Many of the hottest sounds this year can be found in the Bay Area. One of the region’s brightest emerging crew’s, the HBK Gang have in their arsenal one of games most promising renaissance men, P-Lo. The multi-talented producer and rapper who also is apart of the production team The Invasion has made an impact in 2013 working with artists like Yo Gotti, Wiz Khalifa, and Problem. With the release of his project MBMGC2, P-Lo is poised to cement his footprints in the game in 2014.  While over the holiday season, 1200Squad caught up with P-Lo while out on the west coast, and found out just how one of the busiest newcomers passes the time. –1200squad [more…]

“I started making beats at 14 or 15. I always rapped but didn’t take it serious until 18″

“When we went to go do the shit for Wiz, “Bout Me” Was the first beat I played him. It was the night of his birthday and he was trying to turn up. That was one of those moments that was like ‘wow, this is my life’ to me.”

“Every time I hear one of our songs on the radio it’s like the first time.”

“HBK is more of a branding of the artists and The Invasion is the molding of the sound. The Invasion will take the HBK sound to where it needs to be.”

“Kanye West was probably my biggest influence growing up. He was making beats and nobody wanted to hear him rap. ‘The College Dropout’ was what made me want to make music.”

“My brother Kuya started making music first. They were teaching kids music and music business in this after school program. Iamsu! went there too, and linked with my brother. That’s how I first met him. When I was little Kuya put me on to Andre Nickatina and Mac Dre, they put me on to game.”

“The Bay is home. I know people move to make the money but I love the bay seriously.”

“MBMGC, ‘More Bitches More Gold Chains’ is symbolic of what is the shit in Hip Hop. You know what I mean? When you have hella bitches and hella gold chains then you got it. Su and I thought about that at SXSW and thought it was funny at first, then it just stuck with me.”

“I’m planning to drop more visuals and continue to stretch out the project. Keep pushing it. I expect a lot out of 2014.”