Mantiz aka Tizzy Montana
Allow me to bring to you, Mantiz aka Tizzy Montana. This artists can "Sit in the studio and collect five different checks." He is a singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, and rapper. Very few people can accomplish that. Then add to it that he also can play the piano, drums, and trombone. Tizzy is a monstrous force poised to take the industry by storm. His production on the track Hello Kitty for Jah Bless, earned Jah a spot on Yung Joc's Swagg Team Entertainment roster. So if you brush shoulders with this fedora wearing mastermind you just might end up in the industry. His skills and mastery of music make him a force to reckoned with. Add to that his entrepreneur spirit and you have the makings of the next mogul on your hands. His companies include R Dot Entertainment, The Block Symphony, and Rkive Clothing Company. Get ready and stay tuned for Mantiz will be ready to launch soon!
You are a very business minded individual launching three companies on your own, R Dot Entertainment, The Block Symphony LLC (production company), and Rkive Clothing Company. How did you come to the decision to launch everything on your own, and do you have any business partners?
Honestly, EVERYTHING is somehow derived as one of my many visions. But I have many partners that help me run everything. R Dot Entertainment is in full force, and The Block Symphony is just a subsidiary in-house production company for the R Dot imprint. And though Rkive is on the backburner for now, I'll be back at it REAL soon.
What type of distribution do you have with R Dot Entertainment?
As of this interview, no distribution has been contracted, but my affiliation with DJ Gamble comes with some distribution.
Who are some designers that you admire, and where can people see your clothing line?
Designers… um… damn... I'm kinda classic wit mine, but I'm still charmingly ghetto [Laughs]. I dig the Georgio Armani, and I've been into Prada hard lately. My particular style on a good day consists somewhat of a tilted fedora and some suspenders hanging down [Laughs].
Where do you see Rkive Clothing going? Also, is it urban themed or does have an across the board feel?
Rkive can only go as far as I take it to be truthful. I'd hate to come off strong but I want to appeal to the percentage of males that women call a rarity. You know, “The Gentleman.” But I rock a fresh sweater vest on top of some rinse jeans real quick, like a real comfortable clash of tastes.
Fashion and Hip Hop are forever linked with many artists launching clothing lines and many clothing lines sponsoring artists. In what ways have you seen fashion help Hip Hop?
Well, it has helped AND hurt not only hip hop, but our community as well. I mean its cliché now. I'm from the era where you had to be under federal surveillance to wear Versace and Coogi comfortably. Now niggas hit the CitiTrends and cop this colorful ish. Ladies and gents applaud for you local dopeboy. We as Africans are descendants of Kings and Queens so we're used to wanting to rock the fly ish. But in today's America we're encouraged to be creative and not be so ready to follow trends. Now you got some of the corniest ish in history goin on!!! But hey, to each his own.
Were your previous projects; HOTTEST Summer EVA (2006), Even HOTTA Summer (2007), and Tax Season (2008) released under R Dot Entertainment?
Yes, but they were all just mixtapes under the "Crown Royal" imprint which was started just for mixtapes. Classic beat jacking. I'm gearing up for my first actual album. You know there's a process to this ish.
What future or recent releases should people check out?
My new mixtape, "Crown Royal: The Pinnacle"
There is generally some sort of message, feeling, or emotion conveyed through music. What emotions, feelings, or message are you conveying to fans?
I'm showing the pros and cons of every possible scenario. God is the head of my life even though I still do some crazy stuff, but I go all out to show the good and bad side of everything. For the most part, fans get to see the comical side of Mantiz. But when I kick it into the real lyrical thought-provoking artist, it's like someone new is out the box.
As a youngster you learned how to play three instruments, have used live instruments on your tracks and what do you use to make tracks?
You know, Dave Chappelle taught me that Blacks respond to drums so it's amazing how I learned to play those at 5. I taught myself the piano at 9 and took up trombone at 11 so, yeah that's really me playing live on the beats [Laughs].
How accomplished are you as a musician?
Well I don't have any trophies but a few songs on the radio and in the club should count for something [Laughs].
Also you stated that you came from a musical family, who are the members of your family that is into music?
The ENTIRE side of my dad's family, the McCorkles [Laughs].
Other than your family members, who were your musical influences as a singer, rapper, and producer?
