature at all amongst the three? This one. That's for it. Well, look at the track list. One more time here just to double check and fact check. Okay, so I see Ramadan with Han Show, I see Dallas, the Carolina with head Han Show, a mirror, and I see pour up with love blue and less. Oh, it is for it. Made it wrapping with blow. You're right. For I stand corrected there and this counted. I apologize about that. Okay, so let's rewind the question then. Four features here. Do you have a favorite amongst the four? Like I said, I like the whole tape, but favorite. I feel like they are different categories. So I don't think it's a favorite because they are different. Now, was there a thought on maybe having no features on this project, just you on all 17? No, not really. Why not? What's your opinion on features? Some don't do them. Some do them. Oh, I like working with artists like I like sending creativity, how they work. It's really. It's like a fun part of making a tape or just recording. Now, I'd ask, excuse me now, I'd like to ask you about two of these songs in particular that have features just for a little bit more insight. You mentioned one of them. Ramadan feature and Han Show. Just curious here. For those in the audience wondering, do you follow a religion by any chance? And why not for you? Why no religion at this moment in your life? Honestly, I don't. I just don't follow the license. I was a kid. It's just a lot of politics and not that type of person. Were you raised to, excuse me, were you raised to follow a religion before you had this mindset? Yeah. My grandmother was a big Christian, right? He was on it. Grandmother on the mother side of your family or father side? And what's been her reaction to the fact that you have this mindset now? Got it. And asking because you know, sometimes as you mentioned politics, sometimes religion can divide family members. Sometimes that can cause a rift between family members. So didn't know if that was the case with you at all. But when it comes to Christianity, excuse me, Christianity on her hand. Did it get any more specific than that? Like, you know, sometimes there's a specific denomination or branch under the umbrella of Christianity? I wouldn't know. Okay. Just curious there. What about made it rap in featuring below? Was this created before his current incarceration? No, it was made while he was being incarcerated. And how did you get that feedback? How did that come about between you two? Somebody on my team like personally knew him. And then like we kind of had to with the same people. So I made this song. I just kept like, I couldn't finish it at first. I was like, this would be a good future for somebody. I'm just trying like, who I could hear on it. But I had to be perfect. I felt like in my opinion. So I reached out and we just made a word. And one's the last time you had a chance to communicate with him. Oh, I don't know. Okay. Just curious there. But all right, ask you a variety of questions here about the debut mix tape. And just to wind down here, what have you learned about yourself through the creation and release of this debut? Oh, would you take away from this experience here? What did I learn? That's a good question. Yeah. You've done two EPs before. First mix tape ever, album on the way at some point. I'm sure. But would you take away from this experience, the whole entire experience here just with the debut mix tape? If anything, I don't really know probably just the fact that I like before this. I wasn't really working how I worked, you know, like, I just know where I came from last time. And, you know, last question here about this project before we dive into some other facets about you. Can you give the audience five reasons to listen to this mix tape? Because it's no skills. It's real, authentic. It's probably like, am I a pain? I'm not just saying it because this is the hardest tape I've ever heard of. Yeah, it's no skills. That's the fifth reason. Any plans for Deluxe? I thought about it. I don't know yet. I don't know for sure. Just curious there. And what about your two previous EPs? Are there any plans for maybe any additional installments to those EPs, maybe turning them into some sort of series perhaps? Just asking just in case there. Now, I do want to dive a little bit before I dive into this next topic. Okay, I do want to ask you this. You mentioned that, you know, sometimes you're on the road, Airbnb, hotel room, whatever, and you may take like a traveling recording studio setup. There are some in the audience wondering, what does that setup look like? What does that set up in tail? Just the mic amplifier, speakers, computer, and we in there. Do you want to share what type of mic, what software you use, what laptops you use, things of that nature? I want to come to the software as a laptop. There's some of them. I ain't got a deep end, but I can pretty much work with any mic. I'm not making my excuse to not record. And, um, you know, just looking back, uh, these 17 tracks, if you can remember, there was a circle chart of like a hundred percent. What percentage would you say songs of this magnitude on this project were recorded in a professional studio versus this travel studio kit? Um, rough estimate like 50, 50, maybe 60, 40, 70, 30, 80, 20, 90, 10, 60, 40, and the professional studio. So 60 professional 40, maybe a travel studio of some sort. Now, just for those in the audience, again, these music geeks that really want to know, are you able to provide