FMM: Share your background and what led you to your music career.
They call me TONY MONTO YNOT??? Hip Hop music artist from North Philadelphia. Writing music has been my therapy for over 20 years. Ever since I was a child I can remember hanging out with my dad in the basement while he was playing all kinds of instruments and teaching me about music and ever since, music has been a part of my soul and way of living. My biggest musical influence growing up was Tupac. In 2012, I was part of a group called M.O.R “Men of Respect” that was put together by formally rocafella artist Peedi Crakk. He was a great mentor and that would always be an experience I would be grateful for. In 2015, I separated from the group and moved to Springfield, MA and went solo to build my own name, brand and start my label Y.E.M.G (YNOT ENTERTAINMENT MUSIC GROUP.) my goal is to make a positive impact to my community by giving the youth opportunities to pursue their love for music and be a Mentor in their journey. Music has saved me from my addictions and hopefully by putting my life story and experiences onto the mic, my music can help one person changed for the better.
FMM: You have been praised for your musical storytelling. How has writing music been your therapy for over 20 years?
The last 20 years I have crossed path with a lot of hard roads and challenges that were difficult to overcome which led me to my drug addiction and If it wasn’t for music being an outlet to turn my pain into a song who knows where I would be today. Living in a city with a high crime rate, I had to witness a lot of deaths in my family and wished I could have helped them off the streets before the streets took their life. Hence why I’m so passionate about writing my story through music so I can be a positive example to these kids and show that I am a fighter and if I can overcome these obstacles of being a homeless drug addict to a successful music artist, it would give them hope that anyone can achieve their dreams. Im so grateful for every lesson though out my journey because its what makes a great story to tell when it’s your actual life being put on paper and turned into a great hit song. Many things are hard to talk about, but putting my life story in a song and releasing it into world is so therapeutic.
FMM: Your sound has been known to combine the energy of old school rap with the melodic edge of the contemporary scene. Take us through your creative process when developing songs.
My creative process when making a song comes from a feeling I get when I hear a beat or maybe watching a movie, or just taking my daughter to school and see something that will trigger my creative thought process and I have to stop what I’m doing and create right away before I lose the feeling or the emotion to create the next song and I know it sounds kind of weird but that’s how I make hit songs.
FMM: Tell us about your new single titled “Really Like.”
REALLY LIKE” is a old song from one of my favorite artist FABULOUS when I heard the beat it had the sound of todays Philly hiphop dance scene. when I played the beat for my daughter “NUNU” she just started dancing and I started visualizing myself in the club having a great time while everyone around me is partying having a good time listening to my song. And I knew I had to write this song and it will be a hit.
FMM: You just launched your brand new album: Og Tony “the Last Og.” Why is this album resonating with fans?
The “LAST OG” is from the golden era of hip hop and with the music scene- constantly changing, I wanted to create something that the youth of today can relate too with the feeling of that old school hip hop when it was at its peak. I want them to experience that bounce, that feel good music.
FMM: What will people be surprised to know about you?
Fun fact about me that people will be surprised to know is I have a speech impediment since I was a child, I stutter when I talk, especially when I get excited about a project. you would never be able to tell when you listen to my music. I never told anyone this, but I remember when I was in high school the kids use to make fun of me and call me stuttering Stanley. Good times!
FMM: How are your community and giving youth opportunities?
The way I want to give back to my community and give opportunities to the youth is to open a non profit organization for the arts. A program where kids can go to after school and do music, dance or art to keep them away from the streets and help them focus on what they really love doing. open doors for them to grow their creativity in a healthy setting with no worries about paying for a program. And I would like to have a non profit rehabilitation center for the homeless in our streets suffering from drug addiction. Sometimes you just need someone to give you a hand to pull you out of a dark place and I want to be that person to show them the light and help them from my own personal experiences.
FMM: Share your projects for 2023.
This year is filled with lots of exciting things. I will be going on tour with Judah Priest in May. I’m working on a movie that I wrote, “Game Changer” stay tuned! I’m also planning to do a Music showcase fund raiser this summer and the proceeds will go towards helping the homeless of Philadelphia. This year is about spreading love and positivity one day at a time and to give back to those in need.
Website:
https://tonymontoynot.wixsite.com/mysite
IG:
https://instagram.com/tony_monto_ynot?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Album “ last OG”
https://music.apple.com/us/album/og-tony-the-last-og/1603113570