C'mon now fam, that's a LONG ass list!!! Um... let's play favorites so y'all can at least quote me at my funeral [Laughs]. My favorite singer is Donny Hathaway. I am completely in sync with Donny. My favorite rapper? Damn... I'll have to roll with Christopher Wallace. He did too much for me as a lyricist and a fat nigga [Laughs]. Producer??? Um... wow... I'ma go in and say Lamont Dozier. Don't get me wrong-- I love Kanye, Just, No ID, all the greats, but I'm a classic nigga.
On the Ego Remix you mentioned that you "make tracks niggas get deals off of," what are the tracks and who were the artists?
Oh wow, the infamous "Hello Kitty" by Jah Bless. Jah signed to Yung Joc's Swagg Team Entertainment off the strength of that song.
I must admit you shocked me on the track "Nasty Song" you're a good singer as well as rapper. Have you ever considered a career as a singer?
Hell nah but my mama always has. She hates rap. She literally blames all of our ills as Black folks on rap. Every year she begged me to go to American Idol but I wouldn't budge. I'm her miracle baby though so I just started taking singing seriously for my mom. Funny thing is I only did "Nasty Song" as a shot at Lil Ru. I mean if you gonna get that many deals off of one song, it shoulda actually been nasty. So I went in. I was actually at home one night after the club and a nigga’s energy still hadn't died down. They put on music and the original "Nasty Song" was on the mix cd. I just up and decided "f**k it... I want that shit." My nigga Willy B. said that finding that instrumental would never happen. So I bet him on it, and of course I won the bet. And the rest is mixtape history.
Being different is very important in the music industry. What sets you a part or makes you different from your competitors?
Real nigga ish, I can sit in a studio and collect five different checks!!! (Singer, rapper, producer, engineer, and songwriter) It's actually in my genes. I always wanted to play basketball [Laughs].
Are you currently touring, if so what are some dates and venues where people can come and see you live?
I wouldn't call it "touring," I'm just doing shows when I get the time. I'll keep everybody posted on my next spots on my MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter pages.
When you listen to music what do you like to hear and do you put those things into your music?
I love 2009 music that feels like 1995-1999 all over again. Remember when hit records felt good? That's what I aim for. Even if the song is sad, I wanna bring that *umph* outta you with it.
What about your music would attract a fan, or what do you want to do to attract fans?
Well this is STILL a business. And even though I'm an artist without boundaries, the customer is always right. So I mix the two so I'm just as satisfied as the fan would be.
Hip Hop means different things to people and has helped people through different situations. What does Hip Hop mean to you?
Hip Hop is ours!!! Hip Hop is forever young. Hip Hop is our weapon to fight ignorance and injustice. Hip Hop is our entertainment. Hip Hop is us. I love Hip Hop. Honestly, I rap for the love of Hip Hop. I make beats for the money. That's why I'm so cocky as a producer but humble as a rapper.
There are many feelings about the current state of Hip Hop, what do you think about the state of Hip Hop and its future?
Hip Hop ain't dead but it's on some very expensive life support.
Lastly who are your top five emcees, singers, and producers of all time?
Damn homie, ok here we go:
B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas, Em, and the last is a tie between lots of niggas... (Kanye, T.I., Phonte from Little Brother, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Jadakiss, Andre 3000, and countless others)
Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross, Jaheim, Tyrese, and Maxwell... my notable mentions however include my nigga Trey Songz, R. Kelly, Ginuwine, my nigga Jamie Foxx, the incredible Ne-Yo, Chrissette Michelle, Day 26, Marsha Ambrosious, damn this list could go on forever.
Quincey Jones, The Holland-Dozier-Holland collective, Kanye (especially with Jon Brion on board) Just Blaze, and The Block Symphony (like I was really gonna leave my niggas outta that one.) But on some non-cocky ish: Timbaland and The Neptunes (Justin Timberlake's first album was the best produced album ever to me!!!), No ID, Hi-Tek, Alchemist, Havoc, Mannie Fresh, and the list goes on. I salute all my true producers. They all slip my mind at this moment but you all have inspired me! Thanks so much for this opportunity fam. I appreciate your attempt to make 'Mantiz' a household name. Peace and love. Hip Hop Forever.
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