a song on this track list that you know was done with the travel kit versus one that was done in a professional studio environment? What was done in a Ramadan was professional and then like studio, like in the Airbnb or the hotel or sleepless nights was actually in my room. And again, that's for the geeks out there that want to like, sonically hear the difference between, you know, uh, if they can tell there, uh, and uh, there's footage of you and Huncho together recording that song, um, or the after method that song, however you want to phrase it. Uh, and that's also on your Instagram profile as well, currently. Now, I do want to dive in this topic a little bit and that is Ys, which is, uh, you know, part of the reason of the artwork here that you incorporated with this title. Now, for those that have heard, you say his name, these initials, uh, reference him, things of that nature, but, um, you know, don't know the story between you two, the origin story. How did you two first meet? Do you recall the first time you two met? We didn't even like each other when we first met. I don't even know why we didn't like each other, probably goose, different groups at the time. Uh, we didn't like each other, but we got to know each other. Like the first day we really got to say that I know each other and just from that day forward, probably spent like, uh, no, like almost every day together after that. And you recall what age this was in your life when you two get together for the very first time, maybe grade perhaps if it was a school type of school. I guess first from here or my sophomore year. And Keter shared the name of the school, you both attended once upon a time. Oh, no, he went to so many schools. He was, uh, I went to East Idaho. Well, you did share the same school. No, no, no, never shared the same school. No. Oh, okay, got it. All right. Well, you know, again, for, uh, those in the audience that have heard his name, you referenced his name, things of that nature, but didn't get a chance to build a relationship with him, like you did. From your perspective, as a person, what was he really like? Like, probably one of the best people you can meet, like, just go through. No, no, no, no, play all day, like play. Well, it was never like a bad vibe for him at all. Like, he didn't, he wasn't in trouble. Nobody knew nothing. Like, he didn't get into that. He just wanted to have fun all day. Really? Do you remember the last communication you had with him before he passed? Right before he passed, probably like 10 minutes before he passed. You want to fall? FaceTime actual phone call? Uh, phone call. And what was that conversation like? What was that energy or that vibe between you two on that last communication now? It's crazy because I told him to come to my house. I had to come to my house and he was like, I'll be able to do it tomorrow. I'm doing some right now. And then how were you notified? He, in fact, had passed. Somebody called my phone, like, probably like 20 minutes after we got the phone, they called my phone, like they heard such and such happen. In my head, I'm like, I'm not trying to hear that. Like, I'm not in the mood, right? Not even be, you know, and uh, somebody, his cousin called crying, like, breaking down crying. So, uh, I got to our worst in our hospital. Everybody in our hospital waiting here. I was going on. We heard the news. Now, to switch things up a bit, do you have a favorite memory of him? You'd like to share with the audience today. It's so many memories. That was my real best friend. Like, I don't even got a favorite one. It's like every day, it wasn't to something who was never a dull moment for real. Now, on the recording artist side of things, uh, did he do music at all? He was. He tried to, he could have gotten to it if he took a series. But, uh, everybody around me kind of, like, that one's a music somewhere. Now, did you inspire it? Excuse me, did you inspire him or encourage him at all to do music? Was he doing music before you, perhaps? Not a lot of know, uh, it's probably the other way around. Like, he probably inspired me more. Like, he had books that just behind my back and stuff. Like, I have a middle school for days. It's just a similar story on me all night. It really inspired me to do music. So, would any of this be surprising to him at all, uh, the record deal with 300D and T? Now, he was telling me, like, he was telling me, like, man, I'm not doing music for real. Like, he had to. Now, it was going to be real. You're going to do this and that. Like, he had a whole plan. Like, he had a plan for me before I was myself. I hid it to him. Like, he spoke honestly to his sisters for real. And, uh, forgot to ask you this as well. What age were you or what grade were you and when he ends up passing? Uh, we both had high school guys, we had it, uh, like, it was like right before my birthday, like a week before my birthday. Like, I turned away at 20, so I was 19. But, but he didn't get a chance to see the record deal take place or any of that yet. Uh, was there any music recorded between you two at all? Yeah. Any that's still unreleased? Yeah, a couple of songs on at least. Was there any thoughts on incorporating any of that with this body of work or a future project or how do you feel about that? And now, like I said, an album that's probably something I would do with an album. Not a mixtape. Got it. And, uh, how many songs do you think you have just you two together at this point? Not a lot. Uh, like