“I was in desperate need of a manager and was reaching out to Guy [Routté] giving him music to listen to and asking how he thought of certain things,” recalls an ecstatic Mickey Factz. “I told him I couldn’t keep doing this by myself. Then, he told me he would do it. We started work from there. It just worked in the best way possible.”
After linking up with W.A.R. Media, the label responsible for putting out material from artists including Pharoahe Monch and Mela Machinko, Factz then connected with Nottz for The Achievement: Circa ‘82”. The ten-track project features guest appearances from Phonte, Styles P, Curren$y and Blu among others.
After years of moving in-between major labels without much forward momentum, earning a spot on the 2009 Freshmen List and even spending time competing in the battle rap scene, The Achievement: Circa ‘82” is an accumulation of his past in hyper-lyricism. Speaking with HipHopDX for a few minutes over the phone, Factz gives insight into his new mindset, the album and more.
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Speaking with HipHopDX for a few minutes over the phone, Factz gives insight into his new mindset, the album and more.
Nottz Producing The Achievement: Circa ‘82”
I saw that he was doing multiple projects for multiple artists and I wanted to be a part of that. I just hit him up on IG and he reached back like let’s do it. He started sending me beats and we just got it going and it worked very well. I really enjoyed the Titans in the Flesh this year with Blu and The Rawth with Asher Roth. Those are my guys for obvious reasons. It was one of those things where I’m glad that we got a chance to work together. The first track we worked on together was “414 Words.” That was the first song we put out.
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Using Fan Vocals For Closing Track “The End” Featuring Mela Machinko
What I wanted to do is tell my story. I was looking for an outro beat and of course Nottz had a variety of everything. Nottz had the perfect sound bed for me and I really just wanted something to tell people my story in lyrical format. It just so happen that he had something and let me tell people about my life and breaking it down. He had an amazing chorus and I wanted my fans and supporters to be a part of this. I wanted to give the track more life and make it feel liver than what it was. Those are actual fans who called in. I went on Facebook and asked them to tell me what they wanted to achieve in life. I took the first ten people and a lot of people called in. I stopped counting after the tenth one. The emails kept coming. It was a lot. I felt like it was perfect. I had to apologize to everyone. It shows that I can still engage my fans and they still love what I do. They hold me in high regard. If I ask them for something, they will come through. For me, that means more to me than anything. That’s a very special thing for me.
Trying To Impress L.A. Reid With Dope Bars & Motorcycle Helmet
At that time, I wanted people to feel like I was different. I wanted people to say to themselves that I was trying to be as different as possible. So, I went in the Def Jam office. I had on a motorcycle helmet and performed in front of L.A. Reid. I was walking through the office with a helmet on and people didn’t know what was happening. I was just trying to think outside the box, especially when showcasing what I wanted to do.
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Happy With Hip Hop Respecting His Lyricism
At this time as an artist, I know what I’m supposed to do and know what I am. I think my music is definitely life changing for those who engage with it. It’s a beautiful elevation process that I’ve gone through. I’m just glad people are rocking with it. I’m glad people know where I am lyrically. My new freestyle with Sway came out and it was epic. These are the moments that I live for. I don’t want to have a big house or mansion with 20 cars. I want a normal house with my wife and be in that conversation of the best lyricists ever.
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Thoughts On Where His Freshmen Class Has Evolved Into
I don’t know man. I think these days it’s a shock factor than when we were coming up. It’s more about putting these guys on the cover knowing it’s going to cause a reaction and conversation as opposed to people knowing that these people are here with various styles that’s authentic to what they’re doing or trying to put out there. A lot of the time, they’re picking these guys who are very popular, but also to cause tension and conversation for people to look and see what it is. They want people to say that certain people don’t deserve to be up there.
Listen to The Achievement: Circa ‘82” below.
