334 Mobb Biography

334 Mobb Biography

Kennie and Keith Buchanan, aka Supa Star and Sawed Off, were born and raised in Montgomery, Alabama, or “The Gutta” as they would say. At just 22 and 19 years of age respectively, the brothers have been pursuing their ambitions in music for the last 18 years. “Our father had us at an early age in music,” explains Supa Star. “When we were younger, he was teaching us how to sing. I guess Pops thought he was Joe Jackson or some sh*t!” he laughs. Describing their music as ‘soulful and diverse’, 334 M.O.B.B. have taken that Southern sounding flavour and mixed it with their own. Sending out crunked up beats laced with their versatile lyrical content, they rhyme about topics varying from politics to beefs to heartfelt and conscious rhymes.

The Alabama rap stars have lived up to their personal motto: ‘If you don’t hustle, you don’t eat’. They’ve hustled their way musically from walking the streets handing out flyers, mix tapes, posters… Then, into Def Jam and L.A. Reid’s door, and they didn’t have to run to get there. Whilst performing at a showcase in New York, the M.O.B.B. modestly explain: “L.A. Reid was blown away at what he heard, when he started clapping his hands we were like ‘Damn!’ because we know L.A. hears music every damn day from millions of mothaf**kers, you know? But when he heard and seen us rapping, he was like, ‘We need to be in business with you guys’. It was an honour to be offered a deal at a godfather label like Def Jam.” 344 M.O.B.B. and their lawyers had negotiated contracts that very same night. Before penning deals, the brothers had caused a musical storm over the Internet. Viewers had access to tracks, interviews, biographies and freestyles; anything that would help them gain exposure. They had worked with the likes of Bone Crusher and David Banner, which led to featured spots on singles and appearing on mix tapes hosted by DJ Jelly, Chuck, CeeJay and DJ Judgmental. With their versatile ear for compelling music production and uncut rhymes, radio stations were rotating 334 M.O.B.B. tracks regularly, and magazines such as The Source and The Hole had featured articles on hip hop’s most incomparable up and coming artists.