Mozzy

Mozzy

Mozzy during 2015 interview with The Rap Shack
Background information
Birth name Timothy Patterson
Also known as Lil' Tim
Born 28–29[1]
Sacramento, California, United States
Occupation(s) Rapper
Years active 2010-present
Labels Livewire Entertainment, Blackmarket Records, Empire
Associated acts DJ.Fresh, Nef the Pharaoh, Philthy Rich, YG
Website http://www.mozzyfoundation.com/

Timothy "Mozzy" Patterson[1] is an unsigned American hip hop artist from Sacramento, California who works with Livewire Entertainment, Empire Distribution, and Blackmarket Records.[1][2]

Mozzy started rapping in 2010 under the name Lil' Tim,[1] before changing his stage name to Mozzy in 2012. He received little notoriety until his 2015 album "Bladadah" which was ranked the 22nd best rap album of 2015 by Rolling Stone[3] and gave him the "best run" of 2015 according to Complex Magazine.[4]

Career

Mozzy first began rapping at age 11 alongside his uncle Genaro "GP the Beast" Patterson, who would later collaborate with the likes of Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, and others on the 2004 Death Row compilation album "Too Gangsta' For Radio".[1]

Lil' Tim

In 2010, under the stage name "Lil Tim" Mozzy released a single titled "U Ain't Really Like 'Dat", his first music release as a full-time musician.[4]

Collaborations

Mozzy's first notable collaboration was with a industry executive, DJ.Fresh, who produced Mozzy's 2013 album "The Tonite Show".[4] After the Tonite Show, on Mozzy's 3rd solo album, "Goonbody Embodiment" Mozzy collaborated with Oakland rapper Philthy Rich, on a track called "I'm Just Being Honest" which would cause a long standing controversy.[5] In December, Compton rapper YG released a single titled "City Mad" featuring Mozzy and associate "Slim 400" leading up to his new album release "Still Krazy".[6] In 2016, Vallejo rapper Nef the Pharaoh released an album titled "Neffy Got Wings", featuring a track with Mozzy called "Devil's Team".[7]

Solo Work

Mozzy's solo albums, such as Bladadah, are his largest success, Mozzy released his first solo album in 2011 under the title "Money Means Mozzy" and had released 10 other albums by 2016. In 2015, Mozzy was recognized by Complex Magazine for having the "best run of 2015",[4] and by Rolling Stone for having the 22nd best rap album of 2015.[3]

Early life

Mozzy grew up on 4th ave, in Sacramento's Oak park neighborhood.[8] Mozzy, whose mother was a crack cocaine addict and father was incarcerated, was raised by his grandmother Brenda Patterson-Usher, a Black Panther party member, who owned several homes throughout Sacramento.[9] Mozzy attended Sacramento High, but eventually dropped out and earned a G.E.D., and worked various local jobs until he decided to pursue his music career full time in 2010.[1]

Lavish D beef

In March 2014, Mozzy released a track called "I'm Just Being Honest" which sparked a feud with local rapper Lavish D.[5] Starting with an ambush by Lavish D's "Starzup" gang on March 15 of an associate of Mozzy's from Oak Park at the Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento.[5] What would follow, was eight shootings which the Sacramento Police department found to linked by the original incident between the two gangs.[5]

Legal issues

Between 2005-2008, Mozzy was arrested three times by Sacramento Police for possession crimes, including illegal possession of a firearm, and evading police. He was again in 2014 for the same crime, for which he served a sentence in the Sacramento County Jail,[1] during which his cousin, and colleague, E Mozzy released the album "Free Mozzy." After leaving penitentiary, Mozzy decided to focus solely on his music, releasing four solo albums in 2015.[4] Despite receiving offers to perform nation, and worldwide, Mozzy is unable to leave the state of California due to being on probation.[1]

Discography

In chronological order

2011 -

"Money Means Mozzy" (independent release)

2013 -

"The Tonite Show" (via Dj.Fresh)

2014 -

"Goonbody Embodiment" (independent release)

"Next Body on You" (independent release)

"Next Body on You Part 2" (independent release)

"Free Mozzy" (independent release)

2015 -

"Gangland Landscape" (independent release)

"Bladadah" (independent release)

"Yellow Tape Activities" (via Blackmarket)

"Down to the Wire" (via Livewire)

2016 -

"Beautiful Struggle" (via Empire)

"Extracurricular Activities" (via Livewire)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "From the streets to stardom: Is Sacramento rapper Mozzy the next big thing?". sacbee. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  2. ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/03/mozzy-deal-epic-atlantic/
  3. 1 2 "Mozzy, 'Bladadah'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 David Drake (16 December 2015). "Sacramento Rapper Mozzy Had the Best Run of 2015 - Complex". Complex. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "Sacramento News & Review - Sacramento struggles to understand its ‘hybrid' gang problem as social media sparks local beefs - News - Local Stories - April 10, 2014". Sacramento News & Review. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  6. ↑ "YG Releases Two New Songs "Goapele Freestyle," & "City Mad"". Vibe. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "Nef the Pharaoh Is Taking Off: Listen to His New Mixtape with Cardo, 'Neffy Got Wings' | NOISEY". NOISEY. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  8. ↑ "Sacramento gangster rapper Mozzy is now one of the music industry’s most wanted commodities - Feature Story - Local Stories - March 17, 2016". Sacramento News & Review. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
  9. ↑ "Who the Hell Is Mozzy, the Sacramento Rapper Who Has the Whole West Coast's Attention?". NOISEY. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, May 01, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.