MCNEAL

UDC: Name? Who you are. Background Information?

MN: My name is McNeal, but people call me G-Pat, I changed my name to McNeal; that’s my daddy’s last name. May he rest in peace, so… that’s what I rap under, that’s what I represent. McNeal. One. I start around fifteen just rhyming, around twenty, twenty-one I got focus and started to pursue it. I was semi-signed with Go Hard Records but things didn’t workout as plan, now I’m independent.

UDC: Explain what McNeal means 2 you?

MN: My music to me means reality, real, art, the truth, skillful, negative and positive, a good and bad. Persistence in what I’m doing that's what I’m trying to do with my music. A dream you know to accomplish what I’m trying to do. McNeal that’s what it means to me.

UDC: Who are your musical influences? Why?

MN: I would have to say my music influences are Tupac, Biggie, Jay-Z. Those three dudes brought a different tone to the game. They brought it to your ears, not only your eyes but to your ears. They influenced me not to just rap but to love it, cherish it, you know those are my influence. And right now 50 Cent. What he did was outstanding also. I give props where props are due.

UDC: At what point in time did u realize that music is what you want to do?

MN: When I was in prison that’s all I had that’s how I past my time that’s where I really I got to know myself and what I could really do. And when I rap for people they tell me I’m good, to pursue your dreams. Right now I'm just focus I’m twenty-four going on twenty-five. So around twenty, twenty-one that’s when I really realized what I wanted to do.

UDC: Is there a message or a theme in your music if so what is it?

MN: I would say that to me it’s not a message or a theme. It’s just basically me being me. Because there are going to be different songs on anyone's album and your not going to deliver the same message or the same theme on every song, so it’ s just me being me, spiting what I feel.

UDC: So what is priority number one for McNeal?

MN: Survival, God, then my music. But on the music level. Finding me a home, cause I don’t have a home right now, man as far as my music. I’ve been working with some cats like D.O.C., Sam Rosseiln, Don Juan. Just finding me a home and getting sign you know before I get to old.

UDC: How do you feel the internet has affected your genre of music and the music industry as a whole?

MN: You can go to the internet, and just get music, get any kind of music you want. And for an artist like me, underground, that no one knows of, I can be heard world-wide. It’s two big steps in the music business and it has affected it in a good way more than bad. And I advise the cats that are doing it to keep on doing it. If you got your music on the internet then that’s the best way to get your stuff world-wide right now.

UDC: Describe McNeal five years from now?

MN: I'll have dropped two albums, I guarantee that I‘ll be Gold or Platinum. More mature and in-depth to what I’m doing. Alive I hope, if the Lord let's me live to see it. Staying persistent about what I’m doing that’s the number one thing.

UDC: What types of pressures do you face as an artist in hip-hop music?

MN: Right now, a lot of record labels are looking for artist to be commercial and not so much gutter, for instance if I want to get my single on the radio it’s gotta be pertaining to women, or cars, or jewels, and party music. The pressure is basically the label wants to change the artist from who they really are to whom the label wants them to be. That‘s the pressure I face, because I like to be myself wherever I go wherever I be.

UDC: Are there any words that you would like to express to your audience?

MN: The single is on Undevco ya’ll listen to it, Already Famous. I’m a real artist, true from the ghetto, a real nigga, man. Thug to the heart, sophisticated though. Listen to my music. Love my music.

Interviewed By Exodus@undevco.com
Photography By Ean Pegram