From Homeless to the Latin Grammys ft. Award Winning Producer Maffio
From his beginnings as a teenage dreamer in the Dominican Republic to producing hits with music legends, Maffio journey is pure inspiration for anyone walking an unconventional path.
3 key takeaways from Maffio’s story on the show:
Bet on Yourself, Relentlessly: Maffio left high school to pursue music, hustling at jobs from Wendy’s to doorman, and still chased his dream. Years later, he completed his diploma—proving learning never stops, but so does the pursuit of your passion.
Culture is Your Asset, Not a Setback: He’s a living example of using cultural heritage as leverage, not a limitation. His genre innovation—merengue electronico—grew from this mindset. As Maffio says: bring your authentic self to the table, every time.
Pay it Forward: Maffio is devoted to uplifting new artists and songwriters, embodying humility and mentorship. Success isn’t just about your own accolades—it's about using your platform to open doors for others.
If you need a reminder to keep going, or just want to feel the power of cultura in action, this episode is a must.
This week host Victoria Jenn sits down with the legendary Maffio – 3x Latin Grammy winner, Grammy nominee, and pioneer of merengue electronico. From hustling in New York, living out of his car in Miami, to becoming one of the most respected producers in Latin music, Mafio’s story is all about believing in your purpose, embracing your culture, and setting a new standard for the next generation.
Get the inside scoop you won’t find on Google: his humble beginnings, dropping out of high school (then getting his diploma years later!), championing up-and-coming artists, navigating the music industry without controversy, and why respect is the umbrella that covers all.
Mafio opens up about being a Latino dad to biracial daughters, how family and cultura drive his work, and his creative process—including insights on his latest album "Rey de la Discoteca." Plus, tips for aspiring artists on how to break into the industry the right way.
In this episode:
09:37 - Experience Shapes Real Education
13:27 - Early Music Passion To Success
21:00 - Marketing Tips For Emerging Artists
25:09 - Music Industry Networking Challenges
34:01 - Perseverance Through Homelessness
48:23 - Songwriting Process Insights
Full Transcript:
What's up everybody? Welcome back to Banking on Cultura. I am your host Victoria Jenn Rodriguez. I hope you're feeling fabulous these days. I don't know about you, but I know I'm on a high, especially after watching Bad Bunny's Last Residency in Puerto Rico. He brought out Mark Anthony. I mean, it was truly legendary, darling. So as a body, you can't tell me nothing right now. The Oruyo is on a millie right now and and I hope you are feeling this energy. Let it vibrate off of me onto you because we need as much good vibes and energy right now as possible. So please take it from here. Uh but today's guest is going to just infuse that even more. So I have the honor of having another legend here on a cultura. He is a threetime Latin Grammy winner, three times Grammy nominee. He's one of the most respected producers in Latin music. He's a pioneer of Merengue electronico. He piloted that in 2007 and now it's basically a big phenomenon. So we love that. We like pioneers. We like founders of new things here on Big Cultura. He's worked with the likes of Talia, Nikki Jam, Nacho, Acon, Pitle, and the list goes on. And what I really appreciate about him is that his brand, his aura and his purpose is really driven through cultura, right? So when we talk on begging about using your culture as a competitive advantage versus an Achilles heel, he is a prime example of that. So everybody join me in welcoming Maffio to fried chicken.
