Today we’d like to introduce you to Mazi Milly
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, my family and I relocated to Jacksonville, FL when I was only 7 years Old. Believing we had escaped our problems in Chicago, we eagerly settled in on the North Side of Jacksonville (Sherwood Forest). I quickly learned that Chicago and Jacksonville weren’t that much different at all. We struggled for a few years, both financially and socially, trying to stay afloat as well as find our place in this new city. Instead of falling into the cycles I’ve seen time and time again, I used the pain I was feeling and turned it into art, turned it into creativity. I would start out by writing small scripts, as if I were making a short film. That then graduated to me auditioning for Disney Channel. Although I was physically in poverty, my mind wouldn’t allow me to stay there. My life changed when I met my best friend/brother Deyvid BLVD (currently a Grammy nominated engineer) at Ribault Middle School. He would be in the back of the class playing his PSP. I later discovered he wasn’t playing a video game, he was making instrumentals. We would take turns going to the bathroom to lay vocals over those instrumentals. That introduction to music changed my life, it gave me purpose in a place where I felt invisible. A few years went by and we graduated from a PSP, to actual studio equipment, setting up shop in his bedroom. Still suffering from poverty and the struggles of living in the most dangerous area of the city, we made a pact to get our families out with the art we were creating.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The Road is never smooth, it’s only the character of the person that makes it look easy.
Finding my place in a city where I only have my immediate family is tough.
Finding inspiration in a city with not many inspirational people was also hard.
Trying not to succumb to the everyday ghetto, setting yourself apart from your environment.
Being an artist, having that belief in yourself while everyone around thinks it’s just a pipe dream.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a Musician, I make music expressing how it’s like growing up on the North Side of Jacksonville. Shining light on the struggles, trials and challenges of the inner city while also motivating and inspiring those to do more.
My most popular song is “PLAYERS MUSIK” as the chorus is from the perspective of your everyday inner city civilian and the verse counteracts by expressing my personal experience. The inspiration it provides to people is unmatched, being able to influence positivity in my community is all I wanted.
What sets me apart is being myself. Im humbly a one of a kind artist. My versatility,
My story, the vision I have to help push Jacksonville to be on a level like an Atlanta or Chicago.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was a different kid. I loved music, I would listen to and write it all the time. I would get in trouble in class for writing songs instead of doing my class work. I was always an entertainer, class clownish but not obnoxious.
Pricing:
- $200 for a feature
- $500 for performances/appearances.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/mazimilly
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/27mazi?igsh=eTE2cTB2ano4ZG9x&utm_source=qr
