Saturday nights on Ozcat radio, Vallejo hip-hop artists tell stories of struggle and perseverance

Vallejo – Vallejo has been the birthplace of many famous musicians and hip-hop artists, from Mac Dre to E-40 to HER, and for 10 years, Ozcat Radio’s “Underground Slapz” show has been the centerpiece of Vallejo’s hip-hop scene. It is the epicenter.

The show’s host, Marcel “DJ Flashback” Jones, grew up playing hip-hop music, rapping and making beats and knew firsthand how difficult it is for independent artists to get airtime. I’m here. “I really wanted an underground hip-hop show,” said Jones. He started his ‘Underground Slapz’ show in 2012 on his Ozcat radio.

Despite Vallejo’s rich music scene, before Ozcat Radio and Underground Slapz, Vallejo didn’t have many local outlets for future artists.

“I didn’t really realize how big it was until I tried it for years,” Jones said. “Then I realized that these bigger artists hit me to be on the show.” I receive music from

Over the years, Jones has interviewed thousands of artists for Underground Slapz. “Vallejo has so much talent and it’s ridiculous,” Jones said.

Vallejo favorites who have attended his shows include Mac Mall, Turf Talk, Celly Cel, The Mossie, D-Shot, Suga-T of the Click, Yhung TO of SOB x RBE, LOTS, Salsalino, Sir V Wood, Silent200, Mac, etc. Mace, GetitIndi, Merry He Mel.

The show’s long list of notable guests from the Greater Bay Area includes Mistah FAB and Symba.

Jones occasionally receives offers from artists to pay him to perform their music, but he said airtime is not for sale. “Here, it’s all non-stop, it’s all different, it’s all really great, and it’s supposed to be on major radio and it’s not,” Jones said.

Underground Slapz also features live performances by studio guests. One Saturday night in early March saw Berkeley rapper Tru Money perform two of his live sets. Tru Money’s rapid-fire lyrics have a compressed energy that extends well beyond the size of his tiny, lithe frame.

I never turn my back on my family, that’s all.
I’m the one who turns pennies into 100 racks

Tru Money said Jones contacted him in early 2021 after seeing his Instagram page. “He wanted to catch me before I exploded,” True Money said.

His latest YouTube post, “The Life I Live,” has 29,000 views in two days

True Money says he was born into poverty. “We weren’t growing up much, and I want to change that for the whole family.”

However, he admits that music is a difficult industry to compete in. “It’s also about having really good music. You have to hone your craft and perfect it.”

To that end, he has invested heavily in both promotion and quality music production.

“I speak from the heart. I tell stories in my music,” said Tru Money. He said that if people listened, they would hear him talk about his struggles, how to keep his head high and push through no matter what.

“It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, whether you’re making music or building your career with a 9-to-5 job. Trust the process,” said Tru Money. “Don’t give up on yourself.”

Next up is Vallejo’s Mof DayDay.

I saw a nigga die as fast as they blink
Close that back door and watch over the company you maintain.

Mof DayDay has been active in the Vallejo hip-hop scene since 2017 and recently released their first album ‘Orphan of the Village’.

In a post-set interview for Mof DayDay, Jones asked:

“Be around the right type of people who keep you out of trouble,” Mof DayDay replied.

Mof DayDay was sent to juvenile hall when he was 13 years old. His grandmother intervened and had him sent to foster care instead. For his Mof DayDay, who describes the group home environment as “a crab in a bucket,” it was a blessing of sorts.

“A lot of people I grew up with committed suicide. They couldn’t handle it,” said Moff Deday. “Some have brought prison back home. I have a few brothers who call prison home. All they know is the system.”

“Before I had kids, I was one of them. So I can talk about it,” Mof DayDay said. Even so, I was doing stupid things for my love.”

Here is his message to young people in the same situation: It doesn’t last forever. I made it, you can make it.

Mr Jones added: It’s not just about playing music, it’s about giving young people a little hope and pointing them in the right direction. ”

Mof DayDay is working on his second album, which delves deeper into his experiences growing up in a group home. “That’s why I started doing music, to reach out to the crowd I’m from,” he said.

Last Saturday, Jones interviewed Fairfield artist 2 EZ in between playing the latest music.

2 EZ has appeared on “Underground Slapz” from the beginning. He said he has had many ups and downs in his 12 years of music career. He’s been rapping all his life, but started taking it seriously around 2011. His 2018 song “Fucked Up” got a lot of plays.

“I felt so dope that someone would come in and put money in and help me out,” said 2 EZ. I really couldn’t put anything together.

2 EZ says he nearly gave up on music after that disappointment. But he realized that whether or not he made the music louder, he had to do it because “that fire burns so deep.”

2 EZ said, “I’m in good shape, so I don’t mind.” “I make music for me.”

He says he now understands that he needs to build a music brand like any other business. increase.

“People don’t realize how rough it is,” Jones said. “I’ve seen hundreds of them come in and maybe rap for three or four years and get frustrated with it. You can’t be a dope rapper these days. No, it takes more.” “

2 EZ featured his new song “Keep Watching” as one of the most personal recordings he’s ever made while sleeping in his car 20 years ago.

No registration when the roller starts rolling
How did you stay focused, homeless here
I don’t know the way, but I knew where I was going
I told them to ‘keep looking’

“Oh, it’s real music. It’s a real story,” said Jones. “You can feel the pain. That’s what underground hip-hop is all about.”

Underground Slapz expanded beyond radio shows. Jones released his compilation album Underground Slapz: The Compilation Volume 1 in 2019, and in 2017 launched his series of live on-air concerts Underground Slapz-Step to the Mic. , but Jones says he plans to restore it by early 2024.

“Underground Slapz” airs Saturday nights from 9pm to 2am on Ozcat Radio. Send your music to Jones at his 707slapz@gmail.com for airtime consideration or follow his DJ Flashback on Instagram @djflashback707.