I am so honored to have you here. I'm good. It is such a pleasure to have you here. You know, as I was reading about you and I was preparing for this interview, I was like, yo, this dude is badass. Yo, he's tight fly. So, thank you for what you are doing for the culture and thank you for believing in yourself and in your dreams because when you do that, it gives others permission to do it as well, right? And it's like, wow, if he made it, I could do this, too. So, we like to kick off the show with a segment called what's the bon. So give us some bona and something we can't Google about you. Well, first of all, first of all, thank you for that intro. You're welcome. Thank you for the opportunity. Really um it's so good to be in New York. Um New York, um that's where everything sparked. Um where my career started um back in 2007 and um No. No. So, we can learn everything about mafia on Google. I got it. You know what's funny? I asked Chad GPT the other day, is there any controversies of of mafia? And they're like, no. Um the So, I have a guy talking to me back and he's like, "No, Mafia's just been um a music producer making songs and he hasn't been involved in controversies." I really stay away from that uh from controversies and and bo changes. Okay. Um um I have two daughters. I don't want to end up like in one I don't want to end up in one room and my 12year-old goes on YouTube and then I'm like and she's like papy why we can't curse and you could curse on a song cuz I saw a video and and I'm like ah it's like jury duty. Oh my god. So, I don't want to end up in in in that predicament ever, ever, ever. So, I I try to like, you know, strive for the music and and and the culture and and making sure that um like the new kids have a a better example of what music needs to be. And that's why there's no boe when it comes to you could Google uh mafio bin, you're not going to find nothing. Well, you know, doesn't necessarily need to be controversial. [Laughter] You know, it could be something good. It could be something positive, just not necessarily something that people would be able to look up about you. Okay. Okay. So, let's talk about setting the example because your story is quite interesting. You dropped out of high school to pursue your dream of music. Yes. Yeah. Okay. Wow. Well, is that not what happened? You went on Google. Exactly. And looked for the bina. That's that's how I found out about you. Uh so talk to us about that. What was that like decision? What made you decide like you know what f school I'm doubling down on me? Um you know that that that's a that's a great question. I think I was you know I was bullied a lot in in in school and I I'd fail sixth grade twice. I fell seventh grade one time and I was already like an old guy in in ninth grade. Like I'm the tallest. Okay. You know, and and I'm like, man, so I I call my No, I didn't call him. I was like, papy, you know, papy. on me. I told him, you know, school wasn't made for me. And then he, you know, Dominican dad, he's like, that's right. And I'm like, all right. So then that's when, you know, that's when my first job it was at Wendy's. Okay. Um in Logan in Atlantic. Okay. I remember that. And um and then from there, I had so many jobs. Like I was a doorman. I I used to work at a uh at a restaurant um as a bus boy. Um I used to work as a porter in 40 Central Park South. Um but I was still, you know, making music, right? You know, and that was like that was my goal to that, you know, that's what I really wanted to do. Okay. So, what I found interesting, first of all, it takes Cohes to be like F school. I'm no longer doing this. But it sounds like it wasn't serving you. It sounds like there was nothing about it that was making kids. Kids stay in school. This is not a message, right? Your daughters are going to see this. Going to be like dropped out of high school. I did my diploma three months ago about that. Oh, three months ago. Yeah, three months ago. So, please stay in school. All right. What made you decide to actually go after your diploma now? Well, my mom always like, "No, you you have you have to finish school and you have to do this." And I'm like, "But then I brought home three Grammys," right? She was like, "Okay, puppy." No, she didn't. Dipl. And I'm like, "All right, I'm going to do it." And it was so easy. I went in my classes and stuff like and and and I got my high school diploma, not a GED. Okay. My diploma, let it be known. So, what do you attend classes like in an actual school or online? No, no, no. Online online. I mean, my hand at the I would have to clone myself. Okay. All right. Interesting. So, was it mainly because your parents were on you about this or Yeah, it was just like here here you go. Okay. Okay. Got it. A Okay. Okay. Okay. Am I Am am I not the black sheep anymore? Right. Even though I have all these Grammys, but you know, whatever you need, ma. Whatever you need. Isn't that interesting? Like in our cultura, um, you know, the way education is viewed and how much power is put on education. And I think it has a lot to do with just like generationally, how we believe that education is the only way that we're going to be able to be successful. And like our parents want us to do the school all the way. They want us to do the high school. They want us to do the college. And then they want us to do the job. And they want us to keep our head down. Don't, you know, ruffle too many feathers and just work hard every single day. I I I think uh the education comes from your experiences, you know, that's when and from home obviously, you know, and