It is the Wednesday of Hampton University’s Homecoming, and Mothoro is on the stage. Holding a microphone in hand, he is looking around at the packed block party that was hosted by DJ Envy. He recites the lyrics to his song When I’m in LA. Mothoro stands there watching people in the crowd, and he couldn’t contain the smile on his face.
From his first performance in the fifth grade at Baldwin Hills Elementary School to here, Mothoro has come a long way. But he says, “I still got more to accomplish.” As the song came to an end, people still continued to recite the lyrics as he stood in place and vibe out with the beat that he produced.
“My father bought me a beat maker for Christmas in middle school. I would make beats —I didn’t rap over them until I got good. It wasn’t until the 10th grade when I dropped The Realest and it got a hundred thousand views on WORLDSTAR. That’s when I started to take it serious!”
When talking about his second album Thorolyfe: Execution, Mothoro constantly mentions his father as inspiration. Growing up in a split household he spent majority of his time with his father in the San Fernando Valley. “San Fernando Valley was different than Los Angeles in the sense that the kids in the Valley felt like they can do anything. In South Central, people didn’t feel the entitlement but I would much rather hang around people in South Central,” Mothoro explains as he reminisces about his childhood. While Mothoro’s father lived in the Valley, his mother resided in South Central.
“My mother’s living situation wasn’t stable, so we moved frequently. We lived at different apartment complexes. I remembered one, where all the kids would be outsides playing cops and robbers. I would join in and play with them. Everyone knew each other in the building.” Mothoro says, as he gets comfortable in the chair.
“In South Central I met my best friend Rausal. He is more than a best friend—he’s my brother and business partner,” the rapper says. “We actually only went to school from preschool to the first grade. After that I moved schools, but we have been close ever since.”
Growing up with Rausal from a young age and having a passion for music, it was only natural for them to form a music duo, MnR and a record label, LFTFLD.
“LFTFLD is left field without the vowels. It’s a record label as well as a collective of individuals who believe in the laws of attraction,” he says. “What you put out in the universe comes back.” Passion is what drives Mothoro to put out a mixtape, an EP, and one album with his second album releasing November 8, 2017.
Mothoro released his first album professionally in 2015, Thorolyfe: Transition. Transition was about the transition from high school in LA to college in VA.” Mothoro explains as he sits up in chair with a huge grin on his face.
“Thorolyfe: Transition is personal and relatable. I talked about personal experiences—adjusting to college, getting the hang of college life, things that I notice, and females.” He laughs as he rubs his hand across his face. “All I am trying to do is relay my experience through my albums.”
Thorolyfe: Execution,releases November 8, 2017. It is Mothoro’s second installment to Thorolyfe. “This is a new sound incorporated in Mothoro.” He laughs once he realize he is talking about himself in third person. “I am singing more. This album is a lot more melodic —it is the same personal Mothoro but just a new feel. There are more vibing out beats —Thorolyfe: Execution is an upgrade of Transition.”
Mothoro sits up, still talking with so much excitement in his voice. His charismatic personality is showcased in this very more as he gathers his thoughts. Not once did he remove the smile plastered on his face. As he looked me directly in my eyes he finishes off by saying, “Thorolyfe is special to me— it’s a bookmark of different phases in my life.”
Make sure you keep an eye out for Mothoro. Thorolyfe: Execution is available on iTunes, TiDAL, Spotify, and Google Play. You can find Mothoro on social media everywhere @mothoro.
Photo Courtesy of MARIAH MINGOES Edit: JORDAN PARKER Creative Director: MARIAH MINGOES