Maino

Media Made Magazine caught up with “Maino” for a quick Interview. Born in Brooklyn, New York. Maino’s birth name is Jermaine Coleman. He spent most of his childhood days growing up in borough’s Bedford-Stuyvesant. In his early twenties, he got involved in drug trafficking. Later, he was charged with a kidnapping a drug dealer and was sentenced to ten to fifteen years in the prison. It was prison that his interest in rapping was ignited. During his long years in prison, he got interested in rapping to escape boredom and loneliness. He listened to rappers like Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G. etc. During his prison days and this motivated him to pursue rapping. After spending around a decade in prison, he was acquitted in the year 2003, and he went on to establish Hustle Hard Entertainment, which was his own record label. Maino made impressive progress, releasing various noted tracks and eventually grabbing a spot-onBillboard’s top 100! Maino even made a track for the popular game Grand Theft Auto IV. Maino has maintained consistency throughout 2003-2018 dropping more hits, collaborations and business ventures. In this business controversy is often hard to avoid and Maino’s name has come up on occasions. That has never affected Maino’s drive. He is by all means, one of Hip Hop’s “realist” and most “consistent” artist. The Hip Hop Community of Brooklyn gave Maino the title of K.O.B (King of Brooklyn). That within itself speaks in volumes of the character and drive of Maino!

MAINO – KING OF BROOKLYN

TEL: The name “Maino?”
MNO: It’s just a nickname. Just a shortening of my name with an O at the end.
TEL: What’s the reason you chose Hip hop?
MNO: I didn’t choose it, it chose me. I never wanted to be a rapper. That came from being locked up in solitary for twenty three hours a day with nothing to do. So I started rapping just to pass time.
TEL: That’s interesting and speaks in volume about your intelligence. Take us back to the first time you performed in front of a large audience, outcome?
MNO: I was a little nervous, because it was the first time performing in front of fifty thousand people in my hometown, at Summer Jam.
TEL: National, International where do you enjoy performing the most and why?
MNO: Love performing anywhere! Internationally or Nationally.
TEL: Going back to the track “Hi Hater” over a million views, did you anticipate that track would do as well as it did?
MNO: At the time I did know it was a smash but it was just the record to start the movement. It was catchy and the beat was a familiar hit so I knew what it would do.
TEL: Another big track recently, “Heard U”, that was the slogan for a while. You got more like that for us?
MNO: I always got more. You just have to keep listening. “Heard U” was off my mixtape series K.O.B.
TEL: How do you prepare for the studio? Many artist have a few drinks or trees.
MNO: No special preparation. I can go in and work right away and I don’t smoke.
TEL: A few weeks back, I was listening to Sway in the morning show. Heather B mentioned you in the list of “Bully Rappers.” How you take that?
MNO: I’m not here for the bullshit. I’m just not with the fuck boy shit and have no problem letting anyone know.
TEL: The state of Hip hop today. Lots of garbage, lots of non-talented artist. What happened and why?
MNO: I mean, it is what it is. The serious artists have to keep hustling and pushing what we you do and what we believe in.
TEL: Any other ventures in the business?
MNO: Right now, I’m continuing to make music and more acting roles in film and television. I’m also working on producing a couple of documentaries.
TEL: In addition to new moves. Explain the shoe venture. How did that transpire and when will they drop?
MNO: I recently hooked up with Fila. I’ve been an ambassador for them. I designed a sneaker (K.O.B) for them and will be available starting April 20th.
TEL: What advice do you have for up & coming artist?
MNO: Keep hustling hard and don’t take no for an answer!
TEL: Are you still pushing NY unity? Brooklyn Artist? How’s the progress?
MNO: Yes, always. It’s a process!
TEL: If you could go back and do one thing over again, what would it be?
MNO: Nothing. Everything I’ve done or experienced made me who I am today, “Maino”

TEL: Any other ventures in the business?
MNO: Right now, I’m continuing to make music and more acting roles in film and television. I’m also working on producing a couple of documentaries.
TEL: In addition to new moves. Explain the shoe venture. How did that transpire and when will they drop?
MNO: I recently hooked up with Fila. I’ve been an ambassador for them. I designed a sneaker (K.O.B) for them and will be available starting April 20th.
TEL: What advice do you have for up & coming artist?
MNO: Keep hustling hard and don’t take no for an answer!
TEL: Are you still pushing NY unity? Brooklyn Artist? How’s the progress?
MNO: Yes, always. It’s a process!
TEL: If you could go back and do one thing over again, what would it be?
MNO: Nothing. Everything I’ve done or experienced made me who I am today, “Maino”