and how um your parents teach you how to be as a human being. And um um that's where the real education comes and and you you got to you got to be a hustler. You you know obviously not doing the wrong thing and making sure you stay out of jail. And I think everything all these doors are going to open up for you if you do it right. I I come from Lasita Dominican Republic in Sto. Flamingo and I saw so many negative stuff like and and probably like um how do you call it? My destination was to be in jail, dead or in a hospital or in drugs because of what what I was surrounded in my environment. So I don't know. I don't know. Something struck me. Well, you started playing piano at 6 years old. Yeah, I did. So, how were you introduced to that? My dad uh he was already living in here in New York. Okay. In East New York. And and he sent me a little Casio piano. Oh. Oh. Is that the tat that's on your arm or No, that's my Casio watch. Okay. The watch. Okay. So he sent me a Casio and and and I started like you know playing with one finger the thing cuz I used to see on you know on TV like you know people playing like right right and I'm like with one finger and then and then I started using two fingers and then ah and then I used to get frustrated because it wouldn't sound right. Mhm. And then Oh, wow. I wish I could have a piano here, but me, too. What? That's an idea for the show. I know, right? Well, maybe we got to do another one. We got to have a piano this time. Maybe in your studio. True. Oh, there you go. Come back to Miami. Listen, don't don't tell me what a good time. Okay. It's very easy to get me to Miami. Oh, yeah. And I got the key to the city of Miami. Exactly. So, we'll be VIP, so that's even more of a reason. But I'll pick you up. Oh, you got to pick me up. I'll pick you up at the airport right away. This is on the record. Oh, no. For sure. I'm a man of my word. Okay. That's why there's no cheeseman. All right. That's why there's no cheesemail or controversy cuz I'm a man of my word. So, um, so then I started using my my two hands with the piano and and that's when I like I fell in love, you know, with this thing that you can't see and that you can't touch that is music. You can feel it. You could feel it. Hear it, but you definitely feel it. And then at nine nine years old, that's when I started um um writing little love songs and stuff. Okay. You know, I I had an I had a little song. It was so dumb [Music] for a girl and I was so shy to to show it to her and I never showed it to her. You never showed it to her? No. A What was the name of the song? Chigalinda. I love that. Chigalinda. That's actually really cute. I love that. You should like take that out of the archives and put it out somewhere. I don't know. She's probably married somewhere or with kids. I mean, it doesn't necessarily need to be for her, but I think like name. Well, maybe maybe it's like credit like you inspired this and like now Yeah. No, no, no. I don't want to I don't want to open a a can of worms. Okay, that'll be it. Okay, there you go. Okay, I got it. So, music infused in you from a young age. Your daddy gave you a piano. You grew up. You decided school was no longer for you. You started hustling crazy, really diving in to music. You lived in New York. You opened a lot of doors for a lot of famous people, including Talia, right? And you've also worked with Talia as a producer. Like, how crazy is that? That that was a that was insane. Uh because back in 2006 7 um I used to work at 40 Central Park South. Okay. And I used to be a doorman, right? So on on the next door you had a restaurant that's called Sarabats and I I would have to open the door for every black car that comes in. And um this car pulls up and I have to go, you know, with my hat, my uniform and stuff. I can't even see you in a door outfit. Like I can't even envision it right now. I was I was looking good. I was looking good flow. Oh [ __ ] Okay. So So I open the door and guess who it is? Talia and her mom. God rest herself. Um, yo. And then I was making music at that time, right? Did you feel like, damn, how am I going to use this opportunity? So, I'm like, should I talk to her? I chickenened out. Okay. I chickenened out. Like, I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, no. So, um, how old were you at that time? I was like probably like 21, something like that. No, I was like 19, 20. Okay. And um 26 years after, no not 26 years after when I when I was in Miami, Tommy Moto, he hits me up, hey, do you want to work on Talia's album? I'm like, no way. So I'm talking about Wait, hold on. from 200 from 2006 to I'm sorry, I'm really bad with math. 2006 to 3 years ago. Mhm. How many years is that? Don't ask me. Listen, this is why we stand. The calculator. Listen, let's just say many years. [Laughter] I've got the perfect freebie for you. 