Conviction is an undeniable mannerism when talking with Philadelphia hot shot Trel Mack. The Hip Hop presence within Philly fails to adhere to the city’s mantra of "Let brotherly Love endure" by battling and alienating themselves hoping to place the crown on their head. This emerging artist pays that King of Philly role no mind.
He knows the path he wants to take, one he creates for himself. He is not looking for the home comforts of a major label unless they can match and better the goals he has already commenced working towards for his music.
Inspired by El Presidente, driven like a Vh1 show and destined for a future as bright as a Jacob gem, Trel Mack gives it up on the traits, tribulations and the tenacity he believes makes you nothing short of a success in the Hip Hop world today.
Name: Trel Mack.
Repping: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sentence: Three years
Achievements: Has started his own independent label, Street Knowledge Entertainment, shows in New York City, Philly, Florida, released his Mack of the Year CD and currently working on The New Dynasty project which features other budding emcees slamming the surface of the indie scene.
Aspirations: To take show his UK fan base some love performing nationwide. “They enjoy the music for what it is over there. That is why I can’t wait to get over there; there is so much love and support over there. Here in the US, you sometimes feel that they base their support off of criticism.”
Inspirations: “Music in general has inspired me, as from when I was young, I have always been into all different types of music. As I got older, something sparked in me and I wanted to be a rapper. I got into it and ever since then I have been growing. I would say the artists that have inspired me would be Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Common," says Trel. "All those cats inspired me showing that it is all about grind and determination. Jay-Z is one of my biggest inspirations though, not necessarily for his music but for his business practices. I went to Penn State and my degree is in Accounting and Business Law, so I am very business minded. To see how Jay-Z turned rap into a whole enterprise, that is what I want to be like. That is the level I am trying to get to.”
Key to Success: “You have to handle your business, this is what I tell other people, how you handle that is going to be the key to your success in music. If your business is not straight, your music is only going to get so far. You have to have grind, determination and make sure you business is straight. Do your research, ask for opinions and that is how you get it out there. It is 90% business and 10% music."
Integrity: “You have to have that. That shows you are brave and not afraid to go out there and get what you want. You have to have that nowadays, I feel the music industry is an emotional rollercoaster because you go through a lot of ups and downs, it is never ending. You have to have that strength and that power to go out there and get it, without letting anything stop you.”
Independence: “I am trying to do just that. Going the independent level means that everything that happens when it comes to your music is your fault. If you become successful or if you sell, I feel that you get more control for what you are doing. You don’t have people telling you what to do. You have your own vision of how you want things done and not what other people tell you. Labels try to get over on artists because they don’t know their business. I still feel if artists knew what they were getting themselves into, the better they would become. What artists get from labels is not necessarily a lot, it might seem a lot, but it's not.”
Advice to those on the come up: “Come up independent, have your business plan, have the people who are going to help you around you.”
Conceptuality: “When you record any CD there is some meaning behind it. Some people say my Mack of the Year CD was a good CD but it didn’t have no base concept to it. My plans and goals for my music for the future is to be on more of a conceptual base. Not many songs I hear nowadays have a concept. People can have smooth songs about a lady, but then still talk about guns and stuff like that. I don’t see the relationship between the two; but people do it and it doesn’t make any sense.”
Philadelphia Hip-Hop: “One thing about Philadelphia’s Hip Hop scene is that it is very battle-orientated. Everyone is against each other and not trying to knock what other artists are trying to do, as I have my own spot and my own position with my music. I feel that Philly should and could come together and really build something. For the last couple of years, the south took the industry over because they all stuck together. There might have been little beefs here and there but at the end of the day they really put it aside and that is why they blew up like that and I would love to see Philly do something just like that. But it's hard because everyone is against each other because everyone feels that they should be number one. I don’t feel like I need to be number one, I just feel that I strive hard to get to that spot. I am not going to battle you or criticize you because I am not there yet. God Bless Philly though; hopefully one day they can all come together. When I get big enough, I hope to bring everyone who wants to take it to the next level together.”
HipHopDX breaks it down: As lyrical warfare is a constant in and around Philadelphia, strategy and planning appear to be key in Trel Mack obliterating the mold and showing unity within his city. Armed with years of business studies and hands on experience, he is now building up after laying solid foundations for his empire. His natural addiction for empowerment will encourage his music career and that of his cities, while delivering to fans a kind of real Hip Hop that he continues to prove never died.
