By Stranga The Great
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
This week, Hip Hop Vibe has dedicated a lot of focus to the Oakland hip hop scene through Oakland week. Many consider Oakland as the anchor city for the Bay Area and it has produced many legendary artists. Mugzi and The Mossie are from Vallejo, but have had a lot of influence from Oakland being on E-40’s Sick Wid It Records.
Mugzi also handles a lot of business on Sick Wid It Records, helping to develop artists for the label. He took that a step further when he created 30/30 Records, which operates as a subsidiary of Sick Wid It. Recently, Mugzi dropped his “I Got Throb” single featuring D. Cannons and Mossie group-mate, Kaveo.
Hip Hop Vibe had the chance to catch up with Mugzi for this special tribute. Mugzi did this interview right after he performed at Rock The Bells 2013, which was taking place in the Bay Area. He discussed with Hip Hop Vibe the Bay Area hip hop scene, his business ventures, and “I Got Throb.”
Read the entire interview below:
What has become more common are artists who double as producers, do you feel as if that is something all artists should know how to do? All artists should be more involved in their music. It makes them more aware of how things should be done and develops them as a artist.
As someone who has put in twenty-plus years in the game, how do you feel about the way Oakland is represented? I feel The Bay has come a long way in general. The Bay has always been trendsetters, we just don’t get big recognition.
This summer, Yo Gotti, Young Jeezy, and YG paid homage to the Oakland scene with “Act Right,” what was your opinion on that single? With Yo Gotti and Young Jeezy paying homage, it just shows us they know the Bay has been giving good music for years and never know they probably grew up on a E-40 or Too Short.
Who are some up-and-coming rappers on the Oakland scene that you think have the potential to be major stars? IamSu!, Work Dirty, Beeda Weeda, Philthy Rich, D Lo, and Cousin Fik.
Can you talk about your 30/30 Records company and your role in Sick Wid It Records? I started 30/30 Records to give new life to Sic Wid It Records to bring up a younger generation of our family members. My role in Sic Wid It Records was basically A&R/VP. I brought up Turf Talk and a couple more known artists through Sic Wid It.
To have been making music most of your life and to still be going strong is a blessing, can you speak on your current music, such as how it differs from your earlier work? I am more mature with my current music. I cater to the women a lot more than my earlier work. They call me the “hood rat sex symbol.”
Right now, you have a couple of singles out, most recently “I Got Throb” with Kaveo and D. Cannons, how do you feel your project will be accepted by the current hip hop world? Yeah with, “I Got Throb” I wanted to cater more to the streets. I wanted this song is peoples’ trunks and bumping as they are driving down the block. When I made the video, I wanted people to say “I have to go get that!” and bump it in their car. I hear the streets are accepting “I Got Throb.”
Are you surprised at all with how the West Coast sound has evolved from primarily gangsta rap music to more lyrical and conscious music? I am not surprised at all how the West has evolved because we always have been lyrical. We always just made music about our environment.
What is your take on this movement from the West Coast, primarily referred to as the “New West?” As far as the New West, I think it’s just saying we about to show the world we can do what y’all do and better. If this is what it takes for us to be noticed. But, all the new artists know what they grew up on and they pay respect to who paved they way for them. So I don’t mind the term “New West.”
Where can we find you on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? Facebook and Instagram are Mugzi Mugzilla. Twitter is @TheRealMugzi.
Follow Stranga The Great on Twitter @StrangaTheGreat.