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I've linked it there so that you guys can get really clear on the top hacks that you can put into play to set yourself up for success. I hope you love it. More than a decade. Okay, there you go. Cast. So, she uh so I'm like, absolutely. So, 16 16 Oh, 16 years. Oh, there you go. Your amazing team in the building. Oh my god. 16 years. So, um, then I started getting more cool with her. So, we would talk every day. Me and Talia would talk every day. And and after we got like really cool uh I was like [Laughter] and she's like so so so I was like listen back in 2006 or 2007 something like that um you went uh it was spring and you went with your mom to Sarah Beds, the restaurant in 40 Central Park South. There was a person that opened the door for you and and that was me. She was like, "No, Maf." And and she remembered she remembered what and we did records together and that's like a a nice um That's a full circle moment. That's pretty cool. For sure. For sure. And and I and I think like I don't know like you know I should have never said anything or I should have. Why? That's like I don't know. I got I got chickened out moment. Oh, you mean the moment when you opened the door? Yeah. Yeah. Well, you know what? It was almost like the un that was like foreshadowing. God like planted that little seed like let's see how he handles this situation. You kept it professional. I had my CD in my in my jacket. M there was no Spotify at that time. Yeah. Yeah. But did you ever give your CD out to guests that you opened the door for? Okay. There was one time DJ Enough, you know DJ Enough, right? Yes, of course. And oh my god, I was so dumb. Like I didn't know how to like market myself. Uh right there at at 40 Central Park South, you you got the Ritz Carlton, you know, right next to it. So DJ I saw DJ enough came out of the car and I'm like enough. I got music. So lame. So lame. And there's another story. There's another story. But what did he do? He was like, "All right." And he No, he was like, "All right." It was so awkward. And when I look at it, it was so awkward. Then there was another story at the Apple store in in the corner. Um, have you been to that that Apple store? Right across the street from the big hotel um on Fifth Avenue. Yeah. On Fifth Avenue. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That you go down the plaza. I think it's right across the street from the plaza. So you go down. So, uh, Slim Thug, okay, is down there, I guess, buying buying some stuff. Uhhuh. And and I did the same [ __ ] He was like, "I got music. I got music." Yeah. What's up? I'm like, "What a dumbass." Well, listen, we all have those growing pains that we go through. So, maybe we can get into some tips that you have now for marketing for artists who are coming up like how they would approach that. Like let's actually if there's an artist right now that is listening who has a project that they're trying to push and they come across Mafio, what should they do? Don't be like I got music. What should they do? Uh I think um you have to have a a plan and your energy has to be correct. You have to be respectful and not invade and another and other person's um and you should be like, you know, hey, um if I have some music, who should I send my music to so you can hear it? You know, be more professional. Um and um the there's a in Miami in Miami is legal to have a firearm. Yes. Okay. Correct. So for the listeners cuz you know they can't they can't see you. They can hear you. Yeah. So I wouldn't you know I'm always by myself but you know I always have a firearm. So don't run up on nobody cuz they might. So this kid to put you in your place. So So this kid um I I was at the you know the the laundry thing like you know the dry cleaning. Okay. You know picking up my clothes and stuff like that. You know I do errands like like a normal person. Wow. And I I love it and I love doing that. I wash clothes in my house. Wow. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. I'm with Tide with Tide and Downey. I'm I'm the perfect like hey you know you should guys you know hey man. So um so I'm putting my stuff in my truck and and and this kid pulls up on me uh and he's like put him out. And I'm like, "Oh." [Laughter] So I grab I grab my firearm. I'm like, "Wait, hey, hey." And and he's like, "No, no, no, no, mafio." And and and he's like, "You know, I' I've heard I'm a fan of your music and and I', you know, you're like an idol to me and this and that. I sing and I write music." And uh and I'm like, "Yeah, all right. Sing." And he started singing. Okay. And I was like, "Here's my number." I love that. Boom. And And I told him, "I have a session um today at 8:00 p.m. Would you like to come?" Wow. And just hit me. Just hit me up. And And he went. Now he has songs with Elvis Greso, Paulina Rubio. What? That's amazing. That's really dope. Big shout out to Eric. I love you. That kid's life. Yeah. And he's a great writer. I love him. He has a good heart. You know, that's the most important thing. If he's very respectful. That's amazing. So, what I'm hearing is if you have a project that you're trying to push, you got to make sure your energy is correct. Keep it humble. Announce yourself. Don't be running up on anybody, especially in today's day and age. Not in Florida. Not in Florida because listen, it's crazy. It's crazy out here. Look crazy. But one of the things you are known for is you actually put on a lot of upand cominging artists. It's a big part of what you do and your brand and how you differentiate yourself in the space. So what is that like? Cuz actually this past weekend I hosted a kiki which is like an intimate gathering for women. We break bread together at like this fly restaurant and then we do wine wine tasting. It's just for the ladies, you know. Oh my god. And then afterwards we went wine tasting and one of the ladies, shout out to Angelina. Um I was like, "Oh, you know, we were talking about Reong. I forget what we were speaking about." And I was like, "Oh, actually on Monday I'm interviewing Mafio. Do you know who he is?" And she was like, "Oh my god, yes, I do know who he is." And I was like, "Really?" And then she started giving me like a whole rundown of you. And then I asked her, I said, "Well, what are some questions you want me to