24: Introduce yourself to everyone that doesn’t already know who you are.

I’m Def Jam’s own, Mr. Finley. The talented Mr. Finley a.k.a. Mr. Las Vegas.

24: Before we get into your music, can you briefly describe your history on how you came about getting into the music industry and who were some of the artists that inspired you?

Well, I started out singing and then I switched to rap. In high school, around ‘96 I been doing it consistently out here in Las Vegas on the local scene and in 2005 I met with my manager, Keith Watts and we’re using his connection and his prior relations to set up meetings. We met up with a guy, Kawan “KP” Prather, and he ended up liking the music. Long story short, he was the one who ended up making the deal happen over at Def Jam.

24: What was the hip-hop scene like growing up in Las Vegas?

It wasn’t one really. As far as I can remember, it was probably about 10 cats total that even did music, period. It was maybe 6 rappers and 4 singers. lt wasn’t really too many places where they could even perform and all of that. When I started I was only 14, and especially with us being so young, we couldn’t perform damn near anywhere until we started getting real popular. We were the only cats that were performing with these older cats in 21 and older clubs. We’d get on stage, do our thing and have to get out. But yeah, it wasn’t too much of a scene period. Right now, its damn near the same way. Of course everybody feels like they do music now. Of course its more people that do it because of home studios and stuff like that, but it’s not really a scene because Vegas doesn’t really cater to locals.  There’s a lot of people out here with talent and drive to do it but they have no outlet, you know?

24:  How has the music scene in Las Vegas influenced your music and career?

It only made me go harder. If you don’t like your situation, change the situation that you’re in. You can’t change where you’re from. You can change where you stay, but not if you love where you are. I decided to keep going until I made somebody take notice that there’s something going on out here. That’s what I’ve been doing and that’s what I’m going to keep doing

24: Do you feel that there is more pressure on your shoulders due to the fact that you are a Las Vegas artist signed to a major label?

Yes and no. The only pressure that I feel is the pressure that I put on myself. Just the simple fact that I want to make sure that my city is represented correctly. That’s the only pressure that I feel. Once I’ve put this whole body of work together and have presented it to the world that they understand what part and side of Vegas that I’m coming from.

24: From your perspective, how would you describe the challenges of being an artist in Vegas and going up against the larger shadow of your west coast neighbor of California?

It’s real hard. I’m not going to lie. California is way bigger. Anybody that’s from California, frequents Las Vegas and vice versa. The two are so similar but Cali is just way bigger. Plus, they’ve got so many forefathers as far as the music industry goes. Vegas? We have none. I’m going to be the first one to do that. It’s like me against the world, basically as far as comparing the two. I’m not really trying to compete with what California is doing because I’m not doing California music. I’m doing what Vegas is about.

24: What makes Mr. Finley unique as an artist and different from other rappers?

I’m just trying to do everything progressive as possible. There’s a lot of people that would just rather take somebody else’s blueprint and somebody else’s swag, per say and make it their own and try to capitalize off it. I’m just trying to make sure that every time you hear me it doesn’t remind you of anyone else.

24: Your signed to Ghet-O-Vision/KAMP Wess/Def Jam. As an artist signed to a major label, do you think being signed to a major still has more weight than just being independent?

Absolutely. Even though I haven’t all the way broke through, we’re still laying groundwork right now. But at the same time, you get a certain look and more people will respect and accept what you’re trying to do and they will pay more attention to you knowing that you’re signed to a major label. Especially here on the west coast period just because there’s not a lot of deals. Deals ain’t easy to come by. If nothing else, they want to at least try to pick your brain in some way, form or fashion to figure out how to get advance themselves or the people that they mess with that can get to where everybody’s trying to get you or where you are.

24: Do you think that being signed on to Def Jam you have to live up to certain standards?

