In this previously unreleased 2016 VladTV interview, Sacramento rapper Mozzy opens up about growing up in Oak Park, surviving gang violence, and building one of the most respected street rap catalogs on the West Coast .

Mozzy reflects on being raised by his grandmother after his father was sentenced to prison and his mother struggled with drug addiction. He speaks candidly about being born premature due to his mother’s substance abuse and how those early hardships shaped both his music and mentality. From childhood struggles to getting involved in street activity by age 11, Mozzy explains how gang culture surrounded him from the beginning growing up in Oak Park.

The interview dives into Sacramento street politics, including the long-running conflicts between neighborhoods, the realities of gang violence, and how quickly situations escalate into retaliation. Mozzy discusses surviving shootouts, losing dozens of friends and family members, and why he believes hip-hop artists from the streets often become targets in their own cities.

Mozzy also breaks down his rapid rise in music, dropping over 10 projects between 2011 and 2015, and explains why authenticity and vulnerability connected so strongly with fans. He talks about receiving support from artists like Chris Brown and reflects on the attention Sacramento street rap was beginning to receive nationally during that period.

The conversation also covers:

• The “Truth” and “Just Being Honest” controversies

• How rap lyrics and videos can be used in criminal cases

• Police surveillance and probation violations

• Sacramento’s unique gang culture and slang

• Why he believes the streets and rap industry collide dangerously

Throughout the interview, Mozzy repeatedly emphasizes that his music comes from lived experience, not performance, and speaks on the emotional toll of losing people to violence and incarceration.

This unreleased interview captures Mozzy at a critical turning point — just before his rise into one of the biggest independent street rappers in the country.