Mozzy
| Mozzy | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Timothy Patterson |
| Also known as | Lil Tim |
| Born |
June 24, 1987 Sacramento, California, United States |
| Genres | Hip hop, conscious hip hop, hardcore hip hop, Horrorcore |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, singer, record producer |
| Years active | 2004-present |
| Labels | Mozzy Records, Empire, Real Talk Entertainment |
| Associated acts | DJ Fresh, Nef the Pharaoh, Philthy Rich, Celly Ru, RG, KT Foreign, J Stalin, Slim400, Lil Blood, Iamsu, E Mozzy, The Jacka, Joe Blow, Skeme, YG, Berner, E-40, Ty Dolla Sign, Kendrick Lamar |
| Website |
www |
Timothy "Mozzy" Patterson[1] is an American hip hop artist from Oak Park, Sacramento, California who works with Real Talk Entertainment, Empire Distribution, Blackmarket Records and Livewire Entertainment.[1][2]
Mozzy started rapping in 2004 under the name Lil' Tim,[1] before changing his stage name to Mozzy in 2012. He received little notice until his 2015 album Bladadah which was ranked the 22nd best rap album of 2015 by Rolling Stone[3] and which gave him the "best run" of 2015 according to Complex Magazine.[4]
Career
Mozzy first began rapping at age 16 alongside his uncle Genaro "GP the Beast" Patterson, who would later collaborate with the likes of Suge Knight and others on the 2040 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] On August 2, 2016, Mozzy released Lil' Timothy N Thingz, a collection of songs recorded in 2008 while he had still been known as "Lil' Tim".[5]
Collaborations
Mozzy's first notable collaboration was with an industry executive, DJ Fresh, who produced Mozzy's 2013 album The Tonite Show.[4] On Mozzy's third solo album, Goonbody Embodiment, he collaborated with Oakland rapper Philthy Rich, on the track "I'm Just Being Honest", which caused a longstanding controversy.[6] In December, Compton rapper YG released a single titled "City Mad" featuring Mozzy and associate "Slim 400" leading up to the release of his album, Still Krazy.[7] In 2016, Vallejo rapper Nef the Pharaoh released the album Neffy Got Wings, featuring a track with Mozzy called "Devil's Team".[8]
Solo work
Mozzy's solo albums, such as Bladadah, are his largest success. He 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]
In 2016, Mozzy moved from Sacramento to Los Angeles, California and released the album Gang Related Siblings, featuring his fellow Oak Park native and Mozzy producer June.[9]
Mozzy's 2016 album "Mandatory Check" reached no. 7 on the Billboard Rap Albums chart.[10]
Early life
Mozzy grew up on 4th Avenue, in Sacramento's Oak Park neighborhood.[11] Mozzy's mother was a crack cocaine addict and his father was incarcerated, so he was raised by his grandmother Brenda Patterson-Usher, a Black Panther party member, who owned several homes throughout Oak Park.[12] Mozzy attended Sacramento High School, but eventually dropped out and earned a GED. He 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 Been Honest" which sparked a feud with local rapper Lavish D. However, there had been an ongoing funk, which started in Meadowview and G Parkway in Sacramento, that put Guttah Team and Starz against Oak Park gangs like Fab and Stunnah Gang.[6] This started 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.[6] Eight shootings followed, which the Sacramento Police department found to be linked by the original incident between the two gangs.[6]
Legal issues
Between 2005 and 2008, Mozzy was arrested three times by the Sacramento Police for possession crimes, including illegal possession of a firearm and evading police. He was arrested again in 2014, and served a sentence in San Quentin State Prison,[1] during which his brother 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 across the nation and worldwide, Mozzy was unable to leave the state of California until 2017 due to being on probation.[1][13]
Discography
Solo Albums
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Izizzel Izzy Izie Izim | 2011 | Independent |
| Money Means Mozzy | 2011 | Independent |
| Money Makin Mozzy | 2011 | Independent |