He knows the path he wants to take, one he creates for himself. He is not looking for the home comforts of a major label unless they can match and better the goals he has already commenced working towards for his music.
Inspired by El Presidente, driven like a Vh1 show and destined for a future as bright as a Jacob gem, Trel Mack gives it up on the traits, tribulations and the tenacity he believes makes you nothing short of a success in the Hip Hop world today.
Name: Trel Mack.
Repping: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Sentence: Three years
Achievements: Has started his own independent label, Street Knowledge Entertainment, shows in New York City, Philly, Florida, released his Mack of the Year CD and currently working on The New Dynasty project which features other budding emcees slamming the surface of the indie scene.
Aspirations: To take show his UK fan base some love performing nationwide. “They enjoy the music for what it is over there. That is why I can’t wait to get over there; there is so much love and support over there. Here in the US, you sometimes feel that they base their support off of criticism.”
Inspirations: “Music in general has inspired me, as from when I was young, I have always been into all different types of music. As I got older, something sparked in me and I wanted to be a rapper. I got into it and ever since then I have been growing. I would say the artists that have inspired me would be Jay-Z, Talib Kweli, Common," says Trel. "All those cats inspired me showing that it is all about grind and determination. Jay-Z is one of my biggest inspirations though, not necessarily for his music but for his business practices. I went to Penn State and my degree is in Accounting and Business Law, so I am very business minded. To see how Jay-Z turned rap into a whole enterprise, that is what I want to be like. That is the level I am trying to get to.”
Key to Success: “You have to handle your business, this is what I tell other people, how you handle that is going to be the key to your success in music. If your business is not straight, your music is only going to get so far. You have to have grind, determination and make sure you business is straight. Do your research, ask for opinions and that is how you get it out there. It is 90% business and 10% music."
Integrity: “You have to have that. That shows you are brave and not afraid to go out there and get what you want. You have to have that nowadays, I feel the music industry is an emotional rollercoaster because you go through a lot of ups and downs, it is never ending. You have to have that strength and that power to go out there and get it, without letting anything stop you.”
Independence: “I am trying to do just that. Going the independent level means that everything that happens when it comes to your music is your fault. If you become successful or if you sell, I feel that you get more control for what you are doing. You don’t have people telling you what to do. You have your own vision of how you want things done and not what other people tell you. Labels try to get over on artists because they don’t know their business. I still feel if artists knew what they were getting themselves into, the better they would become. What artists get from labels is not necessarily a lot, it might seem a lot, but it's not.”
Advice to those on the come up: “Come up independent, have your business plan, have the people who are going to help you around you.”
Conceptuality: “When you record any CD there is some meaning behind it. Some people say my Mack of the Year CD was a good CD but it didn’t have no base concept to it. My plans and goals for my music for the future is to be on more of a conceptual base. Not many songs I hear nowadays have a concept. People can have smooth songs about a lady, but then still talk about guns and stuff like that. I don’t see the relationship between the two; but people do it and it doesn’t make any sense.”
Philadelphia Hip-Hop: “One thing about Philadelphia’s Hip Hop scene is that it is very battle-orientated. Everyone is against each other and not trying to knock what other artists are trying to do, as I have my own spot and my own position with my music. I feel that Philly should and could come together and really build something. For the last couple of years, the south took the industry over because they all stuck together. There might have been little beefs here and there but at the end of the day they really put it aside and that is why they blew up like that and I would love to see Philly do something just like that. But it's hard because everyone is against each other because everyone feels that they should be number one. I don’t feel like I need to be number one, I just feel that I strive hard to get to that spot. I am not going to battle you or criticize you because I am not there yet. God Bless Philly though; hopefully one day they can all come together. When I get big enough, I hope to bring everyone who wants to take it to the next level together.”
HipHopDX breaks it down: As lyrical warfare is a constant in and around Philadelphia, strategy and planning appear to be key in Trel Mack obliterating the mold and showing unity within his city. Armed with years of business studies and hands on experience, he is now building up after laying solid foundations for his empire. His natural addiction for empowerment will encourage his music career and that of his cities, while delivering to fans a kind of real Hip Hop that he continues to prove never died.
