Today we’d like to introduce you to Metro North.
Metro, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I go by the name of METRONORTH, METRO for short. I grew up in the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut. I grew up without both biological parents and was raised by my aunt and uncle. growing up I pretty much was a regular kid. I played videos games, played basketball at the local community center, and loved going to school. Once I got to high school, that’s when things changed. I went to Central High School in Bridgeport, and that was the school all the young hustlers went. I seen 16-year-olds riding in nice cars, wearing Miami-style Cuban link chains and all the new Air Jordans. It intrigued me, and before I knew it, I was hustling not drugs but electronics. I’d sell Sony PSPs, Apple iPods, MP3s even Sandisk memory cards with music already. But once Apple released the iPhone that hustle was over. One of my best friends had been hustling too, but he sold marijuana, and he gradually taught me everything I needed to know about selling weed from how to measure it to the different strains which weren’t many in our area at the time. We sold weed for about 3 years then I started stealing cars and started making music but not quite taking it serious until I caught a case right after my 17th birthday. I was considered a “first-time offender” so I got off with a slap on the wrist which was 1 year of probation that I successfully completed. Throughout that year, I was doing ok in school and wasn’t hustling, but when that year was over, I fell back into the streets and eventually dropped out of high school my senior year. My life kind of spiraled out of control, and I ended up catching another case though this time, I wasn’t so lucky I was sentenced to 10 years suspended after 5 years. From 2012-2017 I evaluated my life, maturing and finding myself. When I got out of prison the world had changed 2 times over. I lost family members and friends. Hip-Hop had changed from what I knew it. Artist were making millions of dollars being independent, and major labels weren’t creating artist anymore they rather just find one with an existing fanbase and following and just get behind them. Seeing the game change like that, I spent two years preparing to rebrand as an artist. With help from some of the local artist in Bridgeport and New York, as well as Florida I figured out the best way for me to get back into my artistic mindset which was buying my own home recording studio and networking through social media. I didn’t use Instagram or Twitter until 2020 during the pandemic once I logged on and started to reach out to other artist and companies my music not only reached farther than just my city my music also started to sound better. Now I’m in a good space in life, and recording music is more therapeutic for me overall; I just love the culture. I am also big on the support I want to see my fellow entrepreneurs follow their aspirations meet their goals, and ultimately succeed. #supportyalocalhustlers
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It most definitely hasn’t been smooth besides the 5 years in prison, I lost my best friend and my mom (aunt), plus a few other people. I struggled with depression as well because after all that time away, I felt like I couldn’t relate to any of my peers they all went to college, got apartments, and did all the things you do in your early 20s while I was incarcerated. I do believe all the things I went through made me more ambitious.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a rap artist/entrepreneur with my own record label and production company Mercenary Mafia and Mercenary Vision. I love the creative process of making something out of just one thought, and to see it come to life, whether it’s being in the studio all night working on a song or filming and editing some footage from a podcast it feels tremendous!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My ambition My perseverance
My dedication
My consistency
My accountability
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nh_CEO/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nh_ceo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqPgG4l1L6t0wNUpONs6uig
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mercenarymetronorth
- Other: https://www.twitch.tv/metronorth_tv
Image Credits
Mercenary Vision
