Okay, gamers, here’s a fact you might not know: One of the songs on Grand Theft Auto V is by veteran Memphis rapper M.C. Mack. “In 2017, I got a call from a guy who was interested in taking my song, ‘EZ Come, EZ Go,’” Mack says. “He originally wanted to do a loop — a mixed tape with some of my older songs. ‘EZ Come, EZ Go’ was a previous release from a Chapters of tha Mack for Life album that came out in 2001. And next thing you know, this song was on Grand Theft Auto for PlayStation 4 and Xbox.”
The game, which has sold more than 140 million copies, is the second highest-selling video game of all time.
It’s on Frank Ocean’s radio station on the game, Mack says. “Each time someone plays the video game or it’s on the radio station, it counts as a stream. So my Spotify numbers are up to three million. I still receive my royalties for each stream it’s on because I own the song outright.”
And, he says, “The younger generation thinks it’s a brand-new song, but it was recorded in 1995 and released on my CD in 2001.
“Back in the day, if you played video games, you didn’t hear rap music. It’s really cool how hip-hop has really grown with the video games.”
When he heard about his song being on the game, Mack was working on his new album, Pure Ana Vol. 6: The Grand Finale, which featured his hit single, “Sumptin’ Down.’’ “It was my first song that I got full rotation on here in Memphis,” he says.
That two-disc album features “everybody from Skinny Pimp to Frayser Boy, Gangsta Boo, La Chat, Al Kapone, and Gangsta Pat,” says Mack, who describes it as his “best album yet.”
“Sumptin’ Down,” which was getting radio play in Memphis two summers ago, was recently picked up by Chicago radio stations, Mack says. “The album still has some juice in it, even though it was released almost two years ago.”
One of his songs (“It’s Whatever Down South,” from Mack’s Kamakaze Timez Up album) was featured on the Starz network’s P-Valley series. Former Memphian and noted playwright Katori Hall is one of the producers of the show.
As a native Memphian, Mack says he couldn’t help but be musical. “It’s always been in my family. It came up from my uncle playing trumpet for Al Green, from my dad, my aunties being in the church choir, and me being a percussionist in the church, playing drum machine. It’s in the blood.”
Mack, who began writing raps in the 6th grade, and his group, BGP (Black Gangsta Posse/Mack Side), participated in talent shows in high school. At Raleigh Egypt High, where he attended, he was voted “Most Talented.”
After high school, Mack linked up with rapper Juicy J and began performing at clubs. He sold his own cassette tapes and says “Letz Make a Stain” was his first song that “really got out here in the Memphis scene.”
Mack later signed with Profit Entertainment and was featured on albums by Gangsta Boo and Project Pat before bringing out Kamakaze Timez Up and starting his own label, Kami Kaze Inc. Since 2000, he’s been releasing his “Pure Ana” series of albums, which feature Memphis hip-hop artists.
The albums opened up other doors, including an online merchandise shop — M.C. Mack Store — where he sells hoodies, jerseys, hats, beanies, and posters.
Mack says he’s about to bring out a duo album with one of his artists, Kano. Other artists in his camp include Mac-Yo and Lia Monroe.
Mack says he’s constantly working. “I always feel the more work you put out, you’re going to see a reward. God blesses us if we’re really diligent and believe in what we’re doing. Music has always been my passion. I’m going to do this till I’m gone. There are no limits to what you can do. You just go hard at it. I keep my ears to the street. This is what I do. Why stop now?”