Mac is more than 1 person. Mac is more than a rap name or “stage name”, as some people call it. Mac represents the city that the people of struggle come from. Maclay is the name of the main Avenue in the City of San Fernando (which is where his rap name Mac originated). Another young California kid growing up on the side of town known for it’s crazy streets and gang life. Mac isn’t just a person who gets in the booth and spits a dope verse or a person who gets onstage to perform. Rapping is a part of it yes but Mac is a movement. What started out as a vision, Mac has become a brand .
Always having a strong passion for music, not once expecting it to be his dream, until it happened. At 19, he left the everything he knew behind in order to persue his dream with music. What happened next was amazing.
At the age of 21, Mac released his first project titled “Rookie of the Year: The Fixtape”. With the release of this project, he started to generate a buzz quickly in his community and surrounding area. In June of 2015, Mac released his second project titled, “Dirty Business: The Mixtape” and followed up with “Dirty Business 2” on Christmas day of 2015.
Now working on several new projects, Mac has found a new side of music.Along with his Mission City Music imprint, Mac joins founder and CEO Michael “Bossman” Landry Jr of One Life Entertainment Musc Group. A connection that was brought together by one of Macs relatives. With so many new doors opened, it’s just all a blessing for Mac. Before, he could only listen to the music, now he creates it. Feel his pain as he takes you through his life and tells his stories of growing up.
Blessed by all opportunities available, Mac is the best underground artist coming up! There is no question about that. The only question is, when will his time come and are you ready?
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW:
So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Mac: Man. Where to begin. I grew up in California. Originally born in East LA and raised the first 4 years of my life in South Central and Watts. Once I was maybe 5 or so, my mom had to move into my grandma’s home in the valley. San Fernando to be exact. So San Fernando become the only thing I knew. Its what I learned. What I grew up into. Just another little city known for very little bit of good, and a whole lot of bad.
Growing up not once did it come to mind that I wanted to an artist. I just always loved poetry. I was 14 years old, sitting at the Barry Juvenile Hall in Sylmar reading poetry. At the time we had a staff named Mr. Quintero. We called um Q. He was an old school cat that always listened to oldies. He played on oldie song as I read my poem over the beat. It was then that I thought I could do it. I still stood in and out the juvenile system til I was 18 years old. at that point I still had never recorded a song. I had to leave the city or be stuck in the cycle of street life. So I left. Moved to Washington wit my cousins, Irma and Raymond. I wrote my first song and Raymond took me to a local studio. I stood so in love wit the fact that it was me putting my all into these beats. And here I am today. Blessed..
How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Mac: Well I was already making songs and still didn’t have a name. I always have had love for my city, even when it didn’t love me back. so I felt there was no better thing to do then name myself after the main Avenue in the city of San Fernando, which was Maclay Ave. That is where I got the name Maclay. Just recently I made the decision to cut it to Mac. The inspiration of me taking the name Maclay was only to put my city on. I just wanted the people to feel like they had someone to represent them. And just because the name is cut short doesn’t mean I am not here for the peeps. its why I do it. To touch someones heart, change someones mind about real music not existing anymore.
What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Mac: I have done lots of online music sharing. it was actually my main source for reaching out to people. In today’s world, everyone has a social media account and spends some part of their everyday life on it. So if you were smart enough you could put 1 and 1 together and figure out that online is the place to share your music. Me personally, Id rather walk into a record store and buy the CD I’m looking for..
There have been a few times ive given away music for free. I actually have all my projects online now. All up for free download. Its only free if you put in the time to find it. I can def meet up n sell a few CDs or let people know Ill be in a certain place so they can meet me.
I don’t think that I will be giving away too much more music. We have been investing into doing everything original, wit visuals, great promo and a lot more behind the scenes investments. Just trying to give the people a better product that they feel is worth their money. So you need to give them the best
Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Mac: Never listen to the doubters! the nay sayers! The haters always finna hate. But remember these niggas only hating cuz you doing shit they wish they was doing. Making moves they wish they was making. And no matter what, you always need music!!!
