SBF: Take us back to when you were first began to emerge, what was it like for you?
M: It felt good. When I first started seeing people respond to my music, especially on a street level, it felt really good.
SBF: Did notice any change in the relationships between you and those closest to you?
M: Any true friend I ever had- is still in my life. If someone is no longer in my life it's because they never were a true friend. Most of my friends have been around prior to me making music. Our relationships were built not on music, but on love and growth.
SBF: There's a song on the album dedicated to Tupac- called "Letter to Pac." Many of Tupac's struggles centered around poverty and being a young black male in a America. What is your message to the youth of America today, particularly, young black males?
M: My message to young black males is that you can do whatever you want. If you believe in yourself, you can achieve anything. Look at Obama: He's the president. You don't have to be a rapper; you can be better than a rapper, but it starts with you. I want people to know that big things can happen and dreams do come true. Look at me for example- I'm a dude that went from having nothing to something right before your eyes.
SBF: Going back to Barack Obama, what effect do you think his presidency will have on Hip Hop, particularly the hard-core element?
M: If gives the average black child, young black teen, young black male a sense of pride. It's like, Wow, look at what Obama just did. I know many people who feel good being able to live to see this. A lot of our relatives and grandparents didn't live to see this. More than anything, Obama's presidency- will make rap artists have more hope.
SBF: Your new hit single, "All The Above," was produced by Just Blaze and features T-Pain. How did you come to work with them?
M: I told Just Blaze, I needed a smash! You know, coming off the success of "Hi Hater," I needed a smash record. So, we jumped down and put the song together. After I laid vocals, I said to Just, We need to get T-Pain on here. We made the call and he was right there.
SBF: I understand that Hustle Hard Entertainment, your company, started Hustle Hard Publishing, which released its first book last year, "Gangstas Dont Die " written by your brother, Mouse. Briefly, can you explain what the book is about?
M: It's an urban tale about a young dude coming up in the crack era. He loses his father and grows up on the streets of Brooklyn. It's for any fan that likes to read urban novels. There is definitely a fan base, a circle of people who enjoy reading these types books, Hip-Hop, urban novels. It's a great book.
SBF: You have a mix tape set to be released in late February- called "Black Flag City." What can you tell us about it?
M: More or less, I'm just showin' people how we do it in Brooklyn, givin' em a soundtrack to a thug's life.
SBF: The Notorious B.I.G.'s debut album, Ready to Die, was autobiographical, would you say the same is true for your album? What kind of story are you telling with, If Tomorrow Comes?
M: It tells the story of me getting out of prison and making the transition to a full-fledged artist. I rap about everything I had to go through to make this happen, from being in the streets to having beef [grudges], to having a child, baby momma-drama, life in general. I rap about holding on to a dream and making something better.
SBF: Do you feel that beef is inevitable? How does beef play a role in your career?
M: I don't shy away from it. I don't necessarily look for it. You'll never see me out there looking for opportunities to beef. I'm a man and I have convictions. I speak my mind but at the same time, I'm aware that for every action, there's a reaction and I'm accountable. I'm capable and prepared to deal with anything that has to do with beef. I'm ready. But what's more important than anything, is music. I'm working to establish myself as a legitimate artist. There was a time where you heard the name- "Maino" - and all you thought about was beef. Now, after the success of "Hi Hater," I've been coming with a lot of quality music; I'm going to change people's opinion. End of Interview.
