Mississippi Alert SPOTLIGHT: Hollywood Luck
Great bodies of work that withstand the tests of time and storms of “here today, gone tomorrow” singles and “no-direction” mixtapes are hard to find. Especially on the independent level amongst millions of born yesterday rappers. Then there’s Mississippi’s poster-child Hollywood Luck. Recently lapsing the one year mark of arguably one of his best albums, we were able to speak with Luck about TEN$, the state of Mississippi’s music scene, and some of his favorite works from the album TEN$.
MA — A little over one year after the release of your album TEN$, how do you currently feel about the project?
Luck: It’s still one of my favorites. Feel like a lot of people slept on it because it wasn’t the “usual” Luck, but I still love it and still run into people that still play it daily.
MA — Arguably one of the best works that you have delivered in your career, what are your top 4 records from the album and why?
Luck: My top four would have to be “Sept. 28” because of all the personal subjects I touched on , “L.O.T.”(Life on Ten) because of the things I spoke or was speaking into existence, “They Know” because of its rawness & the issues I touched, and last but not least, “So Long” because it was very personal and it features my son.
MA — Considered the top artist in the state of Mississippi, how do you feel about the state of the Independent Music Scene?
Luck: I love it. I’ve been rapping since I was 14 so I’ve witnessed a lot of progress. It’s not as good or great as it can be yet but there’s definitely more unity with the entertainers.
MA — Of the songs listed as your favorite, which would you call your most personal record? (If not listed in your top 4, what is your most personal record from the album TEN$?)
Luck: “So Long” would have to be the most personal record. I talked about how long I’ve been in the business along with some of the obstacles I’ve faced in it as well as life.
MA — Of the projects that you have released in your career, which project do you feel is your best collective work?
Luck: “Inside Man” is my baby. My first solo project. I had no expectations so it was full of raw emotions. Still a project that gets brought up from fans all the time.
MA — What impact do you feel your brand, JUSA, has had on the state of the culture as a whole?
Luck: JUSA was something I started to kind of bring us together as well as represent us with something that started in Jackson or Mississippi. Instead of USA we’re the JUSA. Junited we stand. It has definitely brought us all a little closer together.
MA — Has the response to the brand been as big as or bigger than you expected it to be? Why do you feel that way?
Luck: Kind of. I’ve watched a lot of people support it without even knowing how to pronounce it so that’s definitely a plus, but on the other hand because its associated with me, it gets interpreted to be only for me and people associated with me. It’s really for everybody. JUSA started as just a dope idea I wanted to put on t-shirts & hoodies. It has now turned into a movement.
MA — Of all of the shows that you have had this far, which would you say was your best performance or reception?
Luck: I don’t think I have a best performance. It’s been so many shows I can’t even think of which had the best reception. I’ll just go with one of my earlier shows at Dreamz when we were breaking “Pole In My Pants” in. I was supposed to open up for a major artist, but for some reason the artist got to the club and wanted to perform before me. I thought that everyone would leave after he got off stage because that’s who I figured they came to see. Turns out he doesn’t do so good of a show lol. When I finally come out and they drop the record, the crowd goes crazy. Definitely my most memorable show.
MA — Is there any song from TEN$ that you wish you would be able to shoot a MAJOR budget video to it? Which one and why?
Luck: “Bang” because I have a vision for it that I know will require a major budget. I was supposed to shoot a video to every song but I didn’t want to just shoot anything because I felt that majority of them deserved major budget videos.
MA — Could you see yourself rereleasing any project in its entirety once you make it? If so, which one and why?
Luck: There are a few I’d probably rerelease. I’ve been asked many of times to rerelease “Inside Man.” I’d personally like to rerelease The Sextape and T€N$ perhaps.
MA — Are you currently working on any project that we should be looking forward to?
Luck: I’ve never stopped recording so I have tons of music just sitting up. I’m definitely about to release a lot of projects. Nothing that I can name in particular, but look forward to seeing and hearing me as much as possible this year.
Purchase TEN$ on Bandcamp, iTunes, or Google Play.
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Check out the visuals from TEN$:
Also, Check out other Visuals from Hollywood Luck:
