 I'm gonna take this shot for you, put me up some Hennessy. You know I wish the best. So we're on a new episode of Talk of the Town. Today we have a special guest, Lil Mook from Philly. So what part of Philly you from? Top side aisle and second and champ floors to be exact. Okay, so tell us about how it is over there. Like, how was it growing up for you? How was it growing up for me? It was real like, you know, just let me say it was like a life lesson, like growing up cause everything you do is just be like, you live and you learn. Like, now I ain't gonna say it's the most terrorist place on the planet, but when you were actually living in that environment, like, you start to really see shit firsthand. So like, yeah, it was difficult, it was trenchers. Like, that's how I'm just gonna say it, like, every day. Like, you know, people who live in Philly, you know, they talk about, they talk about like what's going on. Yeah, most of the artists are from Philly. Yeah, like they talk about how it is. And then, you know, we all got similarities. But you know, I ain't trying to compare my story to nobody else's, but all I can say is it had been rough and growing up. Like, you definitely learned a lot. Okay, so what was like one experience, I guess you learned that stuck with you for life? It's probably a lot, but one that you remember, like, I'm never gonna forget it. Don't put all your trust in nobody. Okay, so what's your earliest memory of music? Like, how did you get into music? Like, was your mom playing music or? Yeah, I got into music early because my mom was so hooked on it, like she would be playing music when she cook or clean or like even driving like, and I'm just in the world, like she always played like old R&B soul. So like growing up, I would be listening, but then I got hooked on the hip hop real early because you know, we a new era, a new generation. So like, when I heard that rap and I heard things that I couldn't actually see in front of my mom, it's a whole different vibe, like you were in a kid's mind and you just, you know, you're somewhere branched off, like no parents, no nothing, like everything is rated R now. All kids, yeah. So when I seen the lifestyle that most artists live today, I like just, I just always like admired it. I wanted it, so that's where it went. Okay, so who was you listening to growing up? Like, who was some people that inspired you, especially in the music scene? Um, for one, Biggie Smalls, like I always big fan of him. Okay. Oh, like I wasn't a big fan of whole music. Like I love, I definitely, I just love his character. Oh good. You know what I'm saying? Like he always had that mentality. Okay. But, and Meek was also an inspiration, like definitely like coming up and feeling you see a lot of Meek. And like I said, I was in love with that lifestyle. Meek always had a spotlight in the city. So when I seen that, it just really, like, you know, it kind of gave me that boost. Cause I knew it was possible. Okay, okay. So when did you know like music was for sure you like, was it like when your friends told you? No, I knew when I first started writing. Like I knew when I first like, started me my first rap. Like I ain't have to hear about- You remember your first rap? No, I don't. That's what I'm saying. But it's like, I always knew I was better. Like I always knew I was better than like night. Like I always knew I was better than yesterday. I always knew I was like- Okay. The hottest hour. So you always practice, man? Was he always writing? Yeah, I was like, when I was a young boy, I always used to write. Like I always used to write, like it don't matter what it was. Cause you know, like my mom, she tried to be real strict on this and real hard on this certain shit. I like, I monitor around and like, she wouldn't allow us to curse. So now I'm writing raps and I got a bunch of curse words in it. Oh, so you didn't have to read it? Yeah, I'm not in the house rehearsing them up and down the steps. God, I know my mom, you feel me? So I go in my room, lock in, and I just be writing whatever I wanted on them papers. And I tuck them off somewhere, like in my bed or something. Okay. So he was tucking the raps. So how do you feel like you improved musically from then to now? From then to now, I feel like since like now, like I'm matured and I got older, you know, like I got more experience. And like, I ain't never used to study music, but now I do, I do my homework. So now it's like I'm more like lyrically involved. I used to just say a bunch of shit that wrong and a bunch of shit, like I curse words, make it sound good, but it had no meaning. You know what I'm saying? Now everything I rap, it's about, it's a topic in it. Yeah, it's a nice telling story. Exactly. Structuring it. Exactly. And all that good stuff. Okay, so what lesson did you learn, I guess, doing music? You said