ask him?" So, one of the questions she Okay, there we go. One of the questions she had was, "Is it challenging the fact that you are trying to help upandcoming artists?" How challenging is that? It's very challenging. Sometimes you got you got to stop and and and think that every artist is not going to have the same um hustle mentality as you. Um, and some artists are not going to be promoting themselves as they should and that's a big problem. So, it is very challenging is is very challenging and and um it's challenging even like with a recommendation coming through you like people don't want to like really give them a chance. It's just like nonchalant. Everybody's nonchalant. They're too cool for school. And I'm still hustling. I got 17 years in my belt and I'm still hustling. I'm still like making sure. I got an album that just came out. I got, you know, like and and that's work. I'm promoting, you know, I'm here in New York, you know, with my Okay. It could be that, too. True. True. So, you know, it's just challenging just, you know, uh, let's talk about that because I feel like the music industry is one of those industries and I guess it goes handin-hand with kind of like the Hollywood industry, entertainment space. I've been around a lot of people in the space and I am a natural networker, relationship builder. I naturally love meeting people and like learning about people. And what I find is like in those environments if you even speak to them automatically it's like this like you want something or what do you want or it's like an energy that is like weird and it's like yo go swave it like I know who you are but like chill chill the down a notch. Yeah. Like what's up with that in the industry? Well you know you just got to be humble that's all. And um and if you don't want to be in in in in a party or at an an event and you don't want to be asked questions, just don't go out period, you know, stay home, right? You know, but don't give someone a bad experience because I I was just talking w with my team in the car. I have a kahita. Okay, I have a kahita. When I get out of my house, I put all my problems, all my problems, my insecurities, all my all those things, which I'm not insecure, but um I put all those things in that kahita. Mhm. and I leave it in the house and I close the door and I go out and be positive with other people because those people, you know, you know, it's not their problem that you have problems or it's not your problem that they're having problems, right? So, and you know, you just got to give out the you I don't want to sound cliche or or anything, but you have to be positive and give the universe and you know that that positive energy, right? I wish everybody thought like that in the industry because unfortunately, yeah, it is like almost like it sucks out the energy where it's it's like even if you want to meet someone in the industry that you respect and you're like, "Wow, like I think this person is so dope. I've been following their career, whatever." and you just want to say that. I feel like it almost gets to a point where they're like maybe because you've been told it so much that you get to a space where you're like, "All right, thank you." And then you like, you know what I mean? You like keep it moving. No, I don't keep moving. You turn down the energy. No, no, no. I could be eating and anybody wants to take a picture with me or whatever. Yeah. I'll stop with me with my Wait, hold give me one second. Give me one. Okay, here we go. Do I have any any anything in my teeth? Look at my phone. All right, cool. We're good to go. So, you know, I think that's something that it's a blessing because people admire you and this is the career that you chose. Mhm. So, you know, I don't care. Like, I don't care. I could be eating with my family, with my kids. I don't care. That is interesting. Interesting. cuz I think there's a boundary of like personal space and then we're are human too. So like you know I could see how that can be like super overwhelming when it's like constant and it's like so much. I could see how I don't know I would want to create like a barricade like I just want to have a meal with my family like you know what I mean it like how long does it take uh to take a picture? Yeah, but if it's 50 people Yeah. Well, that that's different. But I mean, you know, if word gets around, you're eating at this restaurant. Next thing you know, you're like, "Whoa." Okay. Sure. I go I I go to places of people. I'm a ninja. Like over there in Miami, I'm a ninja. Like, you know, like I go to places and they're like, "Oh, he was he took pictures or what? Oh, I didn't see him." And then, you know, you just move around in a in a nice way and um in a very smart way. also not disrespecting the people that really admire you and whoever wants to take a picture. Okay, let let's let's do it. You want to have a talk? Oh, look, you know. Okay, pum pom. So, I want to follow up on you saying that when you see someone in the street that you want to introduce yourself to because you want to let them know about your project. You said one of the things you can ask them is who can I give this to so that you hear it. Sometimes I find like even like outside of the music industry, if I like want to meet someone that I'm interested in possibly doing business with, like they'll say, "Oh yeah, send it to my public, you know, my PR person or send it to the" and then it goes into the abyss, you know? So, what is a good followup to something like that knowing that that's usually the response people give when you know they don't