As Moz enters the next chapter of his career, he wants nothing more than to inspire those around him. The CMG signee spoke to XXL about the creative process behind his new album Children of the Slums and how his life has changed since his release from prison.
Motz was unexpectedly incarcerated in 2022 when authorities pulled him over in Culver City, California and found a loaded Glock 26 pistol and 16 rounds of ammunition in his car. The 36-year-old Sacramento rapper was charged with federal firearms charges and served 10 months at the U.S. Penitentiary in Atwater before being released early in May 2023.
The timing of his incarceration could not have been worse. Mozzy’s career was beginning to take off after he signed a lucrative contract with Yo Gotti’s CMG record label. He was on tour, “making new money,” as he put it, and his time in prison brought all his motivation to a screeching halt. To make matters worse, he discovers in prison that he has become a father.
“Of course, it was frustrating,” Mozzy told XXL of the experience. “I take full responsibility for my rights and my mistakes, so as long as I take responsibility, I understand the consequences that come with it. I know what to expect before the label, so I try to transition in a positive way. I try to keep It goes down.
When Mozzy was released, there was barely any buzz. Neither he nor his team made an official statement following his release. There’s no “First Day Out” track of any nature to announce Mozzy’s return, he didn’t want to glamorize his time in prison in any way, and that applies to his music as well. In “Ghetto Kids,” Moz barely speaks while he’s inside, choosing instead to write inspiring street stories for people in and around the community, “giving a voice to the voiceless,” he reveals.
“I’m not one to brag about my L,” Moz said. “I feel like that’s a big L, but everything happens for a reason and I used it to my advantage. Sitting down, reflecting, and making some new material, that’s what Ghetto Kids is.”
Mozzy also shared some thoughts on an issue that everyone is concerned about recently: Kendrick Lamar’s feud with J. Cole and Drake. He noted that Cole’s apology was respectable in his realm of lyrical hip-hop, but added that in some areas of rap an apology is still unacceptable.
Watch the full conversation with Mozzy below, where he talks about fatherhood, shares his thoughts on apologies in rap, and talks about how Ghetto Kids has changed over time.