structuring it. Did you learn any business tips, like something you could give like upcoming people? Like as far as business tips, like I feel like, let me think, like you should get you a team. Like if you in this line of business, you need a team, you can't just walk in by yourself via like, oh, I got a guy giving gift. I'm about to go straight to the top. That don't work like that. It's motherfuckers with like pure talent and stills in the gutter, like stuck in the trenches or really can't get out of that hole because they don't got the right people behind them. They don't got the right people giving them that push or putting that battery into them. Like, I feel like a lot of artist's mentality is what hold them back too. Yeah, a lot of artists is, cause some people really only know like what they see. So, you know, like say for example, I grew up in Philly and I'm just around Bums all day. I'm around, I'm around Bums or Robbers or Killers. Like that's all they know. So they don't think, oh, I could be the next, did he? Oh, I could be the next notorious B.I.G. How can we invest this in somewhere else? Exactly. And you know, like I said, you only know, but so much like, cause you living in your environment. So definitely going out, getting those different experiences taught you a lot. Taught me a lot. Okay, so what do you feel like, was it a breakout song? Cause some people say while some people say best for you. I break out song and my, like, and my pain was best for you. Like when I, when I made this song, when I came in the studio and actually like, recorded that drone, like the first night I said, it's a hit, it's gonna go. Call my mom said, yo, like this is a banger, like this is gonna blow. Okay, so, so like, what was, like who was, okay, when the song was going up, who was someone that hit you up like, yo, this hard that kind of like surprised you. Or it was like, anybody reached out was like, yo, this fire, cause I know you see people commenting, you see people following you now. A lot of people reached out, but it wasn't like, I can't really think about. Not saying they wanna work when they was just like, yo, this is fire, keep pushing. Yeah, like I had a lot of, you know, like, like what you call them, like radio promoters, like DJs, let me say that, like, like DJ come up calling me Kev, like DJ Diamond Cuts, like DJ RL, like it's a lot of DJs that hit me up, like, and just, you know, gave me my flowers, just told me, like, you know, I got some talent. And this is definitely some mainstream artist that hit me up, but I really can't think of any right now. Like, Meek, he showed me, like he been showing me support since like. Yeah, from beginning, I feel like I found you out from him. Yeah, like Meek, he always been like, had that supportive, like, you know. Yeah, he was sharing his story a lot too, I seen that. So, what was like some crazy fan interactions you had so far? So I know when the song going up now, people stopping you in the street and all that. Yeah, but now it's even more legit, like, I was in the, I was in the, like, I was through the LA, I was down in LA for like three weeks straight, you know what I'm like. I go to LA when I'm leaving out. I'm sitting in the, like, I'm waiting for my flight, so I'm got my glasses on, my mask, like, I'm thinking, I'm just, yeah, I'm thinking I'm in the cut. So he walk up to some random dude, like he walk up to me, tap me, I just, I'm caught by surprise, cause I'm thinking nobody don't even know me. I'm in West Coast, like, you get what I'm saying? So now I'm like, all right, I look up, he like, you little mook, right? I'm like, it's mook, by the way. Like, yeah, so like, he's like, yeah, best for you, you're the artist, right? I'm like, yeah, he's like, oh, I knew that was him. He called like three of a buddies over here. And I'm like, oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah. And so that's when it really like, kinda woke me up, like, all right, that's the world. He's definitely out of my own point, yeah. Okay, so when the moment we signed the deal, where was he when he got that call? Like, yo, come here, do this paperwork. Like, how'd you find out he was about to be signed? I found out from my big bro Boona, we was both like, we was both like traveling back and forth. Like, well, I wanna say it travels, like really running a corner, like Philly, New York, Philly, New York, like, you know, this before I moved to Atlanta. So, you know, we went back to Philly, we just came back from, we had a meeting with Atlantic, Republic, and uh. So they was fighting right now? Yeah, so we had, and we had RCA, and we had Columbia. Okay. The last one we went to was Atlantic, I believe, but we had RCA on the line. So the next day, RCA called, it's like, yo, you found a home, like we need you. So we made it right. We made it right, and we had came back down the next day, the next morning, I stayed told once, you know, the numbers were discussed, everything was, you know. Okay, sound like a plan. Yeah, like a plan, so everything was looking right. Cause you know, so we went back the next day, and that's how it was. We drove to New York, signed a deal, and that was that. Okay, okay, so how did you know that this one was for you? I'm sure it wasn't just the numbers, the overall presentation. How did you know this label was for you? I knew it was for me because when I walked in the doors, like, I like, I like, you filled me like first impressions, like it gotta be like genuine, like I gotta feel you, like, you get what I'm saying? I can't just walk in the door and be like, I know this business, but at the end of the day, I wanna feel it some more. Cause anybody, I could do business with anybody, you feel what I'm saying? I wanna know who got my best interest at heart. So when I walked in there, I don't know if, like you probably have heard of him. I walked, I met Mark Pitts. Mark Pitts, like, outstanding dude, like, he just like, real genuine brothers. So it was like, when I met him, like, he just like that, that just, you know. Felt like family right off the bat. It felt like, it just, it just snapped. Like he automatically seen like what I had to offer, like as far as like talent, bro, like he pointed out, like when I first walked through the door, like he compared me to young Chris Brown. Like I took it as a joke, like laughing, but I feel like, you know, it's a compliment, yeah. I feel like once people say stuff about that, they see a bigger vision and she don't even see it. So yeah, so like when he's saying that, and you know him just embracing the whole situation, like he really was open ears of what I had to say and like my background, what I had going on back home, like, you know, and you know, I don't really like opening up outside of my music. Right. But me and bro, we really had like, conversation. A genuine connection. Yeah, so like, he definitely felt me in it. And I, and I definitely felt him in respect. Like, you know, that he was just open ear, open minded about a lot of things. Cause you know, a lot of motherfuckers would be like, all right, he got talent, let's sign him for this and get him out of the way. Yeah. Put him on the, for the team you don't even really know, it just be all tough shit. Like Mark Pitts, like he really made me feel like, I was like, welcome. Like this was a family. This was the home. Like, you know what I'm saying? And then we made it to heaven. All right, that's good. That's good. So tell us about your project about Tom. About Tom? Yeah. When I made that, it was like kind of like, just like, I was going through like a tough time. Tough time with music, career, family, like a little bit of everything. A little bit of everything. Okay. To be honest with you, but yeah, when I made that, like it just came about, like I just was grinding every night, like every morning, every night. Grinding. Okay. So like, what could we expect? I know another project is coming. What could we expect moving forward? Are you in a better space now? Yeah, I'm in a way better space than I was last year. What I'm saying though, like, yeah. My next project will be called Who'd It Thought? Who'd It Thought? Yeah, Who'd It Thought. Okay. Any collabs on there? You know I had a little baby on the last one. We ain't gonna speak on that coming soon. Okay, okay. He's told us it's gonna be best for you, the remix. Best for you remix? Gonna be on that? We ain't gonna speak on that. We ain't giving us nothing. All right. I can't, man. I don't know. I get it, I get it, I get it. Okay, so out of about Tom, all the songs on that project, what do you, what song do you feel like is the most slept on? To be honest with you, I feel like the most slept on song from there is the most book. Okay, okay. I feel like, I'm just gonna name two. Like I really feel strongly about, I feel like so beautiful and slept on and living life. Living life? Wait a little baby. Why you feel like it's up front? I feel like they need the video. I feel like kids just need to see people doing stuff. Yeah, it's not getting, like, I'm not gonna say it didn't do what I expected it to do because you know, people that come from, when I come from, we not used to hundreds of thousands, we not used to tens of thousands. Like this all from the mugs, but I know, I know like, You can do more. I know we can do more, you get what I'm saying? So that's something that bothers me. So, you know, when I, when I look and I just be watching and I listen, I'd be like, dang, like this really is like a banger. But I feel like it needs more like recognition. Okay, do you feel like you're super hard on yourself, being our best for you went so big, Rowland went so big? Absolutely. I feel like I'm always. I'm always trying to do better. Like always. Like it's not a time to go by where I'll be like, all right, I'm comfortable with my position. I could be a million dollars up and I still feel like, You gotta work a little bit more. Yeah, like I got it. That's good. I gotta work hard. I need more. So what's something on your bucket list? What's something you wanna accomplish? 