| Dope Fiend Tryna Get His Corsica Back | December 20, 2011 | Independent |
| The Tonite Show with Mozzy (Hosted by DJ Fresh) | November 19, 2013 | Sumo / Fresh in the Flesh |
| Goonbody Embodiment | February 14, 2014 | Independent |
| Next Body On You | April 19, 2014 | Independent |
| Next Body On You Part 2 | November 7, 2014 | Independent |
| Gangland Landscape | April 25, 2015 | Independent |
| Bladadah | July 11, 2015 | Independent |
| Yellow Tape Activities | September 11, 2015 | Black Market Records |
| Down to the Wire: 4th Ave Edition | November 27, 2015 | Livewire Entertainment |
| Hexa Hella Extra Headshots 2 | February 9, 2016 | Independent |
| Beautiful Struggle | March 11, 2016 | Mozzy Records |
| Mandatory Check | June 10, 2016 | Mozzy Records / Empire Distribution |
| Lil Timothy n' Thingz | July 29, 2016 | Mozzy Records |
| 1 Up Top Finna Drop (EP) | November 16, 2016 | Mozzy Records / Empire Distribution |
| Fake Famous | January 26, 2017 | Mozzy Records / Empire Distribution |
| 1 Up Top Ahk | August 18, 2017 | Mozzy Records / Empire Distribution |
| Spiritual Conversations (EP) | March 2, 2018 | Mozzy Records / Empire Distribution |
| Gangland Landlord | October 5, 2018 | Mozzy Records / Empire Distribution |
Collaborative Albums/EPs
| Title | Release date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Dope Money (with J-Roq) | January 5, 2012 | Independent |
| Earthquakes and Murder Rates (with Dutch Santana) | April 29, 2016 | Blood Work Ent. |
| Extracurricular Activities (with Stevie Joe) | April 29, 2016 | Green Carpet Ent. / Livewire Records |
| Fraternal Twins (with E Mozzy) | May 12, 2016 | Mozzy Records |
| Mob Ties (with Red-Dot) | May 27, 2016 | Fallout Records |
| Promise Not to Fumble (with Troublez) | July 22, 2016 | Troublez Music |
| Gang Related Siblings (with June) | August 18, 2016 | Mozzy Records |
| Political Ties (with Philthy Rich) | September 2, 2016 | Mozzy Records / SCMMLLC |
| Fraternal Twins 2 (with E Mozzy) | October 19, 2016 | Mozzy Records |
| Tapped In (with Trae tha Truth) | December 16, 2016 | Mozzy Records / ABN / Empire Distribution |
| Can't Fake the Real (with Blac Youngsta, Hosted by DaBoyDame) | May 19, 2017 | Play Too Much Entertainment |
| Dreadlocks & Headshots (with Gunplay) | June 2, 2017 | Real Talk Entertainment |
| Money Makkin Murder (with Lit Soxx) | December 2, 2017 | Muscle Up Music |
| Legendary Gangland (with Yhung T.O.) | December 8, 2017 | Mozzy Records / SOB x RBE / Empire Distribution |
| Hell Made (with Yowda) | December 26, 2017 | Mozzy Records / YMI LLC |
| Run It Up Activities (with Kae One) | June 8, 2018 | Team Player Records |
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "From the streets to stardom: Is Sacramento rapper Mozzy the next big thing?". sacbee. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/03/mozzy-deal-epic-atlantic/
- 1 2 "40 Best Rap Albums of 2015". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- 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.
- ↑ "Lil Timothy n' Thingz (2008 Era) by Mozzy on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2016-08-23.
- 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.
- ↑ "YG Releases Two New Songs "Goapele Freestyle," & "City Mad"". Vibe. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ↑ "Nef the Pharaoh Is Taking Off: Listen to His New Mixtape with Cardo, 'Neffy Got Wings' | NOISEY". NOISEY. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- ↑ http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/10/mozzy-bladadah-sacramento-interview
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/6791715/mozzy/chart?f=324
- ↑ "Sacramento gangster rapper Mozzy is now one of the music industry's most wanted commodities - Feature Story - Local Stories - March 17, 2016". Antioch News & Review. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- ↑ "Who the Hell Is Mozzy, the Antioch Rapper Who Has the Whole West Coast's Attention?". NOISEY. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ↑ http://www.passionweiss.com/2017/01/17/mozzy-interview/