Rebel Factz

Intro

"A species of MC's breed from these stees/ I seem to be cool but plan to penetrate your industries...."

An excerpt from then 17 year old Mugs' first studio recorded track. It was Summer 1998 and the song was "Raw Raps"; a single released with the group Helbint under HMK Management. It would prove to be the start of something epic.

Hailing from The Badlands, North Philadelphia, Da Bul Mugs was introduced early to many things in life. Just to name a couple, Crime & Music. "I remember people finding out where I was from and saying 'wooow' once they found out... It was nothing serious to me, it was my hood" Mugs explains. The Badlands is a rough neighborhood of North Philadelphia infamous for their drug trade and overall crime rate. It was this neighborhood, with its weaning & tutelage that would mold the man he has become...

Mugs began writing at the young, but not so tender age of 13. "Man, I was corny as hell!" the artist laughs. When asked how he began writing and rhyming he responds simply "my brother". "Yea, my brother Marc was rhyming around that time," (noticing, this guy rarely uses the word RAP) "... He was with Helbint Ruffianz at the time... Him, Red Dog & Blak Nitti. They were tough yo, and sounded so new to me. So I learned their songs and yearned to be a "Ruffian".... He goes on to describe how his brother went away to the military at 17. And his spot would become open on the squad... Who better to fill it?!

"See when Miz left, I kind of felt it was my duty to hold him down lyrically. So that's exactly what I did." By then the group had dropped the "Ruffianz" and continued on as just Helbint. Dropping their single, "The Badlands" in the late 90's, they made a nice buzz around Philadelphia for themselves. But Mugs awaited his debut still... Patiently. "That was about the time J Bond moved on the block. We linked up, vibed and the "Rhyme Rebelz" have been ever since." "See, I was always a Rebel... A "Helbint Rhyme Rebel".... And fittingly so.

"I never really thought about All the stuff that was going on in my hood until I grew up and out. Maybe that's because I was inside of it. Sometimes you have to take a step back..."

Born the youngest of 3 children to his parents Gerald and Valerie, Mugs was schooled in the Philadelphia Public School system. His intelligence would stand out in the 4th grade, landing him a seat in the George C. Clymers MG (Mentally Gifted) program. Once a week he would travel to Fairhill Elementary School, where he took part in numerous tests on a collegiate level... Easily solving word problems, advanced mathematics and demonstrating impressive comprehension skills. "... Yea, I remember all that," he responds when asked about his schooling. "We used to get some crazy word problems and math equations in there. I mean crazy!" It must have been a proper fit because from there Mugs was recruited by JR Masterman Middle Magnet School. One of Philadelphia's most distinguished schools. "From there I got booted and went to Elverson MS. Then with my Parkway CC family, to William Penn HS and straight downhill!" " It never really dawned on me back then the importance of everything. I was just a street smart boy with his Ninja Turtles and video games" he laughed.

Fast forward to today, that intellect and wit shows in his lyrics. "I always did like words, and grammar. I have been a wordsmith for most of my life. I just had to figure out ways to use my words as a hustle. The music hustle and street hustles are alot alike..." he goes on "The same drive and dedication that I put forth for negativity, I had to find a way to put that same drive and dedication toward everything positive."

Some of those positive things being his children. "I have alot of children, by alot of women... I was busy!" he says. When asked of his children, the artist/father took on a more serious tone. "Honestly, I think I'm like the worst father ever yo" he says in all seriousness. "The lifestyle I grew accustomed to worked wonders for MY survival, but did nothing as far as teaching me responsibility for my children."

"Im a recovering piece of shit! And that's being modest. I can honestly say these things because I am working in a different manner now. Moving in a completely different direction... For my tribe" Now a young grandfather (yes ,a GRANDFATHER) Mugs has learned through it all, there is no blessing to a human like a child. "It took for me to be homeless, dead ass broke, hungry and SOL to realize why I was going through all these things. I disrupted the natural order of my own life. Its about being a better father for me. My moves are for them..." the MC exclaims.

"My focus now is securing a prosperous future for my TEAM! My bints (daughters) and my ibn (son). I have a checkered past, very much so. Who doesn't? But without my past I wouldn't be my present self. Factz! I will grow and develop in the eyes of the Hip Hop WORLD!......"

"Walk With Me Upon The Waves.... I Will Make You My Ambassadors To Rome" - Yashua Bar Yosef