The moment PBE Messico sits down on the Family Business Podcast, his energy fills the room. This isn't just another release day interview – it's a coming-of-age story told through music.

"This shit is more important than breathing for me," Messico declares with unflinching conviction. "If this music stuff don't work, kill me bro. I don't want to do nothing else." His debut mixtape, Purple Heart Tape, represents not only his artistic vision but his lifeline – a way out of the streets and into something greater.

Growing up quite literally surrounded by music (his father describes baby Mexico sitting on his lap at the mixing console), his path wasn't always clear. Despite excelling in sports and attending college for football, Messico couldn't escape his musical calling. "I literally put football off just so I could write more songs and sit in my dorm," he reveals. The passion was undeniable.

What makes this conversation so compelling is Mexico's raw honesty about straddling two worlds. "It felt like a race to see if I'm going to go to jail first or am I going to blow up first," he admits, discussing the pull between street life and his creative aspirations. This tension infuses every track on Purple Heart Tape, particularly standouts like "Spin," "What's Going On" and the introspective closer "Somebody Save Me."

The familial element adds another rich dimension – working alongside his father (who doubles as manager and mentor), Messico navigated the challenging transition from independent creation to professional production. Their occasional studio arguments – vividly described with both frustration and laughter – resulted in some of the project's strongest moments. Through this process, Messico learned perhaps his most valuable lesson: "Shutting the fuck up is a skill."

Stream Purple Heart Tape now on all platforms and witness the evolution of an artist who's just beginning to realize his potential while honoring where he came from.