Westleaf Staff
Dedicated to giving back to those less fortunate in his home of Oak Park in Sacramento, Mozzy is a true neighborhood hero. Today, the veteran artist shares one of his most personal project to date, Children Of The Slums, dedicated to his community and devoted to telling their stories. The new album comes along with a video for "RED NOSE BULLY," an album highlight.
Over 17 deeply personal tracks, Mozzy chronicles the hardships of those born into poverty–many of whom appear in photos on the album's cover–and details their daily trials and tribulations: "FREE JUJU" salutes a young man who lost his way, even after Mozzy took him under his wing, "MISS YOU BLOOD" mourns a close friend who grew up with Mozzy in the trenches, while opening track "DAMN" relates the story of a young dealer betrayed by a man he thought was his brother.
As Mozzy reflects on the lives on those around him, the 36-year-old rapper considers how his upbringing has affected his mindset, and how it haunts him even as he pursues his successful rap career. The album is his first since ending a year-long prison sentence, and though he missed the game while he was gone, Children Of The Slums reveals that he most regrets being less able to help his community. "EBONY FROM 12TH" finds Mozzy struggling to stay afloat under the weight of his community's expectations, and regretting his inability to attend a friend's funeral, while "TRAUMATIZED" reveals that the paranoia developed in the trenches doesn't go away with success. The album reaches one of many emotional climaxes with "LOST IT ALL," a heart-wrenching collaboration with Fridayy, whose heavenly melodies allow Mozzy to unlock secrets buried deep within.
"Growing up in the slums, we all thought that our way of life was the only one out there," says Mozzy. "We didn’t have a choice. Most people think gangbanging and being captivated by the streets is a choice, but we don’t have that choice. We’re either a victim or become victimized. Even though I was fortunate enough to escape, I still take my role as a leader in that community very seriously. Somebody dies or goes to jail, I’m the first person they reach out to. Even though my life has turned out well, I am still deeply rooted and deeply connected to the slums. It's impossible for me to fully break away."
The new album is home to previously released singles like "JADED," a heartfelt collaboration with Eric Bellinger, the lyrical "MISS BIG BRUH," and "IF I DIE RIGHT NOW," a moving tribute to Mozzy's late grandmother. Featuring additional appearances from Mozzy's longtime Oak Park associates Celly Ru and E Mozzy, Children Of The Slums is available everywhere via CMG/Interscope.
Children of the Slums tracklist:
DAMN
STILL HURT
CHILDREN OF THE SLUMS
RED NOSE BULLY
LOST IT ALL ft. Fridayy
MISS BIG BRUH
EBONY FROM 12TH
MISS YOU BLOOD
JADED ft. Eric Bellinger
LIVING PROOF ft. E Mozzy
TRAUMATIZED
LOST IN MY THOUGHTS
FREE JUJU
ACT A FOOL ft. Celly Ru & E Mozzy
I CAN'T GO OUT ft. Afira
IF I DIE RIGHT NOW
BETTER WITHOUT YOU
Children of the Slums arrives after a busy 2023 for the respected rapper. In the Fall, Mozzy released a series of high quality visuals for songs like the heartfelt "If I Die Right Now" and the retributive "Free Juju." Before Mozzy finished up a one-year bid in May, he released KOLLECT KALL, a 6-track EP featuring appearances from YFN Lucci, Baby Money, and his Sacramento associates E Mozzy and Celly Ru, and home to the acclaimed single "FREE ALL THE LIFERS." KOLLECT KALL earned coverage in Pitchfork, Rap Radar, HotNewHipHop,& Okayplayer, and more. The neighborhood hero linked up with a like-minded veteran when he appeared on Killer Mike's GRAMMY Award-winning album MICHAEL, and he kept the streets hot with singles like the flex-heavy "10 Percent" (8.8 million views).
Mozzy's next album continues his run as one of the most acclaimed and popular street rappers of his generation. He has earned two GOLD certifications from the RIAA as a lead artist–"Excuse Me" and "Sleep Walkin–and three more on his collaborations with Skylar Grey, Likybo, and $tupid Young. Mozzy earned mainstream recognition in 2018, when his song "Sleep Walkin" was featured in a pivotal scene in Ryan Coogler's Black Panther, and he earned a shout out from Kendrick Lamar in his Grammy Award acceptance speech. More recently, his street classic "Bladadah" placed #68 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best West Coast Rap Songs of All Time.
"I'm still looking out for all the children of the slums," says Mozzy. "I am there for them because I know if the situation was flipped, they would do the same for me.”
