For rap fans in the late 2010’s, the name Mozzy struck a chord with his initial catapult into the mainstream. A week wouldn’t go by without hearing about Mozzy’s music – be it praises, condemnation or defense, depending on who was talking about him or through entertainment media.
All of these situations, legal and otherwise, conclude that everyone had some kind of passionate opinion or take on Mozzy’s life and music. Here at UBO MAG, we want to offer a balance to the narrative that far too often tends to sway hard to one side or another, completely ignoring the gray area that always exists in any circumstance.
Mozzy, born Timothy Cornell Patterson was born June 24, ‘87 in the subdivision of Oak Park, one of the first neighborhoods, bordering the south-east side of the Downtown Sacramento grid in California.
He grew up on 4th avenue in Oak Park, finding his way as both of his parents were absent in his life. With no parents, he was raised by his Grandmother, Brenda Patterson-Usher who was a known member of the Black Panther Party and an entrepreneur who owned several homes throughout the Oak Park area.
With Grandma’s influence in raising young Mozzy, he eventually attended Sacramento High School before ultimately dropping out and receiving his GED. Afterwards he worked various odd jobs while performing under the name Lil Tim alongside his uncle, Genaro “GP the Beast” Patterson around ‘04.
Grinding constantly, in ‘10, he released the single “U Ain’t Really Like Dat” which played a major influence in Mozzy’s decision to pursue music full time. Working with Oakland Rapper, Philthy Rich in ‘14, Mozzy released one of his best known tracks, “I’m Just Being Honest.” This track, in turn led to the start of many legal problems as rapper YG took notice and viewed it as a shot. This became the lead-up to when Mozzy caught the attention of the music industry, releasing 10 mixtape projects between 2011-2016. Creating so much buzz that Complex Magazine took notice and named Mozzy the artist with the most promising run.
This same song, “I’m Just Being Honest” not only had YG feeling some kind of way but also another local rapper, Lavish D. The song just added more fuel to the fire of an already existing ongoing feud between the two. Subsequently, this is the part where real life and music intertwine as it leads to gang violence resulting in nine shootings between the two rivals in the Sacramento area.
From 2005-2008, Mozzy was arrested for an array of possession crimes mainly weapons, this all came to a head when in 2014, the rapper was sentenced to San Quentin State Prison where he served his time. After his release in ‘15, Mozzy had made the decision to focus purely on music which led to numerous offers to perform around the world. Due to being on parole, Mozzy couldn’t leave the state until ‘17. Again in ‘18 while in Las Vegas, Mozzy was arrested for weapon possession which was found during a traffic stop, resulting in serving another 10-months, being released in May of 2023.
Throughout all of this, Mozzy has not diminished his drive to create music. Currently, Mozzy released his sixth studio album “Survivor’s Guilt” in ‘22 while still incarcerated. This is the part where the fantasy of what you portray and the reality that tests you from that meet. To be fair, Hip Hop has always had its controversial figures highlighted for more for the wrongs than the rights they do.
This is the point where Hip Hop and rap artists themselves can choose to use Hip Hop Culture and their music as a vehicle to propel them in the right direction so we can continue to appreciate their music and presence for a long time to come. It is important for young people to see these artists in a positive light that is uplifting, reflective and insightful. Life is never easy but to see someone go through it and rise up through music is something amazing.
Everybody deserves the opportunity at a second chance, clean from all the stipulations the system puts upon them to keep them trapped in a seemingly never ending cycle of recidivism. The most important message in this article is that youth can help break this cycle and give a pathway to others as they themselves lead by example – using their pens to create verses that give birth to a life that they may have never sought after or fully imagined.
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