Introducing… M.Will the Shogun

Somebody hand me a late pass… I just recently heard of M. Will when we posted his Father’s Day tribute video two months ago. His remake of Marly Marl’s “Set It Off” was spot on and had me checking out M. Will the Shogun’s previous work. If M. Will inherited anything from his father, it’s his talent. At only 16 years of age, he has a bright future ahead of him.

I’ve gotten the opportunity to build with M.Will lately, as we will be exclusively hosting his new instrumental mixtape dropping tomorrow. M. Will was also a part of our Michael Jackson Beat It contest and has a few joints on the tribute tape, which we dropped this past Saturday. Hit the jump to learn a little more about M.Will the Shogun…

Where You Reppin:

I rep the Great city of New York. Was raised out in Flushing, Queens. Currently reside in the Bronx.

Introduce Yourself:

Whattup, my name is M.Will the Shogun, 16 year old Producer/Composer/Astronaut from New York City. I call myself the Shogun, because of its meaning, it kind of stuck to me. Being a producer you are pretty much the head general in the lab, so i figured it fit, and ran with it.

Current projects we should be looking out for:

I am currently preparing an instrumental mixtape, that includes all of the instrumentals of my previous project A Journey through Space and Time with some bonus instrumentals, which is being presented by this dope ass site, kevinnottingham.com, don’t know if you’ve heard of it. I am also currently working on some top secret shit with QuESt, a rapper out of Miami. I also have a few tracks on Nero’s upcoming project titled Nero Reinvents the Rubik’s Cube which should be releasing later this year. I also Have two tracks on Termanology’s new album, titled Time Machine which drops September 22nd. I try to keep busy, u know? haha

Previous work that we should know about:

Well, I’ve co-produced a few tracks on KRS-ONE and Marley Marl’s Hip-Hop Lives and a few tracks on Craig G and Marley Marl’s Operation: Take Back Hip-Hop and a track on LL Cool J’s Exit 13 titled “You Better Watch Me” (see a pattern here? haha, my father is Marley Marl).

I also released my first mixtape project a few months back called A Journey Through Space and Time [download] which featured rappers such as Nero, QuESt, Termanology, and much more all rhyming on my production.  I also have a joint on QuESt’s new Tape Broken Headphones and a joint on Threatz’s mixtape Breaking Point.

Main musical inspirations:

Well, for those who may not know, my father was a producer as well. His producing name is Marley Marl, so growing up on a lot of his music, and a lot of hip-hop, golden age hip-hop is just embedded in my brain. I grew up listening to a lot of A Tribe Called Quest, Big Daddy Kane, Wu-Tang Clan, NaS… all them. A lot of my musical inspiration now, come from J. Dilla, 9th Wonder, Pete Rock, Premo, Large Pro, Q-Tip all them, RZA, and shit, even some Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, Dexter Wansel, LTD, and even some Coldplay here and there. I’ve been also paying a lot of attention to the newer artists, such as Wale, Curren$y, Cudi… all them, and they have given me a lot of hope and inspiration in this hip-hop shit. I’ve been playing piano since i was 5 years old, so I have such a love for music. Whatever is just genuinely dope music, you know?

If you had to pick one song that defines your career to date, what song would that be?

Ehh, that one is difficult, but I’d say as of now, “Coordinates” featuring Nero, Hassaan Mackey and my cousin Ryan Perfect, produced by me [download], which is off my mixtape A Journey Through Space and Time. It defines my music career so far because, the song includes a lot of philosophy, knowledge, insight, yet its a fast paced, overall dope product, and I got my favorite rappers that I know personally on there. So I am very proud of this track, really defines my style of music.

Why should the readers and fans give you a shot and listen to your music from here on out?

That’s simple. I’m always going to keep it 100%, that’s nothing, I put my all into my music. I also have a huge love for music, and appreciate all kinds of music, so I incorporate a lot of that into my music. I express everything via Reason 4. It’s how I clear my mind, and it’s what I love to do. I try to keep it humble and modest, but shit you are all in store for some dope music!

What’s next for you?

Well I’ll soon be working on my debut EP which is still in the brainstorm process. I also got the mixtape with QuESt that should by fall of this year. My brother from another and label mate Nero, is in the works on his project, Nero Reinvents the Rubik’s Cube which will include some of my production. And of course, beats man, constantly working on beats.

Desert Island Hip Hop: If you could only take one record on a deserted island with you, what album would that be?

I’d say Lupe Fiasco’s Food and Liquor, if not Murs and 9th Wonder’s 3:16 the 9th edition, because the overall concepts of the albums are so inspirational, production wise and concept wise. I was a huge closet Lupe fan, and Food and Liquor really inspired me to make music, because at the point in time, in hip-hop there wasn’t really dope music out, and which that project came out, it was just like, whoa! and people sleepin’ on this kid? Lupe made it cool not to be a hood nigga, and made it cool to be yourself, you know, and its really good music, modern day Tribe, Common, all that, conscious hip-hop with some nike sbs on, I can dig it.

Any shout outs or last words?

Shouts to Nero and the whole Wave Club fam, they’ve been with me since day one of my music career. And of course none of this would be possible with out moms and pops, I do this to for them. Glad my father supports my music. Gotta pay homage to Pioneers in the game, such as Pete Rock, Premier, Dilla (rip), Large Pro, 9th Wonder, Q-Tip, those are my producing idols, gotta give them a lot fo credit, as well. Shouts to the homie Termanology, for giving me a chance and for the encouragement. Shouts to my Cousin Ryan Perfect; what a dope lyricist he is, expect our project coming soon. Shouts to Oh! So Specatular, El Prez, QuESt, Hassaan Mackey, Threatz, Harlem’s Cash, Craig G, Trevin, and Mike Waxx at illroots. And of course the Fams at Kevin Nottingham! Go check out A Journey through Space and Time! It’s a dope project man, I am really proud of it.

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