24hourhiphop chops is up with Mr.Smith who is out latest Next In Line. Mr. Smith is a rapper out of Oakland who is on the grind. He tells us about life growing up, his musical influences. We also learn about what projects he has been working on and some of his earlier projects. Mr. Smith also tells us about producers he has worked with, and lastly Mr. Smith tells us whats next for his career. Check out the interview below and let us know what you think!

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

 

Mr.Smith:  What's Up world?! I go by the name of Mr.Smith, A.K.A. Project Prophecy, A.K.A.The Gas Man. The Bay Area's Own, coming straight out of Oakland, California taking the game by storm. 

 

24HHH: Tell us about how you came up with your artist name.

Mr.Smith:  Well, I Started off in a group called GuneStarz based out of Oakland, CA. During that time I was known as "Young Mell". I always hung around older people through out my life, and they always told me I had a lot of maturity to me at a young age. I could hold intellectual conversations, and I was never afraid to admit when I was wrong and things of that nature. That maturity began to grow within my music, so I felt that the "Young Mell" title didn't fit me anymore. As I broke off into becoming a solo artist, I decided to change my name to my real last name, which is Smith, and I just started calling myself Mr. Smith.

 

24HHH: Where are you from, and what was it like growing up there?

 

Mr.Smith:  Im From Oakland, CA. And it's basically like growing up in Iraq If you ask me, with United States of America benefits. It's Gun Slinging, Dope Dealing, Big Pimping and Violent Activity going on everyday. I always felt that being from Oakland, but having a mindset Like Someone from the East Coast made me different. I Love My city Because if you can survive where im from, it gives You a tough shell, hard to crack by the outside world. However, I didn't want my mind to be bottled within a shell. I always knew it was something outside of home, a bigger world I wanted to see. Oakland also has good vibes too. I come from the Land of the sideshow, where you see people hopping on Public Transportation dancing their lives away. We knew how to have fun, but we knew we had to have guns as well. That's a crazy lifestyle just to live content and maintain right?

 

24HHH: Tell us your family situation, do you have any siblings? Also who predominantly raised you and how did it impact your music?

 

Mr.Smith:  I have a lot of brothers and sisters, some I still have yet to meet.I grew up with 3 half-bothers and one half-sister all in one small 3 bedroom apartment. We never saw ourselves as half siblings because we raised eachother. We are full blood If u ask us, it sounds crazy to even call them half. As far as my mom's side, we were always moving, we could never remain in one spot. But when we moved to 85th, that6s where I actually grew up at. It was hard for my mom having 5 kids being a single parent you know? So with her not being able to deal with it, I got kicked out at 14 and was forced to move with my dad on the other side of town. It took a while for me to get along with my dad. I Also have two sisters and a big brother on my dad's side. It's crazy to think, but i'm the youngest on both sides. Me and my dad could never see eye to eye on anything. We didn't really have a father-son relationship. It was more of a, "This is what i'm doing, so this is what you're doing type of thing". I eventually grew out of that and got kicked out of his house as well. I moved with my Aunt for a while, and when I was old enough I began to make my own money and hustle. I did what I had to do. It was hard to keep in contact with me, I constantly ran the streets. Truthfully, I would say i'm still moving house to house, since 14 LOL. But it's very humbling because by me being 23 now, it has a big impact on my music, and thought process. Family I grew up with i barely get to see because we all have our own lives to live. My mom moved to NC, my sister has a kid, both of my brothers are fathers now and trying to manage their livelihood. My other brother is running the streets, it's crazy but at the end of the day what can you do? It's apart of growing up. It makes me strive for greatness so I can be the one that brings my family back together. I want to do it like Frank Lucus did. Called his whole family, moved them all in one big house LoL, and give them legit jobs so they can piece up on the mortgage and kick back.

 

24HHH: At what age did you start making music?

