Photos by Kevin Allen
Video by Salvatore Fullmore
West Coast native, Mani Draper returns with a new body of work that channels the discipline, intention, and blue-collar spirit of the underdog. Executive produced by manager and business partner, Jonel “Jigga” Seon, the album draws inspiration from the 2011 film, Moneyball, which chronicled the Oakland A’s unconventional path to success, not through financial dominance, but through data, grit and culture.
Much like the A’s challenged the traditional model of team building, Moneybxll rejects the idea of needing major-label formulas to create a classic. Instead, it curates a sound that’s intentional, handcrafted, and rooted in West Coast ethos that values discipline over flash. This marks a slight pivot from Draper’s most recent one-producer focused projects; here, he opens to a range of beatmakers while stepping into the producer’s chair himself, crafting two of the album’s nine songs and overseeing the cohesive sonic arc with engineer / producer Carter Boy, who mixed and mastered the full project, while contributing production and writing himself.
What feeling does this “Moneybxll” album give to you as the artist behind it going into your sixth music release?
I don’t know how to feel honestly. There’s so many different conversations happening about art and rap specifically. I dead ass questioned why throughout this process and then the partnership or relationships that pour in would keep me gassed. From my friends that are business owners, parents or just people figuring it for themselves. Them going out of their way to let me know the music was reaching them fueled this. Damn near the first time I wasn’t solely fueled off my need to say something.
What inspiration did the 2011 film, “Moneyball” bring for this pr
The film brought the grit for me personally. The licenses those type of films take to allow the dialogues and cinematography to carry the story is inspiring as hell. Feels like in rap the spectical precedes the music and I didn’t want that. I have a very specific tone and sound, let’s see if people really know what to do with it. I can live with a it’s not for me, because I did what I was moved to writing the song.
What can listeners expect and take away from this release?
Hopefully they take away the love for the art form over everything. My love for where I come from as well. The people that love me enough to claim me. That means a lot to me. So if the art ain’t up to par they’re the first to say so. This is vetted by some special people.
With not being associated with a major label, how does that allow you to creatively produce music?
Not being on a label has me out here shooting. Working with people. Challenging myself. Learning a lot in the process. Music is taking me all around the world. I didn’t know being this inspired was even possible. So that explains the output. A major label partnership would be fun! Mainly because of what I think we can contribute to world building though. So I don’t want to champion independence without highlighting the fight it is. We’re doing what we want on some wild west gun slinging shit because we can! It’s always going to be quality.
On “Moneybxll”, you step into the producer’s chair and create two tracks on the album. How was this experience for you?
Nerve racking honestly. I just like different sounds. I never know if it makes sense to anyone else so seeing people like those songs is trippy as hell! We dropped Free it had the same sample as the homie from Compton, AD. My heart sunk a little honestly. Then I thought about the early 90’s Dru Down and Jay-z having the same sample and when DJs play that in mix shows there’s an argument for which song is better. That’s all that matters is that they compete. I’m proud of that.
You celebrated “Moneybxll” debut in an imm
Honestly my business partner and manager is a world builder. The best actually. We just took some time to think about how we wanted to say thank you to the people we’ve leaned on to build an alternative space. a thriving space right under the noses of the fake ass gatekeepers in the bay. Independent of all the weird ass politics. Proyecto has been a space we’ve met at and dreamed at frequently. It’s in the neighborhood that most of the music was recorded and mixed in. There’s a true though line to being in space with our people, in a real way. The Lobby just made sense.
What can people expect next from Mani Draper?
A lot of storytelling honestly. Films! Films to accompany the music. High art curation. In partnership with Jonel! Jonel executive produced Moneybxll. I like our creative process. So I’m hype to drop all this music we have. Travel the world and make more. Especially spending more time in Brooklyn and Trinidad specifically. Intentional partnership in the cannabis educational sector. Wanting my advocacy to be clear and help share my story around the health benefits is hella important to me. Hitting the road. Tour! That’s a major move for us. Taking not just the music but all the other vehicles he we have. Decanter, Domino workshops even the Lobby is ready made for the road.
