- Red Bull Music Academy’s United States of Bass - July 19, 2016
- Red Bull Sound Select: Adrian Younge, No ID, Joey Dosik - April 14, 2016
- LA Red Bull Sound Select: Stormzy, Lizzo, and Kauf - March 28, 2016
What’s good Mark, how you been?
Watz haappinin Mayne? I been good tho. Just Been Grindin. If you ain’t grindin you ain’t shinin’ no what i’m sayin?
Now I know it took a little while, but you finally dropped your first mixtape, Read My Lips. What kind of tracks you got on there man?
Yea, I wanted to give the project the time it deserved. I mean you only get one chance at a 1st impression ya feel me? But the mixtape ain’t your typical mixtape it’s crazy. I just did me on this album mayne, I ain’t follow no trends or nuttin lol. I got songs that you can put on to get the club yankin and I got songs that make you wanna slap somebody! Like I have a song called “Case of the Fake” on the mixtape. I’m pretty much callin out all my fake homies and puttin em on blast. lol I also have tracks where it’s just straight gas, no hook or anythang. It’s just me rappin straight thru the entire track to show off my lyrical ability. I play it anythang but safe on this project my dude
I heard a rumor that before you started rapping, you were a dancer ? How did you make that transition and start rapping?
Yea I was giggin before iI picked up the mic. You ain’t ever gon catch me on Americas Best Dance Crew or nuttin but, you can see it at my Rap shows I usually break down one time. But back in high school I was doing spoken word and started to make a name for myself that way. My Brotha who was already rappin’ at the time, convince me 2 try rappin. I slapped my words on beat and the rest is history family.
But I love entertaining mayne anythang that can get me on stage I most likely got my hands in it. On the real I started out as an actor before anything and just recently started doing stand up comedy 2. But I’m 100% focus on the music as of right now.
What are the things that inspire you when you are making music?
Drugs! Lol Nah I’m playin. haha man just life, I try to write about real life situations in my music so the average person can relate to it. I feel like a lot of artists now a days rap about money, cars and a luxurious lifestyle. But most people can’t relate to that. For example tho, my best friend was in a relationship last year dat just went all bad. I wrote a song about it cause I knew there was a million people out there going thru the same thang. It’s called “Get Along” It’s gonna be on my next album.
Who are your biggest influences? How would you describe your musical style or sound?
Michael Jackson, E-40, Eminem, Mac Dre, D.J. Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince and of course Biggie and Pac. I kno a lot of rappers say those two names but those dudes pathed the way mayne. But you really can’t describe my musical style cause I feel like I have more than one. But I can say my style is very hype I bring a lot of energy to my music. And majority of the time it can be very comical and very punchline heavy. Even on some of my more serious songs I might have you rollin even if that wasn’t even my intention. But some things are funny just because there true.
You just opened up for J Stalin right? And I saw you are about to open up for IAMSU?
Yup December 15th at the Boardwalk in Orangevale, CA. And before that I opened for The Jacka, Dizzy Wright, Bueno and Roach Gigz. This year been a big year for me family. Shout out 2 all of the artists I mentioned
Are there any other projects you are working on?
Read My Lips: Chapter 2 is in the works right now my dude so be on the look out. Looking at dropping it this spring.
Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
On the real I could say platinum albums, world tours and all that, but in 5 to 10 years I see myself in the studio. Because no matter how far I get in this game I can never afford to stop workin. You can always better yourself.
If you were on a deserted island and only had 3 albums to bring with you, what 3 albums would you bring and why?
Damn thats a hard one mayne…I would actually have to think long and hard about that one but off the top of my head it be Bad (Michael Jackson)- It would be Thiller but Thiller only got like 9 songs and I aint gon be playin the same 9 songs foreva.
He’s the D.J. I’m the Rapper (D.J Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince) – Gotta take it old skool mayne and I can’t even lie I used slap that when I was a kid. Gotta take me a album thats gon have me reminiscin if I’m gonna be stuck on a island lol
The Eminem Show (Eminem)- That’s one of my favorite albums tho. I luv how Em can be clownin around on one song and then be completely serious on the next track. I tend to do that a lot on my own project, that’s probably where I get that from…and then I would prolly swim back to shore and grab my own cd, Read My Lips cause if you can’t slap your own work your prolly shouldn’t be rappin den. Hah!
