The once sprawling landscape of gangsta rap has dwindled into modest territory, where only a choice few have been able to survive the ecosystem and flourish in its habitat. West Coast rapper Mozzy has yet to stamp his name as a premier gangsta rapper in terms of mainstream recognition or hit records, however, he's already regarded as one of the more lauded orators California has produced in recent memory. Hailing from Sacramento, which boasts a rap lineage that is modest at best when compared to the likes of Los Angeles and the Bay Area, Mozzy's countenance may not scream superstar, but his music and authenticity is as reputable as it gets.

Raised in the Oak Park section of Sacramento, Mozzy, the son of a drug-addicted mother and an incarcerated father, was raised primarily by his grandmother, a former member of the Black Panther Party. Dropping out of high school before later earning his GED, Mozzy would become entrenched in the streets, leading to multiple arrests between 2005 and 2008, on charges ranging from drug possession to possession of a firearm. Originally rhyming under the name Lil' Tim, Mozzy would take on his new moniker in 2012, with the release of his first indie album, Money Means Mozzy. Following that project, he slowly built his buzz via a succession of solo releases in addition to appearances alongside the likes of YG, Nef The Pharoah and Philthy Rich.

After a stint in San Quentin State Prison in 2014, Mozzy returned to the music scene with a renewed hunger, unleashing four solo albums the following year and tripling that output in 2016 via solo and collaborative projects. His work ethic makes him one of the more prolific artists in all of rap. This year has only been a continuation of Mozzy's success, with two collaborative releases—one with Blac Youngsta (Can't Fake Real the Real) and another with Gunplay (Dreadlocks & Headshots)—in addition to his latest solo offering, 1 Up Top Ahk. XXL recently spoke with Mozzy regarding his new album and his lyrical impact.

With guest appearances including YFN Lucci, Jay Rock, Boosie Badazz, Lil Durk, Dave East, Rexx Life Raj, E Mozzy and others, 1 Up Top Ahk finds Mozzy sharing the wealth with cohorts from all regions and coasts, making for a well-rounded offering.

With 1 Up Top Ahk announcing the return of one of the West Coast's most promising acts, XXL shares 20 of the best lyrics from Mozzy's latest long-player.

  • "Mandated"

    Mozzy Featuring June

    "Two, two tres be chewin' through the load/All that super sick shit'll get you super soaked/My fingas twisted up, this who I do it for/The leather Italian, I'm countin thousands in a UFO/Shooters on go, but why you ain't go?/Mad Max threw a couple of 'em, but what you throw?" - Mozzy

  • "Mandated"

    Mozzy Featuring June

    "Ain't no lookin' back baby, we goin' straight for it/Classification is top rank, I don't take orders/Ben Baller got the nigga Philthy chain water/I'm finna pull up on that fool and place the same order/I prayed for it, it finally came, we on now/Makin' sure I make enough doughy that I can toy around" - Mozzy

  • "Like You Say You Do"

    Mozzy

    "It's traumatizing watching bullets penetrate a body/Without a body, niggas treat you like you ain't nobody/You know I got it, I'm bagging up all this powder/Purchase 20 P's, all sour/Be there in a hour, 1750 on the counter/I promise it's all there, you could count it/I never got an allowance/Now I'm up a couple hundred thousand/Slither through the hood, I'm just browsing"

  • "Take It Up With God"

    Mozzy Featuring Celly Ru

    "I dropped a few tears and I couldn't help it/Niggas died behind the steel, feeling helpless/I don't feel no better, slidin' with his facials on my sweater/Represent this Mays block shit forever/That's on my Uncle Trevor/My lil brother passed, I held his momma/Put that on my dead son bruh, I got her, it's forever" - Celly Ru

  • "Sleep Walkin"

    Mozzy

    "Ay, we done came a long way, traveled down the wrong way/They ain't find no shell cases, thankful for the cold case/Thankful for the prostitutes, assuming that we soulmates/Thankful for the big homie, coached me through the dope game/Boogers clutter both chains, Euros hugging both lanes/Caught up in this style of living, couldn't if I want to change"

  • "Sleep Walkin"

    Mozzy

    "All them trials and tribulations, bail enhancements and arraignments/Affidavits and them statements, waiting game, so I waited/The numbers double up when niggas labeled gang related/Plus I'm in and out of family court for Dooters, shit was brazy/Child Protective Services, only thing can break me/Family of a murder victim, only reason you should hate me"

  • "Tomorrow Ain't Promised"

    Mozzy Featuring E Mozzy, Boosie BadAzz and Rexx Life Raj

    "Minimum wage, I remember them days/Digital clock, see what it physically say/Now we sipping this paint, uplifted the rank/I pull out 30K when I dip in the paint/Oh, what a beautiful day, the day that my shooters get paid/Pay ’em to chew off ya face, think that I'm truly insane/Lately been losing my faith, look what I do for the game/They did like two in a day/we did a few in a day" - Mozzy

  • "Tomorrow Ain't Promised"