six and probably 10 and the most. Now, what's the best advice you receive from him or most important thing you learned being around? Uh, honestly, he really like changed me as a person because he was just so, like, his spirit, which is, you know, like, he's always in good spirits. Like, everything really, I learned a lot. He just, a lot of stuff he did. I just, like, why do you do this? Like, the people I'm used to being around know, I had nothing like this at all. I really taught him that, like, what did he know the night for? And speaking of taught, what did his passing teach you? What did you learn from that experience there? A lot of life, like, life really short. Like, I lost friends in the past, but like, a best friend, somebody he talked to every day. Like, he wake up, talk to him. You know, like, that's, that hit different. So, and he just taught me to really take music serious because that's what he wanted. And is that also maybe a reason why, uh, you won't quit or give up because of his memory? Yeah, that's probably a main reason. Now, Asha, a variety of questions about him. Here's or anything else you'd like to mention about him while we're on the subject. Now, what about mentally speaking here? Okay, mentally, you know, his passing, things that nature, obviously, this is a, you know, something you still embody to this day. You incorporate it with your artwork, for example, this project, uh, pain to profit. But mentally, has this been something you sought any professional help over his passing? Maybe others that have passed in your life. You mentioned this project was you diving into your traumatic experiences and things of that nature and showing that to the world. Just with all that, that you've experienced throughout your life as a bit, has there been any mental professional services of some sort, dealing with this sort of stuff? No, I know. I feel like in my son, time goes on. Time to go home. You got to deal with it. Do you want any professional help at all with any of this stuff? Okay. All right. Well, moving forward, I would like to dive a little bit deeper with your origin story here. And starting with your name. Now, what is the correct way to pronounce this stage name of yours? Mazi or murder? Do people mispronounce it all the time? Like, they call me Mazio. Like, I don't even know where you get it. See, but like, or they'd be like, uh, I'm ready to like, it's just all the time names, pronounced all the time. And aside from mispronouncing it, do they misspell it as well? No, I don't think it's ever a problem with the spell. But when it comes to the spelling, Mazi is two words joined together as one word, no space in between both. Why is it spelled the way it does? Why no space between both of these entities here? I don't know, that's just how I've been from that one. I just ran away. Because people do mispronounce this name of yours? Was there any thought on maybe changing the spelling of it? Maybe changing the stage name at all just to appease that? No, I do feel like my zone of murder is long, so I just go about my zi. And do you accept any abbreviations aside from just mazi for short? I feel like this sword as you can get, honestly. What about some calling you mazi or are you okay with that or you don't like that? No, I don't call it that. And zooming out, not a trick question here, but may sound similar. Do you prefer people calling you by this abbreviation? Just mazi for short, or would you rather have them pronounce your full stage name in its entirety? No, majority people just call me mazi, so I'm good with it. And just curious here, any connection to the following recording artist? Amaretta? No connection to her. Okay, so just curious here, when it comes to this stage name, are you able to break that down to the audience like how this name even got put together? The first part of mazi is actually part of my actual name, but it's short from my actual name. So I just took that, that's like a nickname everybody called me. The first part of mazi was originally like a promotion group I had before I started rapping. It was called "Amaretta Entertainment" so my chain. I just took that, I took it in turn into someone else when we started doing the promotion thing. Did that cause any confusion transitioning from one facet of the entertainment industry to another? No. Okay. And care to share the meaning behind "Amaretta" if those in the audience have heard that phrase, but don't know exactly what that means. And care to share what your actual first name is if mazi is, you know, an abbreviation of that. Oh, I wanted to do that. Okay. Yeah, I was going to let that know to find it. But that nickname there, was there someone that started calling you that from the very beginning, even in your early stages of that nickname there? I think it was probably the first one to call me mazi. And this is an on on your mom's side or father's side? Uh, my mom. And, uh, okay. I also want to dive into this a little bit further as well. Your origin story here, okay? Now, for those in the audience, getting to know you here for the very first time, care to share where you were born. And care to share where you were raised as well. The east side of Greenside County. Does it get any more specific than that? The east side. Yeah, my apartment is all of you. And, um, do you still reside in Greenville today? And, uh, for those in the audience that are not familiar with Greenville, but maybe familiar with Columbia, South Carolina, for