 

Mr.Smith:  I Started rapping at 11. I Stole my big brother's rap book, took it to school and started rapping his lyrics. I loved the response I recieved. So with me enjoying what I heard, by the time I was 14 I started writing my own lyrics. I Recorded my first song at 14 called "Picture This". It was a very heart felt song to me, and every since then at 14, I was in love with music Officially.

 

24HHH: What inspired you to seriously pursue making music?

 

Mr.Smith:  Life. I felt like life was a novel, and all these stories come from daily choices and the actions of human kind. I always felt like it was something to talk about. I had something new to talk about on a day to day basis. My favorite rapper is and always will be Eminem. By me listening to his music and hearing all these emotions and expressions over a track, I fell in love with it. He never was afraid to say what he wanted to say. And I didn't want to do anything else. When I was happy I would write about it, when I was mad I would write about it, and when I was angry I would write about it. The art of expression is a beautiful thing, especially over a dope beat to vibe out too.

 

24HHH: What artists/producers have you worked with, or rubbed shoulders with?

 

Mr.Smith:  As far as producers I really keep it more in-house now. I have Poly Rob, A. Blake, and my man Bust It Benny. I Have Worked with DJ Mustard, Sorry Jaynari & Dupri of League Of Starz, and a couple other L.A. based names. As far as artists i've worked with Cali Swag District, Kendrick Lamar , Ca$hout , Detail Of Young Money, Busta Rhymez , Tech N9ne, Ty$ and a few more that I choose not to mention.

 

24HHH: Do you have any Albums/EPs or Mixtapes coming out soon?

 

Mr.Smith:  I just put out a Mixtape called "Son Them All", where im Gassing everybody's beats to show that my Lyrical Content is serious. I want people to know that this Is Hip Hop. This is a competetion and when it comes to competition im going to Son them All . Upcoming I have a Mixtape Im Putting out with a Nigerian Singer that goes by the name of Meaku.The Dude Is amazing, so be on the look out for that. And I just plan to keep blasting out tapes and visuals until I'm ready for my official tape, "AllGas: The Mixtape". I Just Got to Keep working man.

Check out Mr.Smith – #SonThemAll (Mixtape)

 

24HHH: Tell us about your newest single "Thirsty", what's the story behind it?

 

Mr.Smith:  My next single dropping is called "Thirsty" featuring My label mate Ayee Unoo and Detail Of Young Money. That came about because I wanted to tell the story of how females are as Thirsty as men are, but they swear they aren't. I just wanted to give insight on how females can be Thirsty as well.. It's a Real Good R&B feel, a Hot Club Banger.

 

24HHH: Any new travel plans, or projects in the works?

 

Mr.Smith: Yeah of course, I plan to get on some college tours, and travel to wherever they need me. To at least get started on this side of the coast, cover my region and just knock out a few shows.

 

24HHH: What is the biggest thing to happen in your career?

 

Mr.Smith: It has yet to come. I don't feel that anything big has happened yet, i'm still waiting on it .

 

24HHH: Where do you see yourself going in 2014? How do you plan to separate yourself from today's artists to get the recognition you feel you deserve?

 

Mr.Smith: I plan to make noise this year. I want people to know who I am by the end of the year and paying attention. Truthfully, I dont want to think of how i'm going to separate myself. I feel I am already separated because it's only one of me. I can only think about the vision I see, and that goes for any other artist. I Just want to keep doing me man, and hopefully being me will pay off. I Don't see myself limiting myself to being in a "Lane", I plan covering the whole free way, Swerve!

 

24HHH: Where can your fans find you? 

 

Mr.Smith:  @MRSMITHPP on Instagram and Twitter Facebook.com/Mrsmithpp New.Myspace.com/mrsmithpp  

You can watch me on youtube on my personal channel At Mrsmithtv.

 

24HHH: Any last words or shout outs you want to give?

 

Mr.Smith:  Yeah, Shout out to the whole 319 camp family is forever! I want to give a shoutout to East Oakland and my whole support system back home. Special shoutout to my nephews and nieces, my fuel to keep going . And I want to give a shoutout to 24 Hour Hip Hop, thanks for having me.