The word "ballin'" conjures up images of a world filled with life's pleasures, like big bank, dope gear, and fly women. In the thick of this lifestyle lies Mack 10, one who represents ballin' to the fullest. "Little do they know, sometimes all I'm able to do is live, breathe and eat rap music," stresses Mack.
Inglewood, CA native Mack 10 debuted in 1995 with his self-titled album, Mack 10. His first hit, "Foe Life," proved to the rap world that he had the skills to flow with the best of them. Without a pause Mack kept his grind in motion, following his gold album with a radio-only single, "Hoo-Bangin'," from The Substitute soundtrack, which sold over 300,000 copies. Meanwhile Mack 10 kept himself busy in the lab collaborating with Tha Dogg Pound, Dat Nigga Daz and Kurupt Tha Kingpin, for yet another smash single release, "Nothin’ But the Cavi Hit."
Following the successful string of chart-topping singles, Mack 10 joined in on putting another twist in the game with his involvement in the Westside Connection. Accompanied by label-mate and mentor, Ice Cube and rap cohort, WC, Mack stretched the boundaries of rap with the power-house trio's album, Bow Down.
Both records served as a high-sign to gangsta rap, but were perceived as a direct dis toward their East Coast counterparts. "West Coast artists always received the most critical reviews, the least amount of respect and always the most flack about records," Mack maintains. "So, Cube got us to really address all of these issues in the biggest way possible. And we did that."
Mack 10 has since added the title of "entrepreneur" to his list of accomplishments. In 1996, Mack One-O Productions became official. He successfully signed two important acts--AllFrumThaI and The Comrads. Mack 10 also continued business ventures with Hoo-Bangin' Records, distributed through Priority, as well as forming his own graphics company, Westsiiiide Design.
Fast-forwarding through some three years of building, Mack 10 was proud to present his album Based On a True Story, which not only expressed his personal growth as an individual, but also served as a testament to the expansion of his talent as a rapper. "I was a student of rap music before I even considered becoming an artist," Mack says, "I've found myself willing to handle my business on a different level than ever before, and inside I feel like every young black male should have this advantage. My music and stories don't stray far from what made me, but I can also see the lighter side of living a hard life. And I never forget the things that are important to the same people that live the way I've lived."
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