example. How far of a distance is that? About an hour and a half. And if they're not familiar with Columbia, South Carolina, but maybe something like an Atlanta, Georgia, how far of a distance is that? Now, when it comes to your upbringing, especially on the east side, specifically of Greenville, was it a certain age range for you just on the east side itself? Like five years old to 10 years old or not better my whole life. And what was it really like growing up on the east side for you? Oh, probably saying this everybody else. No, you see a certain, especially an environment I was in, but it's normal. Well, I'd like to discuss two of these facets when it comes to your upbringing on the east side. What was your top point first? What was the top point during your upbringing on the east side of Greenville? What was your highest point, your most positive moment growing up in that environment for you? Thinking back. I didn't really look at nothing as like a low point. Honestly, because I'm a kid, you know, like, it's normal. You see it every day. So it wasn't really like a low point. Everything was just, you know, steady, but a high point. Something you're really proud of doing while you were on the east side. Positive moment. Top point for you. High point for music. And then I can go back and everybody's just like, we knew it. Now let's talk about your history with rap. Why or how did you get into music of all things? Because, you know, there's some kids that do sports, arts, so on and so forth. Why music? I always like music. My music is like another way of. I guess how I express myself through. So even if I wasn't publicly rapping, I probably do it just from initially. I got into it just because I had it here for it. I always loved it. No matter what kind of music it was. It could be culture music, hip-hop or whatever. And what do you think the first genre of music was? You were introduced to initially. And do you recall any artists or any song titles in your humble days of. You know, getting to know the genre and studying it and things of that nature? A lot of artists. Like a GZT out. Future. A lot of artists. Almost everyone come to artists. Loan. And everybody. Sounds like mostly Southern artists for you. Yeah, really. Southern. You know, but it's one thing, you know, for kids to just listen to music. Be a consumer of it, a listener. It's another for them to jump on the mic. And record their selves. Record their vocals. Hear their vocals and play back. Not every kid does that. What got you over the hump to actually do that? To create and record yourself. I was wondering to. I think my first time getting on a mic was. I probably would be like 13. And then I didn't like high sign. I'm not doing this shit. But I ain't doing it. And I tried again. A couple of years later. I actually liked it. So for you, it was just natural experimentation. It was your own doing. No one like put a battery behind your back to do. Like, I knew people were like. I used to see walking around and they were like. You know what? Do certain areas. Got people standing on the. You know? Just rapping. They'd sit there and rap. Shoot dice. They're at that. So I know you hear it. I'm glad I can do that. It's easy. And what led this to end up becoming a career path for you? Because, you know, for some, it's just a hobby if they do it. You know, they have a nine to five. They have something that occupies 40 hours of their week. And music is secondary. It's not the priority or first thing that they are able to do. What led this to be a career for you? Basically what you just said, like. Well, I'm from that slide doing it. Yeah, possible. So it's like, you know. Nobody really made it rap from my own front. So in my head, like, whether they believe me and I'm like, I'm going to do it. I know I can do it. I'm going to do it. And I always felt like I was different from a lot of people in my city. Like when you came to music, because I'm more melodic. It's not really a lot of melodic artists from my own front. So I always felt like I had, you know, like the talent. And, you know, if a lot of the music you listen to, well, I don't want to say a lot of the music. The future can be melodic a little bit. But you mentioned, like, Ti and Lil Wayne. And I forgot a GZ. These are not really melodic artists. Maybe future sometimes. But, you know, if the bulk of what you were introduced to was not melodic, how did you even get into the melodic side of things? It was just me. Whenever I would try. It was just always melodic. So I just had to go there and rap. I want to try to change it. Now, any other memories of those humble beginnings of music for you? And when it comes to your music at this point, do you write or freestyle and punch in of some sort? Yeah, I'll punch in there. Now, historically, how did things start free? Were you a freestyleer from the jump or did you write at first? I would not first start a rapper, I would write, but like when I got comfortable with it, like the more I rap, the more comfortable and fluent it comes. So I didn't just go on to tell my head. And what led to that as well? Was that just natural experimentation? Were you inspired or influenced by someone to start freestyle and punching in? It was really natural. Like I said, the bros around me were doing it probably before me. So I guess that was, you know, we got it. Now, as you mentioned, growing up as a kid, no real low points for you. Because you didn't really know what was going on. You were innocent