Blackbear was born to a teen mom and a heroin addicted father, who didn't stick around long. The family relied on food stamps to survive, but young Mat still managed to get his hands on a snare drum and a guitar by the age of six. By 11, he was forming his first punk band, and by 16 he was signed to an indie label, and dropping out of high school to pursue his musical career. Still, it would be another decade of struggling behind the scenes before blackbear would come out of hibernation and into the spotlight.