DopeDrops Exclusive Interview: MTown

This shouldn’t be your first time seeing the name MTown, but if that’s the case…We’ll excuse the tardiness and put you on game. Malik Townsend is apart of the FANG alliance, a music collective that consists of seven other rappers whom all reside in Greensboro, North Carolina. He is currently working on his upcoming project, Summers Midnight Memories II and what better way to prepare you guys for the Premiere than with a little info on the artist himself.

DopeDrops: How old are you and as a child, what type of music did you hear most?

MTown: Seventeen, I’ll be Eighteen in October. When I was younger I listened to a bunch of  Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Aaliyah, Jay-Z, Dipset and a bunch of that old school R&B; “Quiet Storm” type shit lol

DD: “Generation Y” was partially dedicated to Aaliyah. Why do you admire her so much?

MTown: Because for me, her death causes mystery. Like if she wasn’t to die, what could she have accomplished. Aaliyah died young so her talent wasn’t even at its peak of development.

DD: I read where you said Max B influences you when it comes to writing hooks?

MTown: Haha, That’s Crazy. But yea, Max, at his time with Dipset was on every hook for every song. Even on Jimmy’s album, it was Max who had the most features. So it’s like he was Jim’s go-to-guy because he knew if Max “waved” on the track it would be something ill. And when I first begin to record music (which was around that same time) because of what I saw Max doing I thought Hooks are what actually made a song, which really isn’t true but yea, Max B is that nigga.

DD: Top 3 most influential albums to you?

MTown: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, Diplomatic Immunity and Late Registration.

DD: How did you become involved in FANG?

MTown: While we (J.K. The Rapper, Benny Lasco) were shooting my video for “Summer 2010” J.K. had the thought of building like an unnamed alliance because we all (everyone in FANG) had been rapping and making music with each other for years and I guess he felt it’d be much easier or impacting if we all came together and started working continuously. After he explained it all, I was down.

DD: You appeared on Oprah, tell me about that experience?

MTown: lol, Yea when I was in 8th grade, YouTube was just getting big and I was doing YouTube videos heavy and put in a video application for a Contest Diddy had and little did I know, Oprah was doing a segment on the Contest and the growth of YouTube in general. With me being the youngest contestant she took to my video I guess, found my number from one of my other videos, called me and said they’d like to use the video for the show. So I wasn’t physically on Oprah but a video of me was.

DD: You’re the owner of Gunpowder Clothing and do the apparel for FANG. What are your goals for your clothing line?

MTown: Ultimately my goal is for it to be a brand. Not a bullshit brand like Diamond Supply or anything. I’m speaking more similar to The Hundreds or any Skateboard brand. Where we have all types of accessories, we sponsor skaters etc.

DD: From my understanding you do the artwork for your projects. What other talents don’t we know about?

MTown: In a list of order I’m an Iced out Polar Bear, Graphic Designer, Director, Rapper, Film Enthusiast and ultimately an Idealist. I won’t call myself a photographer. I just happen to own an ill ass camera in which some professional photographers use.

DD: What has been the biggest challenge for you thus far?

MTown: Being Underrated. This shit sucks. lol I’m ready to travel the world and Pimp Abroad.

DD: How will your forthcoming project, Summers Midnight Memories II contrast from the Original SMMI?

MTown: The Original told a story of the summer in its entirety and all of the things it has to offer. SMMII will tell the story of ‘a day in summer’ more detailed and more insight in the day of a FANG nigga. It’ll display the FANG LIFE we talk about.

DD: Who can we expect to see on SMMII as far as collaborations go?

MTown: Right now I’ve got mostly all in house features from Ge3z, J.K. etc. But I’ve got a track for Yung Simmie, hopefully he’ll fuck with it. Producers? Robbie Theus is on there, Shamel Bryant, Simon SMTHNG, Benny Lasco and my brother Zae Mazaru.

DD: Where did your “BANG!” catchphrase come from?

MTown: When I first started recording, back in 9th grade I had realized “BANG!” flowed as an adlib on all the songs I was doing and since then I’ve been saying it. “BANG!” is how I came up with the name for Gunpowder as well.

DD: Three of your biggest pet peeves?

MTown: Loud Ass People, People who can Sing, but make stupid songs and People who ride around smoking on Keisha.

Summer’s Midnight Memories II premieres on August 25, 2012.