to everything. Oblivious to everything. And maybe that was your parental guidance that helped keep that mindset there for you. But on the opposite end of the spectrum, was there a bottom point for you? Was there a low point? Obviously, as a kid, you didn't see it, but now that you are older. was there a point you look back and you have that was my low point. Yeah, like, yeah, for sure. What was that for you? What was, I guess your lowest point growing up on the east side there. A lot, like, really watching my mom, like, with five kids in the will, majority of everybody, like, like, her kids, like, no help. So I don't feel like me being, not the oldest, but the oldest, like, well, my mindset, I had to help. And five kids, same father for all five of you? No, not always, but some of them. But it would be five of you under one roof. Yeah. And where did you fit on that ladder? First, let's back up, how many same mother and father as you? And then where did you fit on the ladder overall of the five? Everybody same, but the same father, I guess, is you? Were you the only one of the same father where there are other siblings, same father, older brothers? OK. All right, so you were the youngest between you two, same father. But what about out of the five? Where did you stand on that ladder? They're from youngest to oldest. I'm the middle, it's two oldest and two youngest. Smack, dab, in the middle. The middle child. What was that position, like, just being in the middle? I understand, for, like, it was, like, more pressure. Because you got two younger wives to you. You got two older, you know, that you look at well. Honestly, I couldn't even really look up. I had older sister, you know, and my older brother. But I couldn't really look up to, you know, when I was a brother. Why not? Because my, so she, a girl, like, she can't really teach me how to be a boy. And my brother got, he autistic, so, you know, like, this, me. So now I'm, you know, introduced to everything. So even though you were the middle, you really had others looking up to you. So really, it was kind of like you were the older one. Now, that's a unique dynamic, the fact that you have an autistic sibling. Now, obviously, when it comes to autism, there are different spectrums, one can be on. But, you know, maybe there's someone in the audience that is dealing with an autistic family member as well. Could be a sibling, maybe not. But maybe they just got diagnosed with autism. And again, circumstances could be different for everyone. But what do you want to say to someone that is dealing with an autistic family member? Is there anything you'd like to say to the audience about that? I don't really fly people, you know, try to make something like something wrong without it. I don't think it's not the wrong with it. It just makes them unique, you know. And again, what do you think the low point was? Okay, so you mother struggling here, a single mom of five and you helping to pitch in. And you take it upon yourself to pitch in. She didn't ask you to pitch in. Did you feel like you had a lot of responsibility for whatever age, like more responsibility than you should at whatever age you recognize this? Yeah, most definitely, even if it wasn't helping her, like, you know, giving her something as long as I could do for myself, who's like taking something off of it, like sometimes stress out of her. And what was that, what was that pressure, what was that stress like growing up with the fact that you were trying to pitch in the way you were? Like it was stressful, but being young, it's still like seeing it, it's normal. So it wasn't really more of how I got to do this, how I got to do that, which is more that people I'm around, like, it's normal, so I was going to do it either way, it wasn't anything. And was your mother accepting of the help or was she, you know, trying to get you not to help because you wanted just you to be a kid? Yeah, it was like point, she, like a lot of stuff she didn't really know about. And then when she started finding out, it was more of like, she didn't agree with it, but as I got older, she's like, he grown, he's going to make his own decision. She did her best. Now how were you able to survive that upbringing on the east side of Greenville looking back? 'Cause there are some who don't make it. What was the key? What was the secret for you on surviving that? My brain, my head, like you can't, you know, I got a thing before you do stuff, no matter what you're doing. There are some people who say things like, don't know if I'll make it to see the age of 18, 21, 25, so on and so forth. Did you ever have any of these thoughts growing up on the east side? Well, it definitely, all the time, like 18, I was really skeptical about 18, because that's when a lot was going on. As I got older, getting introduced to more people, seeing different ways to live doing stuff like, got more confident in, you know, growing older. And caring to share what age you are now currently, and your birthday while you're at it, the month and the day, perhaps, April 30th. And before I move forward with some other lines of questioning here about the upbringing of yours, you know, there are some recording artists, they will not share their age on camera. Why for you, no problem there? Everybody think I'm younger than him, anyway. Now that you have made it over the hump, so to speak, you know, there was one time, you didn't think you would see 18. Now you've seen 21. What do you make of that outcome? Being on the opposite end of that equation. I try my best to like really just tell all my younger bros, like, I know how they feel. I didn't change the life, so they looking at the music, now they like, they are calling, they look up, and I just try to tell them, like, you know, like I said, your brain, everything you got to think before you do stuff, so I really just use my experiences to take them and put myself in issues and just try to help them get to where I'm at right now. Knowing what you know now, on the other side of that coin, hypothetically speaking, what would you have said to your younger self back then, if anything? Now ask you a variety of questions here in regards to your upbringing, is there anything else you want to mention about it or question you weren't asked, you'd like to shed some light on. And what about the status of your father here? What's the current status between you two at this point? That's my job, my best friend now. And how did that relationship, uh, able to get repaired? Growing up, my father was in prison, so I didn't really know him, but as he came home, like, you know, your kid and I, no one who it is, you just, you know, you don't know him already, so you don't really care to be around. But as I got older, getting into more stuff, like you need a father figure, so to help you being a man. And that's what he stopped doing it, my best friend, knowing my best friend. And just asking because, uh, you know, you didn't mention him very much, but I didn't want to leave him out. And just curious here, how long was he incarcerated for, uh, 15 years? And do you know what age you were at the time when he got arrested or wasn't even born? Like he went right before I was born. Got it. Uh, while he was, uh, serving this incarceration, uh, did you keep communication with him at all, or it was only until after he comes home is when this relationship gets established and repaired and things that nature. Now we're talking about home, I hear a call, I hear a talk, conversation, but I'm still young, I'm not really paying no attention. Uh, did you ever have any physical visitation with him? I like twice while he was incarcerated. And was he, uh, in state or federal at the time? Oh, state. And how, how far of a drive distance wise between you two? I wouldn't be able to tell you, I really don't know. And those times you two, uh, those time, those two times you physically got a chance to visit him. Was that something that you wanted to do? You wanted to see? Or was that done, you know, uh, on your behalf? As a kid, yeah, I wanted to see him, like I hear him. I don't know what he looked like. And I wanted to see him. But, uh, my grandma, she really, she big on family, with big on family. So she made sure we stayed in contact. Even if I didn't want to talk to him, she couldn't make sure we talked. And do you remember when age or what grade you were when he came home for the first time? I was, I was in, uh, seven, eight grade, some like that. And uh, how long did you see him, uh, after his first day out? How long? Like, what you mean? Did you see him on his first day out? Did it take? He came straight to his kids. That's the first thing you do. I might got that time for him as though, though, 'cause like 14 years, yeah, I like 13. Some, I don't know, it's somebody. Uh, well, yeah, I've seen him when he first, like his first day out. He's been his first couple of days when I actually just catch a note on everything. Was that an emotional experience? His first day out for him, yeah. And I mean. And uh, you know, um, did you have another male figure in your life while he was incarcerated? Yeah. I got uncles, them, uh, my siblings, their fathers, but, and not a jail, same thing. And after he comes home, does he treat you like a parent? or more like a friend. - Oh, more like a friend. - Now, what did this entire experience teach you? Having an incarcerated parent and growing up with that? - It is still like in my head that I don't wanna have kids until I, like I know I'm sick. Like I wouldn't wanna be doing anything I know that can give me a kill or a jail and leave the mind without a father. So I really like, in my head today, I'm just like really strong going. I'm not having kids until I know I'm sick and they sit for a long time. - And was there any resentment or more understanding of this ordeal with your father? - Yeah. I totally get it now, like when I was a kid, I didn't, but now I understand, I understand. - And what do you want people watching or listening to this interview, to know about parents in prison? - Or a parent in prison? - Oh. - Having a parent incarcerated. Is there anything you want the audience to know? Watching or listening to this interview? - I feel like it's just, like it's hard for a kid. I feel like, like not having one parent or the other, especially like being a man, being raised by a woman. Like a lot of men know, like very emotional. And then they take a toll on me, like a male figure to teach you right from all the certain situations free. - Now circumstances could be different for everyone. But let's say someone's in the audience and their parent just became incarcerated themselves. Is there anything you want to say to them? - Keep a contact with them, like y'all need each other. - And what's been his reaction to the music side of things and the success you've garnered at this point? - He would have, like 100%, like when I first thought around me, ready, like we would roll, like