want to like take what you have to say into consideration? Well, I've been very public about it and I don't listen to songs when they send them. Um, the reason why is because I tell them straight up, I'm like, "Listen, I don't accept demos and none of that." And and I'm going to tell you why. So legally, if I accept a demo and you said uh on a song, the water is blue and then all of a sudden I did. I never listened to the water is blue. I said blue is the water. Okay. You could have a case and be like, "Wow, you stole my idea and I didn't listen to your idea." Wow. So, I don't do it because I want to be a dick or anything. Um, I want to be respectful with everybody, but unfortunately, you know, then, you know, you could have a case, even though I'm going to win, right? But you're still going to spend time, money, money, lawyers, and all that stuff. You're going to have to be it. You know what I'm saying? Is very like It's so funny. Earlier today, I was dealing with a situation with lawyers and I was like, "Yeah, cuz don't make me Cardi B it up in here." All right. Cuz I feel like that's the example now. Anything anything could be anything anything when you're in a position of um at that level. Um you know, anything could be a lawsuit. Yeah. So, I'm like, "Let's meet in the studio, and let's create something from scratch." But I don't listen to demos. I don't. Interesting. Wow. So, for the artists who are tuning in, this is what folks are considering. So, don't take it personal when they're not accepting your demos. You have to get more creative out here because demos ain't the way. Nobody's trying to get sued out here. Facts. So, grew up in DR, born and raised. then moved to New York. Yeah. Started hustling out here in New York and then you decided to move to Miami and then you were homeless in Miami for a while. So talk to us about what kept you going in that moment because in today's age I feel like people are not as hungry. Like they're giving up too fast and they're not fighting as hard for their dreams. They're kind of just like giving up on themselves and becoming complacent and just doing what feels easy. So talk to us about your experience and why you decided to keep going in that moment. What was it that kept you going? It's like that's that's it. That's the only option. That's the only there's no option. That's it. When I got to Miami, I was um I had no car, no no house. And um Wait, so you went to Miami with nowhere to live? Yep. And you was thinking what? I'm like, this is it. You thinking like my career is going to pop off in Miami? No, I didn't. I didn't think that. Okay. So, I had to work. I had to hustle. So, you moved to Miami because what? I was asked to work in a camp for Pitbull. Okay. All right. So, you went to Miami because there was work. Yeah, there was work. Okay. And I stayed. Okay. Okay. And I never came back. And you never came back. And now you got to keep I came I came back to uh yesterday. Right. Right. But now you got the key to the city in Miami and now Miami is is home and you're very well respected in Miami. You know, one of the things I related to you on, so I'm a big time daddy's girl and I know you got two baby girls and you got kids. No. And I know they're your pride and joy. Oh yeah. I also know that your kids are biracial. Oh yeah. So for someone who is you know front-facing with the cultura and fighting so hard to put our cultura on map to put the community on to unite the community. Do you ever get push back for you having biracial children? Uh not at all. Um cuz I make sure that um they understand like for example um last weekend. No. Yeah. On Saturday, um I showed Marley, my 12-year-old, um my um my 23 and me. Have you done that? No, I haven't. You have to. I'm nervous about them getting my information and my DNA. Nah, don't. Listen, it's crazy out here. You can put your DNA in a crime scene. You asked out. No, no, no, no, no. Don't be paranoid. you you got to put, you know, negative out the the positive out for the man who says I got to legally protect myself. Okay. No, but I did the 23 and me and and um I'm 37% AF uh 37% African. So I was um yeah, I was producing I was producing Acon's album back in 2017 18 and he was like m and he saw me making the beat boom boom. He's like, "Ma, you're African." In my ignorance, I'm like, "Nah, I'm Dominican." You know, he's like, "Nah, [ __ ] you're African." And I'm like, "Nah." And then I'm, "My mom is Dominican, my dad is Dominican." And I'm like, "Now I got confused." And so I went did the whole uh 23 and me and and I'm 37 African. And so Saturday I was with my 12-year-old and I showed her like you know my ancestry. Yeah. And she's like and she was blown away. She's like so Poppy. So I'm African, Norwegian, Swedish, Dominican, and probably 10 other things. You should you should you should have Asian and you should have seen her face and it was so um you know going back into uh having my two kids that are like biracial, her the mom, Lrina Mas Latina. Lrina Mas Latina. Yeah. Uh she's amazing. She's incredible. We have a a great relationship and um and it's like very eyeopening like on on on how something that is not about race could be born so beautifully. So So Lringa, she's from Minnesota. She's Norwegian and Swedish. She speaks Spanish, too. And Okay. Yeah, she speaks Spanish. She has her own show at iHeart. She's fluent in the language. Oh, yeah. Wow. That's embarrassing. I speak Spanish fluently. Oh, no. She speaks Spanish. Like, she speaks Spanish. Okay. Okay. Dominican Spanish. Oh, boy. Okay. Well, fast Spanish talks fast. I be like, what?
