Feel My Pain. Feel My Sorrow.
How does one determine success? In a genre chock-full of mediocrity, it seems that record sales and ring-tones have not only dominated the way business is conducted, but it has begun to overshadow the importance of ones artistic expression. If the rumors are true, and Hip Hop is indeed dead, one of its resurrectionist once again resides in the borough of Brooklyn. With an impressive catalog boasting underground classics such as, Behind These Bars II and Broken Shackles, Mugsy has officially arrived and has been recognized as one of Hip Hop’s best up and coming talents.
His days behind the mic began where it should, in the basement of an old apartment building back in 2003. It was nothing extravagant, just a man and his passion, and with his best friend by his side the extremely low budget album was completed. The aforementioned album, entitled 81, quickly began the rumors that the little kid from 3rd Street can flow and a follow up album, quickly finished in 2004, further proved that notion. Transforming himself into a dominant battler, he quickly established himself as a force on the streets of Brooklyn. Over a span of 2 years he posted an impressive record of 28-2 and even added two tournament victories to his credit. Once more the people began to notice as he quickly garnished the respect from his peers.
However, haunted by the skeletons in his closet and his troubled past, tragedy began to surround the MC. The death of his closest friends reached the boiling point back in 2005, totaling in 4 deaths in as many years. Mugsy however refused to fall and allowed those moments to define him rather than destroy him. Off the strength of his street knocking single, Crooked, he garnished the attention of numerous management teams back in 2005. It seemed as if Wu Tang Management was willing to take the chance on a 19 year old MC, but the business relationship never flourished.
Later that year his failures in the music business carried over to the classroom and his academic probation forced him out of college and into the armed forces. It seemed as if enlisting in the United States Navy in 2006 provided the necessary spark needed to once again pursue his dreams. In the summer of 2007 Mugsy completed his third album, Back To Brooklyn, and followed it with a series of mixtapes in the summers of 2008 and 2009. The success of his projects can be measured by the number of downloads and visits to his website, a number currently in the thousands. He wouldn’t stop there and from the grimiest of clubs to the bright lights of the Source Unsigned Hype Tour, Mugsy took his act on stage while continuing to fulfill his contractual duties to the United States Navy. From 2008-2009 he performed in numerous cities such as Norfolk and his hometown of New York.
After 4 years of service, Mugsy has finally returned home to the borough that raised him and for the first time in 3 years released a solo album to the masses. The critics are not misguided in their assessment of the Costa Rican MC and are even beginning to take notice. Bill Wilcosky raves, “It’s all about attitude with this genre of music and this guy has got it.” Steve Gilmore adds, “It is to 4th Down and Mugsy’s eternal credit that they let the music breath beneath their rap. In my honest opinion good rappers take the heightened tension and spew it out as lyrical bullets aimed at the center of your brain, making a relentless, unstoppable force. This is exactly the kind of Hip Hop that should be better heard and understood.”
Never satisfied, the formation of 4th Down Records finally allowed him to take the role of an executive, one that prides himself on overseeing the creation of not only successfully distributed material, but respected artistic expression. Since 2007 he has executive produced three albums and recently added an old childhood friend to his labels roster. Following the phrase “Sky’s The Limit” from the late Brooklyn Icon Notorious BIG, Mugsy is no longer chasing a dream; he’s living it one day at a time.
“You fight for your block, I Bleed for my Borough.”