he was gonna put everything behind, so it's not really a surprise. - Does he play any official role with your music career of some sort? Like sometimes people will put family members in certain positions? - Not now, but before, like to do, he was like, the promotion company, like co-partners, like 50/50. But now I don't, in a deal, he just let me do what I do. - And speaking of this deal, care to share who that's with. - 300 or anything. - Now for those that have heard of that record label, but don't know what it's like over there. What is that really like? - Being on 300 and tea. - So far, I like it. It's more like, I get more of a family vibe than just, you know, a lot of people that could just be business. They treat you like family's more of a family vibe. They wouldn't know how you doing, they check on you, cool over there. - And who do you have the closest bond with on that imprint there? And when I ask closest, this could be someone in front of the camera, like you, like another recording artist on the label, or maybe someone behind it, like an executive position. - I don't really have, like, the closest, everybody really the same, really. Talked to everybody around the same. But if I, if I dare, I would probably be my, my A and R. - And you want to share this person's name? - I don't know if I, if you wanted to, so I'm not going to do it. - But did you have a connection or a bond with this A and R before signing? Or it was the signing that got you too close to you? - Yeah, signing. And I did want to ask this. Why, you mentioned this in the creation of your name, Masio Murder, that the "O Murder" portion stem from like a promotional group, and then it transitioned into a, more of a record label imprint. Are you able to explain why the promotional side of things stopped at one point? You mentioned this was something co, you were doing co with your father. - Yeah, it was with my father and my two best friends, one that passed the other one still here. We just started like, I don't know, you know, you know, everybody wanted a party. So it's like, let's, we young, we can host it, we can do this and that. It just stopped 'cause I guess we got tired of it. It's like, I don't know. We just stopped doing it. - Got it. And was it just a mutual stop or was it one of you that stopped? - No, it was just mutual. It just, it just more so happened and just everybody coming to a group and so on. It just stopped. - All right. Well, you've answered a lot of my questions here. I do wanna ask you two more things, I think. Two more topics and then we'll be done. All right, so I wanna ask you this. All right, this hair of yours. What is this current hairstyle you have called? Now, is there a meaning behind this? - Nah, it just can't walk around. Like, being young can't walk around. I can't hear you, it just can't do it. You can't do that. For the cut, just sit out though. - Seriously? - Yeah. - Cut. - I'm starting over. - Cutting it all off. - I'm starting over. - And what's your reasoning there? - 'Cause I've got a full hair and dress like this. Oh, I've got a full hair, I've got to start all the way over. - So you are going to do them in the future, just a reset? - Yeah, yeah, not right now though. Like, when I got time to chill, when I'm not in front of a camera, 'cause they can't see my hair or my hair, 'cause I can't do that. But we're not gonna hide it for a couple of months to come back out with a little bit of hair on me doing it. - And, can you assure how long the length you've been growing this hairstyle is on camera that scene? - Oh, I've been growing this since, like, 2019, 2020, 2019. - So about five, six years, give or take. And did anyone in particular inspire this hairstyle for you back then? - No, not really, it just happened. - Was this a trend at the time when you joined it? - Oh, no, was it? I don't think it was. You have a variety of tattoos on your body. Do you know how many tattoos at this point? No. Just curious here, wanted to see if you could take the audience on a tattoo tour for lack of a better phrase, where you share the meetings behind any of these tattoos that you've done that, you know, people see on social media view, on pictures, but that don't quite know exactly what they are. And if some of them are hidden, I know you've already rolled up your sleeve a little bit. If some of them are hidden and can't be shown on camera, if you want to point and talk about it, that's fine too. So it's up to you here. - Yeah, um, this one on my wrist, you can see, can you see on the camera? - Yes. - I can't see, you can't. It's my grandma name that passed away, with a quote, her birthday, death date, my sister, my mother, their other grandma, can't see this, but it's really my initial, my dad and this, my brother and this, we all got the same first letter in the name. And then it is, then what is it? It's an angel. I forgot when I got this, but it's a quote. It's, what the, what the, what the shit is that? It been in there. - Take your time. If you want to look at it, that's fine too. - It been in there, right? - Oh yeah, and say, prepare for the worst, but prepare for the best. I got it. - And those are your only tattoos at this point. It's just that sleeve there for lack of a better phrase. - I don't think, I think it's, I'm not gonna say it's pointless, but all my tattoos would be gotta be in the bottom. - Is there any meaning why they're on the right side of your body? You're right arm. - Nah, I just started, and I don't, I'm