Oakland-born Merc100Man stands as one of Latin rap's most influential found… Read Full Bio ↴Oakland-born Merc100Man stands as one of Latin rap's most influential founding fathers, often cited as an important cultural influence by professors of Chicano Studies at UC and CSU institutions. Merc100 (formerly credited as Merciless) is perhaps best known for his work as the heart and soul of legendary rap crew Funky Aztecs, who released hit LPs “Chicano Blues” and “Dia de los Muertos” in 1992 and 1996 respectively – both of which featured fellow TNT records artist Tupac Shakur. The album cover of “Chicano Blues” alone is renowned as an infamous icon of Latino rap history. With his fellow Aztecs he released the integral records “Addicted” and “Real Tales of the Funky Aztecs” in ’99 and 2000. “Addicted” featured the single, “Morena,” which became a global radio sensation.

These releases not only solidified Merc100Man and the Funky Aztecs in the chronicles of rap history, but also ratified the social identity of Mexican-American urban youth nationwide. Merc100's music is a product of the same street element that birthed such seminal writers as Tupac, Ice Cube and Scarface. It influenced a cultural subgenre of hip-hop that celebrates certain alpha males of the thug environment who can speak eloquently, party hard, and fight for what they believe in.

Following the dissolution of the Funky Aztecs, Merc100Man joined the all-star Houston rap group Lone Star Ridaz with fellow Vallejo rap prodigy Baby Bash, infamous rapper South Park Mexican, and multi-platinum record producer Happy Perez. This resulted in two LPs, “Wanted” and “40 Dayz / 40 Nightz” on Dope House Records.

Merc100Man began recording as a solo artist shortly thereafter, his first full-length album appearing in 2001. This remarkable double LP, “Step Into My World,” spans a full 25 original tracks and established Merc's identity as a solo artist. 2004 saw his second, much more personal record, “Flesh and Ink.” Both records feature and were produced by Lone Star Ridaz alumnus Happy Perez.

Merc100Man’s newest album, the early 2013 release “Young, Fly, and Self-Employed,” is everything his old style was and a little more: a little more classy, a little more funky, and a little more intellectual. The record boasts 16 tracks that comprise nearly a full hour’s worth of heavy-hitting, old-school rap compositions. This rap is hard as stone, with Merc rapping almost without accompaniment – the way it used to be. The album isn’t all rhythm and muscle, though. It’s chock full of heart, too. Part of this intensity stems from Merc's tragic and ill-timed disagreement with Texas law enforcement.

Merc100Man was convicted of marijuana possession in Texas and sentenced to eight years’ prison, which he began serving in 2010. With the help of Happy Perez, production of “Young, Fly, and Self-Employed” continued. “I recorded as much as I could before and while in Prison,” Merc says. “It was hard to get things in and out. I recorded some verses over the phone.” The record was completed under these remarkable conditions and published under his own, new independent label “5-Star G Entertainment,” which he started with his brother, Q.

Merc100′s had some rough spots, but he tells fans to keep their chins up. “Be yourself,” he has said. “Express yourself without any barriers, and if you have made some bad decisions in life, it doesn’t mean you can’t move forward and be positive, or even be a positive influence on the people around you. I've just been released from prison, but that doesn’t mean my life is over. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Just because I’m a felon doesn't mean I’m stuck in life, or that I have to dwell in the past for my mistakes, keep myself down or think of myself as a loser. So I can’t vote – that’s the only thing I can’t do now. As for the rest, the sky’s the limit for me; I’m ‘Young, Fly and Self-Employed.’”

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