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When it comes to keeping the party going, we know that Mobstyles will do the job! This duo is no amateur to the rap industry. They bring the old school mixed with the new school. Be sure to check out more below on who they are and what they have coming up next.
Tell me in a few words, who you are. How would you describe yourself in a short story.
Mobstyles is an emerging hip hop duo originating from Hampton, VA. ERIAZ and JD are two very dynamic people as individuals but, together, they provide lyricism, charisma, and passion that is both cohesive and powerful. They define the name Mobstyles as a group of collective individuals who are compelling on their own but choose to come together as a family to reach the goals that they choose to set forth. Truly embodying the “mob like” spirit.
What’s your stage name and how did you come up with it?
Mobstyles : It’s a representation of who we are we have a mob mentality but we are two individuals that have different styles
What got you into music?
We initially started to get serious during the pandemic. We felt trapped and alone so the way we could express ourselves adequately was into music. It allowed us to be creative and push ourselves to do something that was more than about us.
What was life like growing up?
Life growing up in the 75’ is like any other place, there are good times and there are bad times. Even in the bad situations, the type of personality that we have and the people we surround ourselves with, allows us to experience life a little bit more positively. At the end of the day, it's all about the lessons you learned and how you apply them to your future.
Who is your inspiration? What keeps you going to get up daily and put effort into your music career?
Our inspiration is each other. We help push each other to inspire one another everyday to be our better selves. Also our family friends help with that aspect also causing us to have to be held accountable for the good things and the things we need to work on.
What is your creative process like? What is the meaning behind your current single?
ERIAZ - It starts with the inspiration I get from the world and life . Then I mentally get into a zone where I lock in. I usually try to exclude myself from outside distractions. I begin to relate the inspiration to my life and the rest is history.
JD.MC -For me, I first try to understand the story the track is telling and how my perception of reality fits within it or what it sparks creatively. After that I listen for possible flow patterns and that's usually when the pen starts writing.
Our current single is called “Back Up” . Sometimes in life you have to tell a person to back up. Doesn't matter who the person is or what the situation looks like. if you don't like the way someone in your space tells them back up. If you don't like the way someone is talking to you, tell them to back up.
What is the name of the current single/ep/album that you are pushing? Do you prefer people to buy it or stream? And why?
The single we’re pushing right now is “Back Up”. You can buy it or stream as long as you listening to it.
With the industry changing so much, would you stay indie or sign to a label? Why and why not?
We have varying opinions on that I (JD) do see the benefits of being indie to build your name on your own but I do see the allure to signing to a label cause it can build you a legacy that you might not have. I know a lot of big names that were signed to a label and went indie but the label could be the make or break if it's beneficial to the artist. Currently my mindset (ERIAZ) is to stay independent and that is because I was raised by entrepreneurs, my dad being one of them. Making my own content and pushing it out myself is something that is very rooted inside of me. I'm not against signing to a label if everything is right.
Do you feel like the music industry has went down since the pandemic? Why or why not? Were you affected by the pandemic with music or everyday life?
I (ERIAZ ) definitely think the creation of music went up because a lot of people had more time to make more music, including us. It gave me space to create and do things other than what I was normally used to. I wasn't necessarily affected in everyday life in the pandemic because during that time I was in basic training for the military but in music, yes. I (JD) don't think the industry went down in the slightest. I agree with ERIAZ. I believed it flourished in some aspects. My music began to take character more because I was around myself a lot and started to understand who I was. I lost my job a couple times and was going through a few things with my family and relationally that caused me to have to reflect on who I was and what I was doing.
If you were given a chance to sit down and have a business dinner with a celebrity who would it be and why?
JD: Kim Kardashian because her and her brand is a very powerful and mogul group in different social media platforms and how they figured out the different algorithms and brandings.
ERIAZ: Kobe Bryant and how he approached life and basketball. I could really use that to look at life in a different way and improve the things that are going on inside my life.
How do you balance everyday life tied into your music career?
ERIAZ: I like to say it's extremely hard. We're still working on it and as the days go on we're learning how to balance it between work and more work.
JD: I find it beneficial to use my calendar and plan the night before anything happens. It helps ease the “oh shit” feeling. Instead of trying to figure out if I have a performance today. It helps me schedule my day to day an hour by hour to do certain things.
Tell me about your most memorable moment in your career
JD: The first DJ Waffles show in Atlanta. Everything lined up, great energy from us, the audience. We performed really good and everything just felt right.
ERIAZ: During the creation of basic files I had all my friends around me which is what I needed at the moment. It made me extremely happy
What style of music do you prefer to make? Would you ever try a different lane?
ERIAZ: I don't feel like it's a certain type of music I try to make, I just do what makes me feel good and try not to be close minded. I want to make sure that expand in my music and try to take and learn from all genres
JD: I’m a rapper first and foremost. I pride myself on my ability to make my sentences in rhyme form and paint a picture with words. I'm also an MC so no matter where I am you can give me a mic and you can expect to be entertained.
Do you have a celebrity crush?
ERIAZ: doja cat
JD: pinky xxx
What are you currently working on and what is next for you?
The whole world is next. We call it “The Takeover”. We have the next 6 months planned out. One of our artists, EMP, just dropped an EP. ERIAZ got stuff coming and JD got stuff coming.
When it comes to fashion, what's your dressing style ?
JD: Crocs and Sweatpants
ERIAZ: I’m a fashionable guy so if I like it or think it'll look good with what I'm wearing, I'll put it on. (at a reasonable price)
What is your creative process like and who inspired you to make music?
Our late brother Luis inspires us to make music. The creative process comes in different forms for us. It sometimes can be randoms spurts of creative inspiration or something can happen that makes us want to create.
If you could open up for one celebrity who would it be and why?
JD: Wu Tang because our energy and ability to perform matches them on many levels. I also want smoke with method man
ERIAZ: J Cole because he's my favorite artist but I think the music we create will resonate with his audience too.
MOBSTYLES: Outkast
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Peace and Blessing to all of you , we love you and want you to know it's only up from here.
Go stream their music ! https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mobstyles/1531433455