PAYPA

In an industry where hip-hop acts have become dispensable, Marcus Moody, aka PAYPA, is determined to secure his place among the greats. PAYPA grew up as a military-brat, and claimed home in the southside of Chicago where he was raised. Later, PAYPA and his parents would eventually make the move to Southern California. Overcoming the distance from home, PAYPA made sure he stuck with his Chicago roots. A weekend trip turned into spending summers and holidays in The Windy City, fueling him to represent his hometown with purpose. As far as music goes, PAYPA will tell you that he “just kind of fell into the music game.” When his younger brother passed away from kidney failure, Paypa was compelled to continue his brother's legacy through music and performance. "My brother was the performer, and I was always the quiet and laidback one," he recalls. Over the past ten years, Paypa vowed to make his mark in the music industry so that his brother could live on through his music. Now 26, Paypa is ready to share his story with the world.

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PAYPA’s Fall 2009 mixtape release, 24 Hours from Greatness, gives his fans a taste of what’s to come. His debut album, entitled Feel Good Music, showcases an evolution of PAYPA’s character, determination, and his ongoing journey through life. “That’s gonna be the project to look out for,” he says. “It’s going to be an emotional rollercoaster. You’re gonna laugh, cry, get mad, wanna fight, wanna party, and even wanna go to church.” Feel Good Music illustrates PAYPA’s point of view through various influences, fulfilling a wide range of musical tastes. Listeners will be taken from Southern street swag (“Way Back”) to the reminiscence of the 80’s New-Wave dance vibes (“2-14”), then return to his hip-hop backbone with club hits like “Stack of 20’s” and “Mall Sex.” “I’m taking you everywhere and back home. They don’t really make artists like me!” PAYPA adds. Like fellow Chicagoan Kanye West, PAYPA refuses to be boxed-in. “I’m getting a lot of recognition for my diversity, and the ability to work in many different lanes artistically,” he adds.

As far as growing up, “I had a good life, I can’t even lie,” says PAYPA. “Both of my grandmothers were teachers – one a college Teacher at Hampton University in Virginia, the other taught at a high school in Chicago. Even though we lived in the middle of the hood, I was very sheltered growing up. But that didn’t keep me from seeing what happened around me. I saw a lot, and I tried to capture much of it in my music.” Paypa recently signed with S.R.C./Universal Records and is currently in the studio recording his debut album, FEEL GOOD MUSIC. While focusing intently on his music, PAYPA also sees the big picture. Like his musical heroes (Scarface, TuPac, Nas, Ice Cube, and Jay-Z), PAYPA realizes that this is a stepping-stone to becoming a well-rounded superstar. “This is just the beginning,” he stresses. “After establishing myself as an artist, I want to start making mogul moves. I want to own restaurants, real estate, and most importantly, secure a future for my family.”