Yes, but it’s nothing less than what I’ve been doing anyway. I’ve always been a local, but I’ve never performed like I was trying to stay local. Everything that I’ve done, I’ve always considered myself competing with the powerhouse game. When I came into this game, I was ready to play with the big boys because I was already doing that in my own world. I never really tried to get into many battles and rap beefs as far as locally. That’s not what I’m about. I’m about making the best music that can possibly be made. I’m not trying to do nothing but make somebody love a song. You don’t really have to like me as a person. I’d hope that you do, because that would mean that we’re somewhat the same type of person, but if not you can’t please the world and yourself. I’m pretty sure that’s all they want me to do.

24: You just dropped mixtape later in the summer called “So Vegas, So Outrageous.” Can you go into detail about when it came out, who you worked with on it and how it all came about?

The month prior to that, I had dropped another mixtape which was The Mothafuccin Mixtape. I had got with a DJ out here and just let him host it. It was basically a basic mixtape–me freestyling to other people’s beats. I’ve been doing that out here for years. When we decided to do So Vegas, So Outrageous, I wanted it to have more of an album feel as far as using other people’s beats. I tried to get with everybody, as far as producers, that had talent in Vegas. I didn’t really reach too far outside of Vegas to get any production. There were a lot of cats that were trying to work with me, but it was a personal decision that I was keeping everything Vegas on this, because if anything hits, I want you to ask who did this and the answer will be well that’s such and such, and act from Vegas. Then in the back of your head, you’re gonna think “Damn, I didn’t know it was talent like that in Las Vegas.” And that’s my main objective–for people to say “Damn, we slept on Vegas, now let’s see what’s up with them.”

24: How did you get DJ D-Money to host the mixtape?

Well me and D-Money go way back. D-money, before he was anywhere like he is and I was anywhere like I was, was a fan of my music. Anytime he had something, I was there and any time I had something, he was there. All of my parties, he hosted and DJ’ed. Once he really got into a position where he could  do something to really help further my listening audience, it wasn’t even a question. It was like, something that was supposed to be done years ago.

24: Are you happy with the feedback you’ve been getting from the music you’ve released so far?

Oh yeah, absolutely. I’ve heard nothing negative thus far. I mean, I’ve been looking too because I’m my own worst critic. I always want to hear the negative because it could be an angle that I just wasn’t coming from or I just wasn’t looking at. At the same time, I can spot a hater a mile away. Even if I did find something negative, I’d be able to separate hate from constructive creative criticism. I’ve been looking for negative comments, but I haven’t found anything yet.

24: What are some things that concern you? Anything that you are maybe afraid of musically?

Actually, no. I can’t say that I am, I’m not afraid that people won’t like me. I’m not afraid that people won’t like my music. I’m not afraid that I wont be successful. All of that comes with anything that you love. If you want to be an entertainer, you have to be willing to do these things. You have to be willing to fail at worst. You can’t be scared to do it, because if you’re scared to do it, you’re not going to put your all into it. You’re just gonna be doing something that’s holding you back trying to play it safe, and that might be the thing that makes you fail in the first place.

24: What’s next to follow after this mixtape? When can your fans expect a full length official album from you?

Well, we’re looking to drop the full length album at the beginning of next year with Def Jam. I just my lasted mixtape called Emergency Room. It’s real sick. You can get for free online right now. Look out for it. I’m just pushing Vegas. And hopefully I can get out on the road.

24: How would the fans go about contacting you?

Hit me up on Myspace.com/MrFinleyMusic. Twitter.com/MrFinleyMusic. Facebook.com/MrFinley. That’s basically it. MrFinleyMusic, that’s what I’m pushing. Basically any social network or site, I’m there. All you gotta do is put in Mr. Finley music.

24: Thank you for providing 24 Hour Hip-Hop with this exclusive interview, do you have any last words for your present and future fans?

I hope everybody, after I do what what I do, tries to take and follows through as far as being yourself. I’m just tired of seeing so many clones. I just can’t wait to be one of these people that try to usher the art of originality back into music. Lets get back to originality.