4.18.2025
Mozzy Releases Poignant New Album, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, Available Everywhere via Mozzy Records / EMPIRE
The Sacramento Street Hero Connects With Polo G for the Video for Album Highlight “WHO WANT WAR” (Dropping at 1pm ET on Mozzy’s YT)
The Follow-Up to Last Year’s CHILDREN OF THE SLUMS, Mozzy’s New 18-Track Opus Opens Up About the Trauma That Remains Even After Escaping Life in the Trenches
The Album Welcomes Guest Spots From EST Gee, Lil Poppa, Peysoh, TSU Surf, and More
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:
Packing words of wisdom into his gritty street stories, Mozzy concerns himself the emotions that undergird life-or-death decisions. Analyzing the mental toll left by life in the streets, Mozzy shares INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, his new album. Spanning 18 tracks, the new album is a visceral, but ultimately uplifting document about memories that linger and scars that never fade, couching dense narrative lyricism into heatseeking NorCal bangers. The album dramatizes Mozzy’s journey toward inner peace, as he attempts to move forward from the memories of traumatic youth that flood back, even during his current life of luxury.
The follow-up to last year’s CHILDREN OF THE SLUMS, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS swerves between emotional paeans like the Pitchfork-praised “NIGHTMARES” ft. Lil Poppa and ruthless anthems like “BLOOD DIAMONDS” ft. Peysoh and “KATTA CLIPS.” On songs like “KEEP CALLIN MY NAME,” the ghosts from Mozzy’s past speak directly to him, tempting him with substances as he fights the urge to revert to his past life, while “UNDER OATH” drips with the knowledge of the consequences of backsliding into a life of crime. “PAC PROUD” and “HELLA HYPHY” help position Mozzy as an heir to a rich West Coast musical tradition, combining rider music with deep lyricism and resonant themes. INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS is the result of hard-earned experience, with the fan-favorite single “10 PERCENT” reveling in luxury, while closing track “NO FABRICATION” harkens back to Mozzy’s recent prison sentence: “Can’t act like I ain’t seen enough, I’ve seen it all/Toilet connected to the sink, that’s where you clean your drawers/Lil’ ass cell closin’ in with them graffiti walls/Still ain’t buckled, standing tall/Salute the ones who beat the odds,” he spits.
Along with the album, Mozzy stars in the video for “WHO WANT WAR,” releasing at 1pm ET on Mozzy’s YouTube. The album highlight features a guest verse from Polo G, a kindred spirit of Mozzy’s who shares his ability to get to the moral heart of street narratives. Climbing atop a creeping piano instrumental, Mozzy and Polo lament the need for violence, even as they assure anyone who would challenge them that they will respond in a hurry. In the video, Mozzy and Polo G dig dee pin the trenches, posting up with their squadrons as they dare their opps to make the first move.
Featuring additional guest spots from EST Gee, Maine Muzik, Tsu Surf, and Mozzy’s faithful Sactown associates E Mozzy and Celly Ru, INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS is available everywhere via Mozzy Records / EMPIRE.
INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS continues Mozzy’s 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. Late last year, Mozzy teamed with Kalan.FrFr for the breezy LUCKY HER.
Today, Mozzy proves his community hero bonafides with the “Mozzarella Fella” pop-up in Los Angeles. A collaboration with Down North Pizzeria, a Philadelphia-based pizzeria renowned for its commitment to hiring individuals who have been previously incarcerated, and Larry Miller’s JUMP (Justice and Upward Mobility Project), “Mozzarella Fella” celebrates the release of INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS, raises awareness for bail reform, and provides support for incarcerated individuals. The “Mozzarella Fella” pop-up happens today from 12-4pm PT at Bootleg Kev’s What Up Dough Pizza in Burbank, CA.
Stream INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS: https://music.empi.re/intrusivethoughts
Watch “WHO WANT WAR” ft. Polo G (out at 1pm ET): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iYITT3xS5A
Watch “NIGHTMARES” ft. Lil Poppa: https://youtu.be/aKqhIqe-QqA?si=2dZGjM6dvSr37pmc
INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS tracklist:
- $FLYMONEY2X
- PRESS PLAY
- DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR (FEAT. EST GEE)
- UNDER OATH
- KATTA CLIPS
- NIGHTMARES (FEAT. LIL POPPA)
- KEEP CALLIN MY NAME
- SEVEN 2’S
- ROLE MODEL
- PAC PROUD
- HELLA HYPHY
- WHO WANT WAR (FEAT. POLO G)
- 10 PERCENT
- MODIFY IT (FEAT. MAINE MUZIK & E MOZZY)
- REPUTATION EVERYTHING (FEAT. CELLY RU)
- BLOOD DIAMONDS (FEAT. PEYSOH)
- FREE SURF (FEAT. TSU SURF)
- NO FABRICATION
Photo credit: Bryan Berry
Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.
Links:
official site | instagram | twitter | youtube | spotify | apple
INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS: https://music.empi.re/intrusivethoughts
“WHO WANT WAR” ft. Polo G: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iYITT3xS5A
“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/