What the [ __ ] Yo, that [ __ ] sounds crazy. And uh and and and um I don't get because I I make sure that in the public eye, I tell everybody like, you know, who they are and who I am and who Lagringa is. And um um I not people don't they can f with me. Yeah. Cuz you own it. And I think that's like a big takeaway is the reason why so many people I think uh have these huge insecurities and live uh kind of like in the shadows because they don't own their story. Like they don't own the decisions that they made. If you own the decisions that you make, nobody can weaponize it against you. Exactly. The the only look in 2019, the first time that I saw my hair. What do you mean the first time you saw your hair? Listen, Linda. Listen, Linda, if I show you pictures of my whole life, it was bald. Like ra ball b what? cuz you know in my culture you know they're like you know and and that was the that was engraved in into me. Well, yeah, because the colonizers told us that. So, so in 2013, I have my first um daughter, um Marley, and her her hair started growing and it started growing curly. And I'm like, hey, the milk the milkman came when I was not here. And then that in 2019, that's when I started growing my hair. And we made sure me and Lringa um as co-parents, we made sure that she loves her hair. So I that's the that's the reason I grew my hair so she could understand and that I love my hair. And now she loves her hair and she does her her thing, styles and stuff. And um that's beautiful. Yeah. A shout out to all the daddies in the world that take care. I got emotional for a little bit. No, I love that. That's beautiful. And we need our parents to do that because like you said, like it you learn in the home and that's how you go out and you face the world. Exactly. By what they teach you at home. So if at home they're telling you that's what you're going to go outside feeling, right? And thinking about Yep. facts and then you're going to want to straighten your hair and you're going to mess up your your beautiful hair that you grew up with. Yes. So, my first career was on Wall Street and I was the only Latina that used to rock her. First of all, I was like one of five Latinas um on the whole trading floor and I used to walk in there with my curls like mad big and like my suits and everything. I definitely look like I stood out. And I remember a mentor telling me as her hair was like bun like slick back, no curl whatsoever, you know, she gelled that [ __ ] crazy to keep it down. And she was like, you know, your hair can be considered a distraction. You might want to like pin it back. And I was like, really? I was like, who told you that? And she was like, my boss. Her boss was a CEO and she was the chief of staff. And I was like, no, I'm good. I like my curls. I think they I actually get compliments and people come and talk to me about my curls all the time. But it was so interesting because it was like a moment right there where I could have been influenced to like check my Latin at the door, right, and look and sound like everyone else in order to fit in. Well, that boss and her must be very sad because this these girls are I mean, you already know. God, you know when I That's your crown. That is your crap. I'm a lion. That's your man. That's your man. So, you have this new album, this dope ass album that you just dropped, which I really appreciate cuz it's like kind of like unexpected, which is like how I think of myself. Like people, they don't know what to expect. So, I really appreciate artistry that is like that. Like, it's like a surprise. Like, it's like, "Wow, this is actually like really dope." So, talk to us about this new album. Talk to us about the title of the album. talk to us about what excites you the most about this project.
It's not about um a ego thing like you know that I'm the king of the the club is it's about music because music is is what unites um people. Yes. You could be left, you could be right, you could have this religion or that religion and and then at the end of the day when you go to a concert, everybody's dancing and and jumping and stuff and relating to the same thing. Yeah. Which is music. Mhm. And um and you know living in a in such a divisive world where you want to divide and conquer, music is always going to be there and and music is what unites us and um uh this project uh I went to London, Paris uh uh Amsterdam then I came back uh to Miami and and and finished it there. I I was focused on, you know, because back in my my first album, my second album, you know, I was thinking about the big names, the big names like, you know, my friends, the the ones that I work with. And in this album, for me, it was very important to uh give light to the songwriters. So, the songwriters are my features. Oh, okay. And the producers as well. I've never, you know, I've these 17 years, I never um collaborated with uh with other producers. I would always produce my own records. And And I think this album um is my it's my third album. Um and and I think it's my best I know I don't think I know it's my best best body of work ever that I've done and I want to do it again and again and collaborate and keep on traveling and you probably album.
