Through the power of the internet up-and-coming rapper Milli Mars has been turning heads from coast to coast with his gritty, throwback style of southern rap. He took the time to talk with me about the team that supports him, new projects on the horizon and his love for not just his hometown of San Antonio but all of Texas.
Your album YMID is pretty impressive for a debut, the beats definitely have a darker, mid-90′s west coast “street” feel. Were you going for that sound or were there certain artists who might have influenced you to head in that direction?
We really just tried to create something that was our own, it’s something we’ve been working on for four years. We really didn’t move out of our studio to be honest with you. We weren’t necessarily going for a “street” feel, it’s just us man, everything that inspires us, from Method Man to Wu Tang to everything we love. We weren’t even going for anything in particular, we were just in there making music, trying to do the best we could, trying to create something even we would be impressed by.
Abteen Bagheri, who directed A$AP Rocky’s “Peso,” also directed your video for “The Alarm.” How did you get hooked up with him?
We actually had a meeting with the label Delicious Vinyl in L.A., and while we were there Abteen hit up Ghost Pizza and told Ghost he wanted to meet up. We all went to see Abteen together and the rest is history.
The video itself is as dark as the song would suggest, did he come up with the concept or did y’all work on it together?
It was more of the vibe him and the production team got from the music. The whole synopsis of the video was written up by Abteen, Isaac (Director of Photography) and Black (Producer), that was all them. As far as the location that was my man Ghost Pizza, the city of San Antonio showed us a lot of love, they were very open to let us do what we wanted to do.
That actually leads to my next question – your website mentions a lot about Ghost Pizza and Whiz Kidz, who are they and why are they important to Milli Mars?
Ghost Pizza is my main man, he keeps me in check. His vision is incredible and I feel blessed to be linked up with him. I actually met Ghost through my producer CJ, they had known each other for a while, Ghost had been doin his thing as far as the DJ scene and everything else. The guy’s a weird dude man, we met up and I just knew right away this guy was genuine you know? He’s all about energy, the guy’s got great energy. But Ghost Pizza is one of the guys at the forefront of this thing. Him, CJ (producer of the Whiz Kidz) and myself, that’s the triangle. We’re trying to keep this thing moving, I don’t know what I’d do without them. It’s like having a quarterback and a wide receiver, very, very strong dudes on the team.
Your album was released last fall, have you been working on anything since? Any new projects or collaborations in the works?
Well there are two tracks I can definitely talk about, one with K. Flay from San Francisco. When the album dropped and people started catching wind she hit us up on the internet, on twitter actually, saying I’m really starting to become a fan of this Milli Mars fella. I was new to her and didn’t know much about her, but she contacted me and wasn’t shy at all. From that point we both realized we had a passion for creating great music and started seeing what we could come up with. I’m also working with another female artist from L.A. Marz Lovejoy, she’s opened for Eryka Badu and Wu-Tang, another very talented young lady.
Do you have any future plans with the album? Any intentions to shop it to labels?
You might hear this said a lot, leaving it in God’s hands, but right now we’re just sitting back and letting it happen. We have a whole team – everyone has their job, everyone plays their position, everyone is hands on. This is what got us this far and in the right direction, so no we’re not trying to shop anything right now.
Would you ever consider working with a label or are you trying to keep everything within your own crew?
I’ve had this conversation with many people and in this day and age, with music the way it is, if a label came at us it’d have to be something pretty extreme for us to jump on board. That’s how I feel, we got a powerhouse already with our team. Don’t get me wrong I’m not trying to sound cocky or anything, I understand it’s still very early, but we know we love music, we know this is what we’re gonna be doing for the rest of our lives. So yea we’d prefer if there weren’t a million hands reaching in the pot, but at the end of the day I’m dealing with a whole bunch of smart, intelligent guys so I’m just trying to run with it, just focusing on the music right now.
What do you think of Austin? Is there any spot in town you have to hit up while you’re here?
Usually some steakhouse, someplace I could just roll up and get some good BBQ. But 6th street man, I can hit that up and just wile out no matter what. I love my city, I love San Antonio, but Austin is the closest thing we have to anything major so I always love being there.
The show you’re playing on Monday at Mohawk is actually a birthday party for a close friend of ours here at Knuckle Rumbler, her nickname is “Fiesta Flores” and she’s gonna be expecting one hell of a 21st, how are you gonna make sure it’s actually gonna be a fiesta and not just a typical party?