not one of the people that just want to get one here and get one here and get on my, I feel like I gotta finish it before. - Got it. And this grandmother, that past, I believe you said, was the father side. This was the one that was a Christian, got it. Now, okay, do you recall which of these tattoos that you have was the very first one? - The one where her name. - And do you remember what age you were? Or what grade, perhaps? - 15, 16, 15, 15, 15. - 15 years old with a tattoo in your area, were you the youngest back then with one? - No. - That's probably been late. You probably started on the late, 15. - Well, what ages were you seeing the earliest around you and what were they getting at the time? - I went in middle school, they get in tattoos. And I don't know, nobody gets some dumb shit about it. - Were they getting tattoos that were visible or tattoos like on your arm where you can roll along and sleep over? - They're never in tattoos now. Might get your face. - They shall tattoos in middle school. Like face tattoos are probably going to high school, but like arms, yeah, middle school, yeah, whatever, yeah. - So this first tattoo that you had, did you have your parents permission at all for it? - Yeah, you know, like growing up, I was a type of kid, like I'm gonna tell my mom, I'm gonna do this. She could say, "Here, no, I'm still going." do it. I mean, I had it, but I probably didn't have it. And what was her, how does she find out you actually do it? And what was her reaction? I think I sent her the picture when I got it. But she wasn't really mad because it had a meaning. It was just some stupid. She probably wasn't mad. And was that also part of the reason why your first tattoo was your grandmother in reference to her because maybe mom wouldn't be mad if my first tattoo had something to do with the family. No, I know this is bad summer mama, but I didn't care. I just, it was just my grandma before, like my bros and my dad came home. I think it was like my first best friend. I know it's all part of the same body part here. It's this right arm, but I'm still going to ask you this question. If you had it on different parts of your body, I think this question would make more sense. But you know, out of all three, what do you think was the most painful? Most painful. Was it maybe towards the upper part of your arm or lower part of your arm? I right here on my wrist. It burned like it's because it's like on the vein. It burned like it was bad. It was probably the worst pain. That's what I feel. And I like the tattoo pain. Scale of one to 10. Where do you put that pain level? One being little amount of pain, 10 being a lot of pain. Where do you eight? Almost cry. I think I'm not going to lie. It's so hot. How about cry? So when you say burning, is it the sensation like touching a hot stove or a hot pan? Is it that type of burning or is it a different type of sensation of burning? How can I explain it? I don't really know how this plane edges. Like if you know, you know like it, but it's not it hurt, but it's like a good feeling to me. And asking here for those in the audience that have never had a tattoo, but maybe considering one, what they might expect doing something of that nature. But you mentioned, you almost cried. Was there a thought on maybe not finishing it because of the pain level there? No, I got it finished. I'm not going nowhere would have finished that too. And on the opposite end of the spectrum, what was the least painful of the tattoos? This whole, this part right here. This is smooth. This is what I just said. I'm not falling all the time. Scala one to 10, one being a little pain, 10 being a lot. Where would you scale that? Like two, three. And got to ask you this just for transparency. Were you under the influence of any drugs or medication at the time of these tattoos? No, I was sober and asking because if you were on any particular substances, didn't know if that would help with the pain level or actually made things worse. So the fact that you got these sober, you're answering with a different perspective there. But what about numbing cream? Did you ever use numbing cream for any of these tats? I feel like they won't go and work. I just went and got the tattoo. So you could have had the option to choose to do it, but you chose not to. Yeah, because I feel like it wasn't gonna work for it. I don't believe in it. And any plans for more tats? Yeah, most definitely. I really want to tag my whole body when I got time. All right. Well, want to ask you this now. As we wind down the questions here. Okay, when it comes to your followers, your fans, your supporters, so on and so forth. What do you refer to them as? As far as what I do have a name for them? Yeah, some of them have a name. Some of them just refer to them as followers, fan supporters. I just call them my supporters. Before this interview ends, is there anything else you were not asked? Your supporters want to know. What is something they want to know that they ask you? I don't know. I don't know. Probably not. Okay, just curious there. What about with the conversation here? Was there anything else that you wanted to add onto what you said? Any other context you want to provide? Any clarification? Perhaps something you said? Anything you might want to subtract from what you said? Any last words before you leave? Paying the profit out now. Go stream it. All platforms. I miss you. I'll talk to you then. I miss you. I'll murder all platforms. [BLANK_AUDIO]