Well, you know, Acon got the keys to Africa. Boom. That's it. Just call him Acon and be like, "Yo, yo, Khan." Um, you already know, bro. Let's do this. Let's go. I love that. Um, I listen to your album and it it gives me like island. Like I want to be on the island. I want to be like in linen like flowing with the wind. Like that's the vibe that I get from it. And I love the red and I love the gold like your album cover is definitely giving er it's definitely giving that um it's got the AfroCaribbean beads. It's got the European influence. It's it's a nice blend almost like takes you on a journey which I really appreciate. Yeah, it does. It does. And you know, thanks to my team. I would like to thank Pedro Pedro Algria. he uh uh he spearheaded this project in such a way and my whole Sony team. They spearheaded, you know, the whole execution of this album. Obviously, I'm the musician. I'm I'm going to I'm going to make the music or whatever. And not just because Diego's here, he really took on on like a big responsibility on how to execute. Obviously, I don't have a manager, so I talked to him directly. Oh, that's interesting. Okay. So, so um my PR team, um Margo, uh like this is a team work. This is a team effort. It's not just about me. It's just like everybody was doing their part and and I'm so I am very grateful for for your team. Yes. And your team is here in the building supporting you, which I love. I'm always interested in learning like how the hell do you start? You're like, "Okay, I'm going to write a song today. Let me go to the studio." And like where do you even start? Like are you inspired like when you're outside with your daughters? Like how do you even begin? Listen, cuz I be stopping like, "Yo, how did they think to bring these sounds together? or like how the hell did that even So there's so there's a a documentary that's going to come out um um I think this week Diego next week. Okay. Next week. So the first session a documentary on this album. Yeah. Okay. So, the first session in London, um, I went in with Distortion, Jackie, and JB, the they're three songwriters and and Distortion, he's a producer. And and and and I see this blue piano that's like like no one gives a [ __ ] And I'm like, h, not a piano. Is that a piano? So I open it up and and the piano is a little out of tune. I'm like, this could be interesting. Start to play some keys. Oh, okay. Hey guys, is it possible we we can mic this this piano up? Yeah, but it's autotune. No, no, no. Let's let's Let's mic it up. Yeah. So, we miked it up and and that's how wasabi started. That was the first that was the first um session. Wasabi. Wasabi. When you say first session, what is that? What do you mean? The wasabi. Wasabi is the first song that was done on the first session. Got it. Wow. That is really interesting. And if you hear the album here, you hear you're going to hear the piano. Yeah. Now, when I hear it again, I'm going to be like, "Oh, wow." Yeah. You got to see the documentary. It's so funny. Yeah. Let me know when that comes out. That's dope. Yeah. Um Yeah. Because I'm always so inspired by how like you're inspired to like make music cuz I feel like it's that thing that I'm always inspired. Yeah. like I'm like, you know, I can make a beat right now and and and that's something that, you know, it's just um I'm grateful for that. Yeah, because because a lot of a lot of artists uh oh, you have they're not inspired today and but I'm constantly 24/7 365 inspired. I'm like let's go. Has that always been the case? Yep. Really? So you've never been in like a what do they call it? Like writer's block. Yeah, like a block. You never had like I'm never blocked. Never blocked. Not me. Because God gave me this this talent. So I cannot never be blocked. Okay. I don't want to be blocked. Yes. And even though I if if you know because I'm a human being and sometimes you have your ups and downs, you know, and days. I go to the studio and and and I'm like what? It's like your therapy. That's it. Yeah. Your superpower. Nobody can take that from you. I love it. What do you want to be remembered by? I want to be remembered by my respect for others for yourself. For myself and for others and for the world, okay, for people to respect each other, you know, and and there's an umbrella. I remember your dad, right? The umbrella is called respect. And within that respect, there's love, there's empathy, there's patience, you know, all those things. And once you pull that umbrella out, you're not going to get wet. That was deep. And I know your that's like your dad's like kind of motto, right? That he No, my dad, you know, show me respect. Mhm. But this umbrella symbolism that that was that's when when I started like respect. Okay. Yeah. But with it if there's no respect there there's no empathy. If there's no respect there's no patience. If there's no respect there's no love. So respect is the umbrella. Wow. I love that. So if you walk on the umbrella, you're always protected. Oh, absolut freakingutely. I rico. I love that. All right, everybody. Well, make sure you go and check out this album or however, whatever suits your soul. And make sure to support Mafio. Man, what a great interview. Thank you so much. Energy. Thank you. I appreciate you stopping by. come to Miami. New York City tour. Now I definitely have to come to Miami. Let me know when when I need to go. Like is there an event happening? Like let me know cuz I'll be in there. There's always an event. True. It is Miami. It is Miami, darling. But shout out to all of you for tuning in today. I appreciate you guys as always. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure to share it with a friend. If you know any artist in your life, make sure to share it. 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