Moneybagg Yo is one of the hottest Memphis rappers right now, something Zach Randolph and Marcus “Head” Howell stand by with pride. Moreover, they spoke in a recent interview with Business Insider about Yo being their first artist, and how he led to great success. Of course, city leaders like Yo Gotti also proved instrumental in his career, but Gotti’s mentorship also impacted Randolph and Howell. From the moment they signed Moneybagg in 2016, the artist showed gratitude for their confidence in his vision, and worked hard to make them proud.
“Bagg work hard,” Head expressed. “Actually, he probably in the studio now. We have to drag the man out the studio. Bagg’s a guy, he like to work out, he like to take care of his kids, and he like to be in the studio all day. So, working hard, like Zach said, you know, like he be in the gym all day. That’s what Bagg do all day. Being in the studio. And you gotta stay in the studio if you wanna get successful. ‘Cause that make you good in your craft.”
Zach Randolph & Marcus Howell Praise Moneybagg Yo
Elsewhere in the interview, the two also spoke on the Memphis scene and how they define its musical hotbed. “It’s a special city, man,” former NBA star Randolph remarked. “It’s a city where you gotta work for everything. You know, ain’t nothing given to you, ain’t nothing soft about the city. You gotta hard work, and it’s a lot of real people and blue collar people. But the music, it’s the hotbed right now. You see that all the labels is coming into Memphis and trying to sign all the artists up outta there.”
While that hard work can be grueling, it also results in a deep connection to those working just as hard as you. For example, Z-Bo and Head reflected on how they’re able to collaborate with so many like Yo Gotti and Bagg’s own label when it comes to releasing his music. “‘Cause we all family,” Randolph stated. “We’ve been had relationships a long time, so it was easy. When we started the label, me and Marcus, it was easy to come to Yo Gotti, to talk to the guys around the city, ’cause we already had relationships with these guys for a long time.” Check out the full interview in the link below and return to HNHH for the latest on Moneybagg Yo.