2021 almost over, so the content. But what's something you wanna accomplish musically? I guess for 40 years over. 40 years over? Probably a lot of things, but give us one. A lot of things, like, you know, every artist wanna grant me, I wanna get nominated. I wanna be in like, you know, I wanna have like, I wanna have that type of name where a motherfucker attached me to all sorts of things. All sorts of things? Like movies, like, you know what I'm saying? So you wanna act too? I do all that. Like I just wanna be in front of the screen. Like that's the type of person I've always been since the baby. Like I never looked at myself as being a regular individual or a citizen, like. So you're super open, outspoken, things like that. So what's some advice you would give an upcoming artist that was watching you and watching your story? What's some advice you would give them? What is kinda like inside of it? Some advice I would give them is like, really don't let nobody like discourage you. Don't let nobody, you know, make you feel like, you know, like don't let nobody tell you your worth. Like if you know your worth, you got faith and you gonna go a long way. Like I've gotten this far because I ain't letting nobody tell me or letting nobody, you know, downgrade my situation. Like motherfuckers always try to downplay what you got going on. Especially when they ain't got them going on for themselves. Yeah, I feel a little key haters and all that. Yeah, you feel what I'm saying? But I just feel like my advice to them is just to keep pushing. Like, you know, you don't know what to expect tomorrow. Like I didn't wake up the next day, like, oh, I'm gonna get this big deal. I just was grinding. Like, you know, I put my faith in God and you know. And I just kept grinding. That's it. Okay, okay. So what's to expect for you? What should we be looking forward? You said another project, some collabs. What should we be looking forward to? You wanna see my face often. Like I'm looking forward to a lot of appearances, like a lot of showcases, you know, just coming outside more. I've been locked away for almost a year because it's COVID thing. Okay. And I feel like I wasn't able to get a connection with the crowd or my fans, supporters. And this is my time to do that. Okay. All right. So tell the people where to find you, where to find your music. How did it happen? Well, you could find me on all platforms, all platforms. And I want you all to follow me at Lil X Moop at Gmail. I said at Gmail. At Gmail. Yeah, yeah. I don't like, okay. Send in them inquiries. Send in them inquiries. Send me to the Gmail. That's what I was thinking in my head. Send in beats at Lil X Moop at Gmail. You got a favorite producer or a favorite beat maker or something? Not yet. Not now, I think of Dougie on the beat. Dougie on the beat? Okay. He one of my favorite right now. Producers. So yeah, I seen you in the studio with Neek Bucks. I seen y'all cook them something. Neek Bucks, that's my guy. You know he cook that song. Any other New York artists you fuckin' with? TJ Porter. I fuck with Lil' TJ Music. Okay. You know, the originals. I mentioned. Okay. Yeah. I really can't think of much right now. Yeah. I get too many. It's cool, it's cool. Well, who's upcoming from Philly? Who should we be looking out for next? We know you. Any, one question? I'm sorry. What? Sonny Gambino from New York. Yes. Yeah, I fuck with him. Yeah, me. Yeah, Sonny from New York. Any upcoming Philly artists? Any artists from your city that's buzzing that we should look out for? Yeah. You know Young K, of course. You know, Neshu Shido. Okay. I don't know. I'm really thinking like, cause I don't really listen to nobody but me. Oh, okay, okay, okay. You know how people be like, oh my little man working for me? I don't know. You feel me like, that's, I feel like we the trend of artists in the city right now. Oh, yeah, yeah, definitely. I see the top 30 Philly artists that you and Young K was running. Yeah. G12. G12, okay. I don't know these two, I'ma tap in though. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Before you were thousand, it's like, it's a lot of, it's a lot of artists. Like, it's a lot of artists and a lot of talent in the city. Like, ain't gonna lie. Okay, so y'all are working Philly on this way. So yeah, tell people where to find you, where to find your music, all that good stuff. You can follow me on Instagram at Lil X Moop. And my music will all pay for them. Just type in Lil Moop and I'll pop like.