Oh man we’re from San Antonio we know how to fiesta, don’t you worry. We love Texas, we’re from here so we have to rep when we’re here. Right now this is the most important time of our careers, Lyle Cohen once said, “It’s not a matter of ifs it’s a matter of whens.” With that being said we’re all trying to stay humble, just concentrating on the music, we’re just gonna keep pushing it cause we want something potent for our city. But back to the question about the performance, I mean we’re gonna bring it man that’s why I was just talking about all that. We love this state, we love Texas period, so anything we do, especially when we’re here, I’m gonna give every last ounce of energy I got when I’m anywhere in my state. I’m gonna rip this thing in half man until the whole world knows what Texas is. Not to get it twisted, there are a lot of artists who have put on and things of that nature but we’re goin for something totally different and we have fun while we’re doin it.
What’s up for SXSW, any shows lined up?
Oh man I think we got like ten shows right now? Not sure on all the exact details but if you keep it locked on Ghostpizza.com or follow him on Twitter @GhostPizza we’ll make sure y’all know what’s up for SXSW.
I see you have a lot of TX dates coming up, any plans to tour outside of the south?
Well we’re goin back to L.A. for some business soon, may have something coming up out there, but we’re all over the board right now to be honest with you. There’s a lot in the works so we’re focusing on TX for the moment.
While doing my research for this interview I was at a coffee shop and I think I made you a new fan, this girl came over to my table while your music was playing and was stoked on it. She kept asking who you were and a lot of other questions I couldn’t answer, for people who don’t know you what would you tell them Milli Mars is all about?
Good music man. If you’re gonna do anything change the world.
Thanks for taking the time to talk with me, I know I speak for all of KR when I say we’re really looking forward to the show on Monday.
We’re all looking forward to it man, we’re gonna fuck Austin up. Get ready.
If Mars’ video for “The Alarm” is any indication of his live performance you are not going to want to miss your opportunity to catch him at the Mohawk this Monday along with Grape Street and Low Times. And don’t forget your sombrero, it is a fiesta after all.
Interview: Milli Mars:
Through the power of the internet up-and-coming rapper Milli Mars has been turning heads… http://t.co/ct9xi2pO
Interview: Milli Mars:
Through the power of the internet up-and-coming rapper Milli Mars has been turning heads… http://t.co/8AJIZQKR
Interview: Milli Mars:
Through the power of the internet up-and-coming rapper Milli Mars has been turning heads… http://t.co/Xkftflg7
Interview: Milli Mars:
Through the power of the internet up-and-coming rapper Milli Mars has been turning heads… http://t.co/DP2LR8Xr
Interview: Milli Mars:
Through the power of the internet up-and-coming rapper Milli Mars has been turning heads… http://t.co/cOHPHcKm
via @Knuckle_Rumbler Interview: Milli Mars:
Through the power of the internet up-and-coming rapper Milli Mars h… http://t.co/gZQ6q3Tu
Interview with up and coming San Antonio artist, Milli Mars http://t.co/PPJ81dY0 via @Knuckle_Rumbler
Interview: Milli Mars http://t.co/WqPWKHnM via @Knuckle_Rumbler
Interview: Milli Mars http://t.co/WqPWKHnM via @Knuckle_Rumbler
Interview: Milli Mars http://t.co/WqPWKHnM via @Knuckle_Rumbler
INTERVIEW WITH @MILLIMARS http://t.co/EgsDSBUD
INTERVIEW WITH @MILLIMARS http://t.co/EgsDSBUD
INTERVIEW WITH @MILLIMARS http://t.co/EgsDSBUD
Check out this interview with my bro @MilliMars, #Salute @whizKIDDA @IAmWhizKidMar @ghostpizza http://t.co/Aasgqcig
Check out this interview with my fellow #whizKID @MilliMars , http://t.co/LcCwObBW great reading , #whizKIDZ #Ghostpizza
Check out this interview with my fellow #whizKID @MilliMars , http://t.co/LcCwObBW great reading , #whizKIDZ #Ghostpizza
Check out this interview with my bro @MilliMars, #Salute @whizKIDDA @IAmWhizKidMar @ghostpizza http://t.co/Aasgqcig
Check out this @MilliMars interview http://t.co/EgsDSBUD
Check out this @MilliMars interview http://t.co/EgsDSBUD
Check out this @MilliMars interview http://t.co/EgsDSBUD
@MilliMars interview: http://t.co/HJ2c2wIX via @Knuckle_Rumbler. vote 'The Alarm' Best Video in the @SAcurrent awards: http://t.co/THyKbSJk.