Exploring the Journey and Sound that Define Arizona’s Most Defiant Underground Talent
Today, we’re sitting down with the talented underground rapper MTMWAN, a rising force in Arizona’s hip-hop scene. Originally from Harvey, Illinois, he’s been making waves with his unique sound and raw energy, blending gritty street influences with unexpected elements like goth culture. Known for his captivating performances and innovative style, MTMWAN has built a solid fan base and is carving out his place in the local scene. We’re diving into his journey, future plans, and how he’s using social media to expand his reach.
Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today! For our out-of-state readers, introduce yourself.
What’s up, y’all? I’m MTMWAN, aka BigGucciWan, the bitch bender—I stress ‘em, and I stretch ‘em.
Your rise in Arizona hasn’t gone unnoticed. What have you been up to lately?
Just staying consistent—dropping content and visuals, linking with the city, and keeping my foot on their necks. The usual.
You moved to Arizona in 2016. What brought you here, and how has that change influenced your artistry?
My mom was already out here, so I relocated to be closer to her. It enhanced my artistry because I came from Chicago—the Keef era, the Psychodrama era, all that. Moving out here, I was able to use my Chicago roots to form my own style.
Shortly after moving, you left a past relationship to pursue your solo career. What led to that decision?
My girl was acting up. She was supposed to be home, but she came back two hours late. I looked up to the sky and then back to the ground. I said, “God or Prince of Darkness, give me a sign that I’m not supposed to be with this girl.” Ten minutes later, I got a call from Chief Keef’s manager asking me to open for him on his tour out here. That was my sign. I told her, “You ain’t treating me how I’m supposed to be treated. You gotta go.”
Coming from Harvey, Illinois, how do you maintain your signature sound and flow in today’s music?
You can take a nigga out of Harvey, but you can’t take the Harvey out of a nigga. That never leaves me. All my family is there. I go back and visit frequently. If I ever lose touch, I always get reminded of who the fuck I am.
You blend a lot of goth elements into your music. How does your hometown and fanbase react to that fusion?
In Harvey, they don’t really integrate with the alt and goth scene. They think it’s strictly demonic. They’ll be like, “You sold your soul to the Illuminati—you changed.” And I’m like, “Bro, I fucking wish! I be reaching out to them, and they don’t even respond.” But in downtown Chicago, they throw a lot of raves and fuck with it. I get a lot of love from my homies in the suburbs on that aspect.
Walk us through your creative process. How do you bring a track to life in Arizona’s underground scene?
I always start with the beat—I can sculpt everything around it. If the beat is hard, everything I say is gonna be crazy. Once I lock in the melody, I put the words to it. Most of the time, I freestyle everything.
Beyond your solo work, you’re involved with “Government Propaganda.” Can you tell us more about that?
Government Propaganda came together in 2024. We throw raves and shows while incorporating different skills and talents to boost our personal careers. Our Blood Rave in July 2024 was a huge success and taught me a lot about marketing and promo. Our “End of the World” rave in November had the same impact.
Social media plays a huge role in today’s music scene. How do you use it to expand your reach?
I target platforms that align with my kind of music. I reach out to blog pages, and a lot of them fuck with me heavy. Pages like AZMostWanted, AZWayTooActive, and Down In The Desert—anytime I do something, we collab and run up numbers together. It’s all about coming together to reach a common goal.
You’re known as the life of the party. How important is that persona in building your brand?
As an artist, people don’t just fall in love with your music—they fall in love with who you are as a person. I’m very social, but I’m still 100% an introvert. Your image is important. No one wants an artist who just stands in the corner looking awkward and weird. That might work for some—like The Weeknd—but it won’t work for me.
Your music videos are a huge part of your brand. Who’s behind the scenes making them happen?
For the most part, I direct my own videos. Passetape shoots a majority of them. I’ve also worked with H20 Wally, AVisual, FuckRevenge, and Koala Television. When we link up, we always make magic.
You’ve worked with a lot of underground artists. What are your thoughts on the local music scene in Arizona?
The local scene is okay. A lot of people who are born and raised in Arizona haven’t seen many of their own make it big. I feel like they’re limited—it’s like the shark growth theory, where they only grow as big as the tank allows. Arizona has some of the most talented artists I’ve ever heard, even compared to Chicago. They just need direction. I’m getting out here and doing it so people can follow the blueprint I’m setting.
Your ambition shines through your music. What’s next for MTMWAN?
Staying consistent, improving my visuals, networking with more people, and making this global instead of local.
Throughout your journey in Arizona, have any local artists shown you extraordinary love? Who are your day ones?
DoomDivision, Spookikage of DoomDivision, MobileSuit, PKMchete, AllstarJugg, The JuggBoys, LSGPrada, and Ryda Bitch. There are a lot of artists I haven’t even met in person yet who show crazy love. But those are my day ones.
Your influence goes beyond the rap scene. If you could go on tour with anyone in the world, who would it be?
Sade—on God. Also, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Slipknot, and Jimi Hendrix.
Here at TBTU, we’re always looking for fresh talent. If you had to highlight artists from your circle, who would you choose?
LilMaziJugg, Jaxxx, BayMack, AllstarJugg, and PKMchete.
Before we wrap up, is there anything else you want our readers to know?
I ain’t thinking about no bitch. These bitches stink. Gucci Wan is taking over. These niggas frauds. Can’t nobody fuck with me—I be slapping niggas for real. Yeah.
MTMWAN is unapologetically himself, both in music and in life. His energy, ambition, and unique artistry make him a force to watch in Arizona’s underground scene and beyond. Stay tuned for what’s next.
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