3.28.2025
Mozzy Drops “NIGHTMARES,” a Powerful New Single and Video, Featuring Jacksonville’s Lil Poppa
“NIGHTMARES” Will Appear on INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, His Next Album, Coming Soon via EMPIRE
In the New Video From His Forthcoming Follow-Up to 2024’s CHILDREN OF THE SLUMS, Mozzy and Lil Poppa Attempt to Persist Through Sleepless Nights in the “NIGHTMARES” Video
Critical Praise:
“Mozzy is the flip side of that coin, conscience-stricken and tormented by every loss. Less than a year removed from a stint in federal prison, there is seemingly even greater caution to his music now, turning his matter-of-fact disposition in an even more poignant direction. Mozzy, who recently said he was “not one to glorify his L’s,” has moved into a hyper-reflective position on his new album, Children of the Slums.” – NPR
“He never needs to raise his voice or act out just to grab your attention; his delivery is assured and consistent but never overconfident. But despite how second nature rapping is for Mozzy, he never lets that confidence tilt into arrogance.” – Pitchfork
“Mozzy is the definition of a rapper in the zone, with a signal-to-noise ratio that rivals anyone else working in hip-hop today.” – Complex
“Chalk it up as a victory for Sacramento’s lyrical champion.” – HipHopDX
Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest West Coast Rap Songs of All Time (#68, “Bladadah”)
The Announcement:
Mozzy‘s music radiates the mental strength required to navigate street life and emerge with your soul intact. Today, Mozzy shares “NIGHTMARES,” a new collaboration with Jacksonville rapper Lil Poppa, and its accompanying music video. “NIGHTMARES” will appear on INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, Mozzy’s next album, coming soon via EMPIRE.
Lifted by mournful piano and ethereal vocal samples, “NIGHTMARES” chronicles the painful memories that give Mozzy insomnia, as he struggles to balance his desire for revenge with the sanctity of his soul: “Please forgive me for the sins I’m about to commit/But I can’t rest until them n****s is restin’ in p*ss/The division in our trenches is affecting the kids/If I’m the one to take the blame, I accept what it is.” Lil Poppa shines on the hook, as he echoes Mozzy’s process : “But I can’t take it no more/Hiding my pain with a smile/But I can’t fake it no more/There ain’t no peace when your heart and your mind at war.” Arriving with a new video, shot in crisp black-and-white, “NIGHTMARES” follows Mozzy’s recent video for “UNDER OATH.”
Mozzy’s upcoming INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS is the proper follow-up to CHILDREN OF THE SLUMS, one of his most personal projects to date, released in 2024 via CMG/Interscope. Across 17 revealing tracks, Mozzy chronicles the hardships of those born into poverty–many of whom appear in photos on the album’s cover–and details their daily trials and tribulations. The album is home to singles like “FREE JUJU,” salutes a young man who lost his way, even after Mozzy took him under his wing, “JADED,” a heartfelt collaboration with Eric Bellinger, the lyrical “MISS BIG BRUH,” and “IF I DIE RIGHT NOW,” a moving tribute to Mozzy’s late grandmother. Praised by The New York Times and NPR, among others, the album also hosts highlights like “RED NOSE BULLY” and “LOST IT ALL” ft. Fridayy.
Later in 2024, Mozzy switched the vibes up, connecting with frequent duet partner Kalan.FrFr for LUCKY HER, a 10-track collaborative album. Filled with hard-nosed bars and melodic hooks alike, LUCKY HER combines R&B, rider music, and street rap into a synthesis that could only have come from the West Coast. A departure from Mozzy’s usual style, the Oak Park native finds himself perfectly at home in Kalan’s high-rolling L.A. lifestyle, presenting songs that are flirtatious and out of pocket, but doesn’t sacrifice the realness for which both emcees are known. Home to the single “BBL” ft. Rob49 and featuring additional guest appearances from Skilla Baby and Shordie Shordie, LUCKY HER is available on all platforms via EMPIRE.
Mozzy’s next album continues his run as one of the most acclaimed and popular street rappers of his generation. He has earned two GOLD certifications from the RIAA as a lead artist–“Excuse Me” and “Sleep Walkin–and three more on his collaborations with Skylar Grey, Likybo, and $tupid Young. Mozzy earned mainstream recognition in 2018, when his song “Sleep Walkin” was featured in a pivotal scene in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther, and he earned a shout out from Kendrick Lamar in his Grammy Award acceptance speech. His street classic “Bladadah” placed #68 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Best West Coast Rap Songs of All Time.
Stay tuned for more information about Mozzy and INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS in the coming weeks.
Watch “NIGHTMARES” ft. Lil Poppa: https://youtu.be/aKqhIqe-QqA?si=2dZGjM6dvSr37pmc
Stream “NIGHTMARES” ft. Lil Poppa: https://music.empi.re/nightmaremozzy
Photo credit: Nick Walker
Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.
Links:
official site | instagram | twitter | youtube | spotify | apple
“NIGHTMARES” ft. Lil Poppa: https://music.empi.re/nightmaremozzy / https://youtu.be/aKqhIqe-QqA?si=2dZGjM6dvSr37pmc
“UNDER OATH”: https://music.empi.re/underoathmozzy / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5PvacJ87w4
Mozzy & Kalan.FrFr – LUCKY HER: https://music.empi.re/luckyher
Mozzy & Kalan.FrFr – “BBL” ft. Rob49: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgKIvcOL-fY
“LOST IT ALL” ft. Fridayy (Lyric Video): https://mozzy.lnk.to/LOSTITALLVideo
CHILDREN OF THE SLUMS: https://mozzy.lnk.to/ChildrenOfTheSlums
“RED NOSE BULLY”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WQDcIKqMX4
“JADED” ft. Eric Bellinger: https://Mozzy.lnk.to/Jaded / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3NOqXE2fPo
“FREE JUJU”: https://Mozzy.lnk.to/FREEJUJUVideo / https://Mozzy.lnk.to/FREEJUJU
“Ain’t On Sh*t” ft. Lil Zay Osama: https://mozzy.lnk.to/AINTONSHIT / https://youtu.be/GHw5oAVxUwM?si=Q2o2z-1yofsrbxba
“IF I DIE RIGHT NOW”: https://mozzy.lnk.to/ifidierightnow / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7UVt7KUkj4
“Count Time”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oaaW-sPj1M&
“10 Percent”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rZq8S5dpKk
KOLLECT KALL EP: https://mozzy.lnk.to/KOLLECTKALL/