YOU CAN NOT PUSH OUT MUSIC YOU HAVEN’T MADE! You need to have the product. And once you get your train going and niggas start seeing you, DONT STOP! Keep pumping out the music. Its easy to make a song, but can you do an entire project? Once you do an entire project, can you follow up with another? Its all about work n dedication.. Simple..
Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Mac: Maaan. Depends on the mood I’m in. I’m the type of person to be happy one second and then emotional the next. Yes I cry. Yes I smile. Yes I party. Its just most the time my music is a story of some sort. I like to tell visual shit. Shit that niggas could see a video to in there head with out a music video. And most of the songs I’ve ever written, have been personal experiences.
The song writing process doesn’t consist of any order in particular. Sometimes the hook come first. sometimes its the verse. It all depends on whatever ideas come first and piecing it together the write way. I have written out verses that ended up as the hook and I have written hooks that I add to and they become verses. Its all of matter of placement. its like a puzzle. a puzzle i can never fail at!
Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Mac: I actually do. I have a website in which you can download all projects I’ve done, including my first full project titled, “Rookie of the Year.” (www.macmissioncity.bandcamp.com)
I have also used Youtube, Soundcloud, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.. Basically anything that allows me to share my talents with the world.
If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Mac: A half a million!! Don”t play wit me. First thing is first, momma been through too much.. I’m making sure momma straight.
Then I’m making sure my lil man eating good n living right. But a year off is too long for me.. I cant imagine having a year off! What I can imagine is that in that year, my momma straight, my son is good and me sitting in the studio. Cuz I cant have a year off til retirement!
How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Mac: Best way I promote my music is online. I have even gone far enough as to walk the streets and hand out flyers and sell CDs and things like that. Take it back to when social media wasn’t available. The days where you had to grind 10 toes down to get heard. The thing that has worked best for me though, is knowing the people. When they stop and ask for a pic, you don’t just take a pic and leave. you let them know how much they mean and how honored you are for them to be your fan. Its a blessing. you have to share the blessings. with those who deserve to be blessed that is.
So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Mac: Sooo many big moves being made right now. I have a couple of up coming projects. Actually 3.
I have been blessed to meet certain people opening certain doors for me and I have been working so hard to make things possible.
A lot of people, if not most know me for my gritty street music but I tried doing something fresh different. Thanks to my guy Mitch Weary AKA M-Status we were able to put together an amazing RnB Collaboration project! And thanks to all the hard work, we will be releasing the project, which is titled “No Strings Attached” within the next couple of months! We are shooting music videos, photo-shoots doing it all!!
The man behind all the work, Mr Michael “Bossman” Landry, CEO and Founder of One Life Entertainment Music Group has been a big piece in assisting! Blessed to be able to be a part of One Life and collaborating with Michael and Mitch to make something great happen
If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Mac: Hahahaha.. Maaan. To be honest, I’d probably be in jail. I mean the streets is really all I knew. So moving away from the city and starting a new life 2 states away was hard. I went from stealing $1,000 in a couple seconds to making $350 a week. It was a huuuuuuge difference. There is no doubt in my mind I would be in jail right now..
How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Mac: Its hard. I have a son and I always feel so bad getting home from working all day to shower and leave. And when I go my son cries because he wants to come wit me. But daddy gotta work. I just hope that when time comes he knows I’m trying my very best to balance my family, my music and my job. Because my job is where i spend the most time and its the place I least like to be. But my sons gotta eat, bills gotta get paid and I gotta work. I just refuse to give up on my dreams to help my boss make his dreams come true. yes, right now Im helping build his company, But I want to own my own, not work for his my entire life. Got goals then push. Cuz if i don’t, who will.
What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Mac: Its a great year. we have some very exciting new music! Different an definitely something all the radio stations are gong to want to get there hands on. We have music videos, photo shoots, shows.. We will be attending certain events and blessed to be invited. I’m blessed and humbled by the love so I’m happy that we have been working hard for the people of music! Stay tuned!
