Building a bridge in the Hiphop scene from Massachusetts to Florida.

Growing up GetMoneyManny was always around music, he has some family in the industry working for artists doing everything from videography to going on tour. Watching that happen around him made him want to perform himself. We asked GetMoneyManny how he started in the Hip Hop Scene, GetMoneyManny Said "My mom took care of me most of the time so anytime we were together it was always a good time because music was involved. All of the old music I like and the old soul that I have I definitely got from her. Listening to that kind of music back in the day is one of the reasons why I got so into storytelling rap. There was always some deeper meaning in those oldies so it’s not a surprise I was quickly drawn to the storytellers. That and the fact that African-American mental health is a topic that is shunned so much. For a lot of us, the only way we can talk about and/or get through problems is in our lyrics."

There were always concerts and music events going on in and around the city of Massachusetts. As a kid GetMoneyManny was always walking/biking/ riding around trying to find the next place or event. Since GetMoneyManny has been doing this at a young age he was very moved and drawn in by "RAW Arts". We asked GetMoneyManny what does "RAW Arts" mean to him and how they influenced his music today, GetMoneyManny Replied " RAW Arts is a spot in Lynn (Massachusetts) where kids learn everything about art from how to play instruments, write, draw and paint to photography, videography, editing, and more. We also learned things like how to help others capture what they have to give as well as managing their own collections and catalogs and others. It’s important to learn how to initiate whatever journey you want to take. So it’s always a good idea to get a jump on it ASAP. That makes it so you can better understand what you’re gonna have to do to get there. The people who worked there always taught us to go back to our roots and figure out what drew us to music in the first place. Being around all that creativity and free spiritedness was a good way for us to get rid of our inhibitions, and just give our all to our craft. I still carry those lessons with me today when I work on new music or videos or whatever it is that day and try to incorporate them always."

We wonder as an artist from Massachusetts what unique elements he brings to his music that represent his city and culture, GetMoneyManny replied " The memories have to be the most unique element/biggest influence when it comes to representing and presenting my city. One thing that ties us together as a city is how much of a community we are. Everybody knows everybody which can be good and bad but definitely has a lot of impact regardless. Since everyone knows everyone, when people pass it’s a huge deal. So mentioning people who were mourning is a way to keep my city alive and in mind. Another big way to keep the representation of my city in my music is by naming places we all used to chill at. Most of the people that listen to my music know what/where/who I’m talking about but even if they don’t, they look it up and spark a conversation. People are very interested in how we as artists grew up. So giving them a little bit of insight like that is a lot of fun and beneficial."

Collaborations have become a significant aspect of the music industry, but when it came to GetMoneyManny collaboration happen on its own for example in GetMoneyManny Words " I’ll be out doing a show or hosting an event, and then all of a sudden I’m talking to one of the other artists who went on before me or that I introduced and all of a sudden BOOM! We’re in the studio the next day. I think, especially in my city and state, making it out is hard so collaborating with people makes it a bit easier when it comes to pushing music and gaining momentum. The only downside is sometimes people become greedy instead of hungrier which just makes the whole idea a nightmare but I’ve always seemed to bounce back. There were a lot of collabs last year that went CRAZY so I can’t ever stay away from them for too long, at least not forever."

Many Hiphop artists use their music to address social issues and advocate for change, we wonder if there is a specific cause or message that he feels passionate about conveying through his music. For GetMoneyManny Mental health in the black Community is always a huge topic for him along with other things like systematic racism. GetMoneyManny said "A lot of my lyrics are about missing people I’ve lost due to issues like that. I dropped a song last year with an artist named Lib, who also does producing/ engineering and many more! It was named “Cornered” and the message was about feeling cornered, how the way we get treated as a people is despicable. The people that always feel they’ve been above us distract us while they’re busy lackadaisical locking up and killing us. I’m currently working on a bunch of stuff but one of the main ones is another track with Lib for BHM. It’s gonna be called “Too Many” so definitely be on the lookout for that."

The journey to success in the music industry can be challenging but for GetMoneyManny the challenging part was trying to keep his head straight during loss. GetMoneyManny said "One of the things I mentioned earlier was how we talk through music and a lot of the time it can be troubling to push through those moments and write something meaningful instead of disregarding the idea and moving onto something else completely. It’s also hard to keep going in an industry where so many fail, or give up because you see how many fail or give up before you. It’s difficult to wade through the haters when there are so many. A lot of people pay too much attention to what they say instead of realizing they’re most likely just mad because they want to be where we are."

Another part of GetMoneyManny's capacity is producing his own beats. His city is very well-known for independent artists who make their own beats, as well as distribute their own music and everything else. GetMoneyManny said " Growing up in Lynn I had every ethnicity on the block so it was very easy for me to be dropped right in the middle of the melting pot. Because of that, I’ve probably had influences from almost every race or ethnicity. When I make my beats, you can hear things like train announcements from the Lynn train, mentioning certain streets, restaurants, and bodegas we used to hang out at and stuff like that. We also had a lot of culture days (days dedicated to learning about other cultures) growing up so I have to credit that as a major factor too. There are a lot of instruments from different countries that I like to use in my music that I probably wouldn’t have found out about till later on in life."

GetMoneyManny's Performances have garnered a reputation for his high energy and engaging stage presence, we wonder what he enjoys most about connecting with his audience. GetMoneyManny said " With the music that I make people are always ready for me to show out and I do that. I definitely like to run out into the crowd and make it about the fans. I think one of my favorite parts about my fan base is they know even with who I am, they can always talk to me. I’ve never been one to shy away from good conversations and people can pick up that energy I am giving out. I’m also one of those artists who stays after the shows to ask how everyone liked it and hang out with fans too. I think it’s important what they have to say, especially since they’re the ones who were supporting us in this industry."

Massachusetts has produced several notable Hiphop artists, we wanted to see how GetMoneyManny sees himself contributing to the legacy of the music scene and what he hopes to achieve in his career as an artist. GetMoneyManny Replied " I know for a fact I’m gonna make it. I’m right there! There’s not a doubt in my mind about what I’m doing. Millyz, Bia, and Joyner are always topics of conversation in our area. We see all the effort they put in and how they really do care about the community and what happens to us. I want to be able to contribute and do the same if not more. Like I mentioned before we have RAW Arts in Lynn and I know I’d like to return what was given to me and expand on it as well. Even though I moved to Florida, Boston will always be my home. Even with all the struggles and issues coming up I got nothing but love for it. That’s a REAL city."