Today we’d like to introduce you to Prana (Thomas) Self (Stowers).
Hi Prana (Thomas), we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I moved to Jacksonville, Florida from Tampa, Florida in 2011. I was 19 years old. Coincidentally this was right as the lyricist Live got it start. I was at a point in my life where I had discovered the idea of the old saying there’s nothing new under the sun to me; This meant that there were like-minded individuals out there doing what I wanted to do, and therefore, I only needed to find them and help continue building what was already established, this led me to the lyricist live where I met Mal Jones. We ended up having a conversation that revealed our paths had crossed for a reason specifically he showed me a YouTube video he created involving the coral Castle, which is also the name of his entertainment company by 2016 I had become Mal Jones first state funded folk apprentice under the division of historical resources for the state of Florida. We have done the lyricist live the first Wednesday of every month since 2011 he has brought me to meet nearly all of my hip-hop idols and helped me shape a better understanding of life as a whole. I can truly say he’s one of my big brothers. Nowadays, we are continuing to do as we always have and now as of the last four years I have added competing in martial arts with Arnett Sport Kung Fu and Traditional Wing Chun i have won under belt grand champion and black belt national champion in point sparring. Mal Jones plays an integral part in documenting much of my accomplishments and is someone who I’m quick to reach out to for advice in all fields of life. I have mainly been a featured artist outside of the lyricist live and I’m currently working on a solo project. I plan to release sometime in the near future my stage name as a featured artist is MC gravity. I’m sure you can find some of my features on any streaming platform, including a fun EP I did called Righteous weapon based on the lethal weapon movies with my good friend Oktane who is the head of a music group called Saba Sun. I am a sales representative and estimator for one of the largest general contractors in north east Florida. I am getting married on 11-11-25. Part of what makes me who I am is the tribulations I have faced .
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There’s never really a smooth road is there it is Life we’re talking about so there’s always been struggles, especially with dealing with other people betrayals those looking for opportunities to take advantage of regardless of how others are affected. You know the typical stuff on top of that the loss of family and loved ones . For starters I lost my half brother Noah Hughes in 2011 he was in a fatal motorcycle accident. In 2018 I lost my step dad in a four wheeler accident he was married to my mother by the time I was two years old and raised me as his own. One thing that has always been solid and consistent is my relationship with Mal Jones. he is my best friend and one of my greatest mentors. Figuring out my own issues and dealing with them was by far the most important thing in this process of growth and development over the years. By far the biggest hurdle was always doing this with little to no financial support we did it mostly out of our own pockets and whatever donations patrons put in our tip bucket.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
For almost 15 year’s I have been with the lyricist live a hip hop event that’s an open mic cipher built to emulate how rapping and free-styling started when hip hop took its form. Improvised rhyming and live performance and being a master of ceremonies is both what I’m most proud of and what sets me apart from others. Also we do this without cursing. In 2016 I became Mal Jones first State funded apprentice by the Florida Folk life Foundation and was documented and archived by the state of Floridas division of historical resources. I also am a black belt tournament national champion in point sparring for martial arts and teach at Arnett Traditional Wing Chun & Sport Kung Fu association under Grandmaster Anthony Arnett. I have married the two arts into my life.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
It has to be when I was young and first started rapping. my friends and I would sit in between the dining room and living room of my parents house and use the big tall house speakers. They had a pretty nice sound system. They liked to dance and listen to music. They were pretty young parents too Anyways they would let us have rap ciphers just like we have at the art walk nowadays, but with no microphone, I think it got to the point we drove my parents mad enough they made us set up a stereo in the garage where we would practice graffiti on a huge piece of plywood We secured to the garage wall. In my memory. It feels like we were there everyday for a few summers. we were in there until late at night some of those people that were in there with us are no longer with us today like my friend Brandon who we called BG. He loved to freestyle and passed away a few years ago. I know he would be so proud to see all that we’ve accomplished out here in Jacksonville and would’ve loved to have come out and rap with us.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pranaself
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Selfstowers