    Mozzy featuring E Mozzy, Boosie BadAzz and Rexx Life Raj

    "Niggas dying everyday, what do we do about/A nigga making threats with a tech, shoot it out/Niggas changing like the weather on a nigga/Ain't too many hoping better for a nigga/Good heart, I'm the type to give my sweater to a nigga/From the start, hope my killers never have a change of heart/You told in the end, but for so long, she played the part/You either push dope or get a job and push the cart" - Boosie BadAzz

  • "Momma We Made It"

    Mozzy Featuring Jay Rock

    "Niggas eavesdropping, they double back and relay it/I can't respect ya gangsta if all your jewelry is plated/I'm really bout this paper, know nothing about a vacation/Gotta chase it, hawkin' this million, bitch, I can taste it/Stogie hella bulky, we pour up for elevation/Have patience, fuck all that waitin, where the bag at?/A half a ticket ain't satisfying, already bagged that" - Mozzy

  • "Momma We Made It"

    Mozzy Featuring Jay Rock

    "Military, Artillery/Nigga I just left the cemetery, another shooter obituary/Scared man is a dead man, I ain't scary/Red mobbin, top head shotta, who you buried?/You never carried wounded soldiers off the battle field/A killer like the morning after pill, it get active here/The red bottom sneaker box, that was a rapper deal" - Mozzy

  • "Outside"

    Mozzy Featuring Dave East, Lil Durk and Lex Aura

    "Do it for my jurisdiction/That's who niggas tryna better/I don't even tuck the chain/Bet you niggas try it never/He accomplice in the sting/Bet you niggas die together/Really outside for the doughy/Like never mind the weather/I be getting sick without slime/I need a pint or better" - Mozzy

  • "Outside"

    Mozzy Featuring Dave East, Lil Durk and Lex Aura

    "Even with this status that I got, I keep the glizzy cocked/You don't dance, well this your chance/Bullets make you milly rock/I'm a Muslim with this pole/I be getting busy, ahk/Taking trips up on the highway, hope the narcs don't try and stop me/I'm a high speed, what's going, they'll try to pop me" - Lil Durk

  • "Outside"

    Mozzy Featuring Dave East, Lil Durk and Lex Aura

    "Chicken wings and fried rice, I broke night outside/Fuck with these niggas, I tried/In love with these bitches, I lied/I slide like I'm on roller skates/I hear you rapping 'bout drugs, don't know how coca taste/Jealous niggas supposed to hate/Ain't get a chance to re-up, fuck it, I sold ’em shake/16 shots, Kobe rookie year, you holding eight" - Dave East

  • "Stay Over There"

    Mozzy Featuring Koly P and YFN Lucci

    "Half a eight in the cup, fell asleep on the gwala/It get murky in these waters, blood be wit piranhas/And we don't do the drive-bys, we on feet wit the llama/Pick him off, drop the yicki off and meet at my momma's/They say the vehicle description was a purple Impala/My lil nigga eating, he just murder for commas - Mozzy

  • "M.I.P. Jacka"

    Mozzy featuring The Jacka

    "Pops had a few bands I thought that shit was a million/Now I'm 20,000 fans at the Concord Pavilion/Damn, started sniffin' white, lean make you sleep your life away/Hunnid bands from a thousand grams in a microwave/Niggas taking pictures with they cannons, but who life you save/Laying til' the night, shootin' dice in my Michael J's" - The Jacka

  • "M.I.P. Jacka"

    Mozzy Featuring The Jacka

    "Touched my first 50, went and gave my momma 35/She was finna put up 60, told her I deserve the time/Took a seat in church, my family told me, it don't hurt to try/It's therapeutic for you baby, it don't hurt to cry/I had to work for mines, mingle in the dirt and grind/I overcame my obstacles and struggles, I deserve to shine" - Mozzy

  • "Afraid"

    Mozzy Featuring Dcmbr

    "Yeah, lately been doing these numbers/Working and working you know I deserve it/Yeah, my future was never for certain/We had to use dish liquid for detergent/Yeah, pop a whole lot of perkys/Yeah, still idolize David A Perkins/Yeah, make it drizzle while she twerkin'/Gang tatted on the bitch in cursive" - Mozzy

  • "Prayed for This"

    Mozzy

    "In the comfort of my home, getting high in the dark/Hard to carry on and live life when you scarred, yeah/I remember nights we was starved/The struggle that you go through defines who you are/Margiela cleats when it's time to go to war/Showing up for a fat k-da with a sword/It ain't hard to tell that my gang outdoors/On the hunt, scoring up on anything you adore"

  • "Prayed for This"

    Mozzy

    "Never kept score of that dough I divided/Though you my brother, I know you conniving/Moment of silence, this for the rivals/I pray that you die, on the bible/Them choppers don't spin in a spiral/They hit something vital and that was for Diamond/Poverty-stricked, in my trenches, it's slimey/They bring up my demons, why must you remind me"

  • "Can't Take It (Ima Gangsta)"

    Mozzy Featuring Bobby Luv

    "All these niggas fallin' off they ain't falling back/I'm countin' money momentarily Imma call you back/He told the pigs you was present that’s what we call a rat/Quit speakin' down on my gangsta if you ain’t talkin' fact/Momma used to choke slam us just for talkin' back/Gangsta rap died with ’Pac, Mozzy brought it back" - Mozzy

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