Mozzy

Timothy "Mozzy" Patterson^[1] is an American hip hop artist from Sacramento, California who works with Livewire Entertainment, Empire Distribution, and Blackmarket Records.^[1][2]

Mozzy started rapping in 2004 under the name Lil' Tim,^[1] before changing his stage name to Mozzy in 2012. He received little notoriety until his 2015 album Bladadah which was ranked the 22nd best rap album of 2015 by Rolling Stone^[3] and which gave him the "best run" of 2015 according to Complex Magazine.^[4]

Career

Mozzy first began rapping at age 11 alongside his uncle Genaro "GP the Beast" Patterson, who would later collaborate with the likes of Suge Knight and others on the 2004 Death Row compilation album Too Gangsta' For Radio.^[1]

Lil' Tim

In 2010, under the stage name "Lil Tim", Mozzy released a single titled "U Ain't Really Like 'Dat", his first music release as a full-time musician.^[4] On August 2, 2016, Mozzy released Lil' Timothy N Thingz, a collection of songs recorded in 2008 while he had still been known as "Lil' Tim".^[5]

Collaborations

Mozzy's first notable collaboration was with an industry executive, DJ Fresh, who produced Mozzy's 2013 album The Tonite Show.^[4] On Mozzy's third solo album, Goonbody Embodiment, he collaborated with Oakland rapper Philthy Rich, on the track "I'm Just Being Honest", which caused a longstanding controversy.^[6] In December, Compton rapper YG released a single titled "City Mad" featuring Mozzy and associate "Slim 400" leading up to the release of his album, Still Krazy.^[7] In 2016, Vallejo rapper Nef the Pharaoh released the album Neffy Got Wings, featuring a track with Mozzy called "Devil's Team".^[8]

Solo work

Mozzy's solo albums, such as Bladadah, are his largest success. He released his first solo album in 2011 under the title Money Means Mozzy and had released 10 other albums by 2016.

In 2015, Mozzy was recognized by Complex magazine for having the "best run of 2015",^[4] and by Rolling Stone for having the 22nd best rap album of 2015.^[3]

In 2016, Mozzy moved from Sacramento to Los Angeles, California and released the album Gang Related Siblings, featuring his fellow Oak Park native and Mozzy producer June.^[9]

Mozzy's 2016 album "Mandatory Check" reached no. 7 on the Billborad Rap Albums chart.^[10]

Early life

Mozzy grew up on 4th Avenue, in Sacramento's Oak Park neighborhood.^[11] Mozzy's mother was a crack cocaine addict and his father was incarcerated, so he was raised by his grandmother Brenda Patterson-Usher, a Black Panther party member, who owned several homes throughout Oak Park.^[12] Mozzy attended Sacramento High School, but eventually dropped out and earned a GED. He worked various local jobs until he decided to pursue his music career full time in 2010.^[1]

Lavish D beef

In March 2014, Mozzy released a track called "I'm Just Being Honest" which sparked a feud with local rapper Lavish D.^[6] This started with an ambush by Lavish D's "Starzup" gang on March 15 of an associate of Mozzy's from Oak Park at the Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento.^[6] Eight shootings followed, which the Sacramento Police department found to be linked by the original incident between the two gangs.^[6]

Legal issues

Between 2005 and 2008, Mozzy was arrested three times by the Sacramento Police for possession crimes, including illegal possession of a firearm and evading police. He was arrested again in 2014, and served a sentence in San Quentin State Prison,^[1] during which his cousin and colleague E Mozzy released the album Free Mozzy. After leaving penitentiary, Mozzy decided to focus solely on his music, releasing four solo albums in 2015.^[4] Despite receiving offers to perform across the nation and worldwide, Mozzy was unable to leave the state of California until 2017 due to being on probation.^{[1] [13]}

Discography

Albums

"1UpTopAhk" (Mozzy) August 18

Guest appearances

• 02. "Money" (with E-40 & Jay Rock) on The D-Boy Diary: Book 2

References

1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "From the streets to stardom: Is Sacramento rapper Mozzy the next big thing?". sacbee. Retrieved 2016-03-15. 
2. ↑ http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/03/mozzy-deal-epic-atlantic/
3. 1 2 "Mozzy, 'Bladadah'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 March 2016. 
4. 1 2 3 4 5 David Drake (16 December 2015). "Sacramento Rapper Mozzy Had the Best Run of 2015 - Complex". Complex. Retrieved 18 March 2016. 
5. ↑ "Lil Timothy n' Thingz (2008 Era) by Mozzy on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2016-08-23. 
6. 1 2 3 4 "Sacramento News & Review - Sacramento struggles to understand its 'hybrid' gang problem as social media sparks local beefs - News - Local Stories - April 10, 2014". Sacramento News & Review. Retrieved 18 March 2016. 
7. ↑ "YG Releases Two New Songs "Goapele Freestyle," & "City Mad"". Vibe. Retrieved 18 March 2016. 
8. ↑ "Nef the Pharaoh Is Taking Off: Listen to His New Mixtape with Cardo, 'Neffy Got Wings' | NOISEY". NOISEY. Retrieved 2016-03-17. 
9. ↑ http://www.thefader.com/2016/08/10/mozzy-bladadah-sacramento-interview
10. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/6791715/mozzy/chart?f=324
11. ↑ "Sacramento gangster rapper Mozzy is now one of the music industry's most wanted commodities - Feature Story - Local Stories - March 17, 2016". Antioch News & Review. Retrieved 2016-03-17. 
12. ↑ "Who the Hell Is Mozzy, the Antioch Rapper Who Has the Whole West Coast's Attention?". NOISEY. Retrieved 18 March 2016. 
13. ↑ http://www.passionweiss.com/2017/01/17/mozzy-interview/

External links

• Official website