The San Francisco Bay Area has always been a melting pot for Hip Hop culture. From E-40 to the Luniz, Mac Dre, Mac Mall, Celly Cel, C-Bo, Too Short and of course Tupac the Bay has always pushed unique talents to the surface. Even delivering in the area of female emcees like Mystic, the Conscious Daughters and Suga T. Now the spotlight is on Mo Wiley, a female rapper with model looks and gangsta flair... Born and raised in the Bay Area Wiley is stepping up to the plate to pitch her own brand of Hip Hop music... Her latest project "Major League Ballin'" takes a look at her life and gives fans the good and the bad... With a multi cultural background that includes Native American. Italian and Greek she combines life stories, past associations with drug dealers and street knowledge in her rhymes... But its not about glorifying the life its about making good music and giving back to the community in which she came... Get to know Mo Wiley...

MahoganyGirl: When did you start rapping?
Mo Wiley: I started rapping at the age of 11... For me that's when Yo MTV raps came out and people from Oakland like Too Short were buzzing. Rapping helped me deal with being an at risk youth and the many obstacles I had to overcome. I put the pain in my music and it was like therapy for me.

MG: When you were ready to become a professional artist did you find it hard for people to take you seriously?
MW: You know I tried breaking out when I was 17 and back then I found it very hard to be taken seriously. Having grown and having more experience around my belt, I have the confidence to gain the respect of the people in the business. So the answer is no I do not find it hard to be taken seriously at all, I feel that my hard work and the time I have put into my work speaks for itself. I command respect and feel I am treated like a boss.

MG: For someone that has never heard your music how would you describe your style?
MW: Gritty in your face... Tales from the hood from a female boss’s perspective.

MG: Love that... What female emcees inspired you?
MW: Queen Latifah inspired me because I always thought that she was genuine and from the heart... MC Lyte, Da Brat....there are just too many to list.

MG: How was it growing up in the the Bay Area?
MW: I was born in Oakland and raised there during my teenage years... I currently live in San Leandro it is where my children go to school and where my Grandparents lived since 1951. Growing up in the Bay was definitely dynamic, being so close to San Francisco, Lafayette, Monterrey and other cool places has been nice... But the people in the Bay, you know how you know a New Yorker by their swag, the Bay has its own swag too. For example, you know “they” are from the Bay when they say it is “hella cold.” The people in the Bay are cool, I love Oakland and San Leandro, I was lucky enough to learn about the resources my cities had to offer as a child, teenager and young adult. These differences and opportunities allowed me the success I have today... If didn't have these programs or the adults in my city and the school district that gave me life direction... I wouldn't be standing here with you now with all of these great stories.

MG: After I lived in the Bay for awhile I started saying hella.. People in L.A. didn't get it.. LOL You have a multi cultural background... How does that impact your music?
MW: Obviously its (my music) different kind of like me. People never could tell what culture I was, I didn't fit in with the other more prevalent nationalities. My brothers and I grew up with our grandparents who were more traditional and we are Native American people, that is the history and teachings I identify with most, but my great great grandmother was adopted off the reservation by my great great great grandfather Diego Archulletta. My grandmother told us stories that were past down, but it isn't like in the Bay you will go to school with other Native children, so I definitely always felt like a minority. The thing that impacts my music most is the struggle though. I think my current album reflects the challenges of a female, inner city youth, who is trying to survive in a male dominated world with a hand of bad cards, but the album that will follow will reflect a successful woman who has overcame all of those obstacles.

MG: That's great... People enjoy hearing about other unique life experiences. As a new artists what's the studio process for you like right now.. Do you write there or work at home?
MW: Its different every time... If I wake up at 3AM in the morning with a great idea then I write. If I have a studio session planned to hear a new beat and if I am feeling inspired to write then I write. I used to go to the studio, write right there and record the same day. As I am developing myself as an artist I'm trying to never record until a week after I write.

MG: You're very active in your community.. Talk about some of your projects.
MW: Currently, I'm in the development stages of both Mo Wiley's Children Foundation and For The Streets By The Streets Youth Foundation. These foundations will be dedicated to youth and at risk youth in many forms. I have also put my application in to be appointed commission of the Mayor of San Leandro in his new election. I hope to help provide programs for youth and at risk youth in San Leandro, Oakland and the surrounding cities. Also, I will be dedicating my cause to families, jobs, and small business. I will also put a youth committee together of children 14-21 years old and hope to see voters from 18-50 get involved in their city. I want to see people do well.

MG: The San Leandro position would be a bossy move... I know you're just getting started but what are some lessons you've learned about the music biz thus far?
MW: I'm always learning. The music biz is always changing and sometimes rapidly, if you are not dynamic enough to be original you will fizz out. Also you have to be seen over and over by your peers and even work with them in order to be respected in the industry, we have a running joke about internet rappers. It is also a very demanding business, sometimes you don't always get adequate sleep so a proper diet and exercise program is essential. There are few loyal people and your loyalty lies with your fans. They are the people, along with your team that make it truly possible to make it in the music biz.

MG: When it is all said and done what do want people to say about Mo Wiley?
MW: You know the most important thing is not what they say about me, because they will all have something to say good or bad. The people that know me and are close to me and of course my fans... I want them to say that I am a real person, that my goals to leave the earth better than we inherited it are genuine and that I love all people. I want my children to say above all things I gave them lots of love and was there for them when they needed me most...

Learn More About Mo Wiley Online @:
Mo Wiley.com

- [ LS ] -