5 Minutes with... PRETTYGOOD!!

For many years, especially in the 80s and early 90s, hip-hop was dominated by the East Coast… and then the West kicked down the door and made noise in a loud and well respected way. But the south, Dirty South, to be exact, had to create their own lane when there wasn’t even a door presented to them.

People like Master P hustled CD’s out of his trunk and created No Limit Records, he was a huge attribute to the south’s start up. Many artists contributed, U.G.K., Uncle Luke, Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Ludacris (DTP) and so many more paved the way and added more lanes for southern artists to express their own unique version and sound of hip hop-Salute!

North Carolina rapper, Mardell Miller, also known as  PRETTYGOOD, has paid his dues and continues to do so as he fights to do what every aspiring rapper wants to do … WIN!

Dina’s Den got to know this up and coming rapper who has no problem flying/driving/bussing it from state to state just to be in a showcase or perform at a lounge with the dirty south flow. His hustle is endless and commendable. Allow us to introduce Prettygood!

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RAPPING?
PRETTYGOOD: I have been rapping seriously since 15.

WHO INFLUENCED YOU TO GET INTO RAP?
PRETTYGOOD: When my cousin moved from New York to North Carolina, he had me listening to Rakim, Big L, Run DMC, Big Daddy Kane, EPMD, L.L., Fat Boys, Kwame, Nas, Tupac, Lost Boyz, Red Man and the list goes on!

WHAT WAS THE FIRST RAP ALBUM YOU BOUGHT?
PRETTYGOOD: Slick Rick the Ruler.

WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH?
PRETTYGOOD: I would definitely love to work with Kanye West, Jay Z, Timbaland, 50 Cent, Dr.Dre, Snoop, T.I. and that list goes on as well.

WHO, IF ANYONE, ARE YOU COMPARED TO?
PRETTYGOOD: I am most compared to OutKast, Flo Rida, Pitbull and even Jay-Z at times due to how I come off on different tracks.

THE DIRTY SOUTH HAS A UNIQUE SOUND AND FOUGHT HARD TO PUT THEMSELVES ON THE MAP. WHO DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?
PRETTYGOOD: Everyone who came out of the dirty… the whole Dungeon Family, No Limit, DTP, UGK, Chamillionaire, Ghetto Boyz, BME click.  The Dirty has been influenced and enhanced at the same time.  It continues to be the same way as other emcees emerge. 

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?
PRETTYGOOD:  At the moment I am working on a couple of projects with my homie J-Bird Productionz out of Reno , new album with JStubbs Music , a mix tape with DJ Robz1 and I continued to collaborate with other producers overseas. 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF HIP HOP TODAY?
PRETTYGOOD: Hip Hop today. I can say that as the world continues to grow along with the people Hip Hop will probably go places that we could not imagine.  There is so much creativity that I don’t think anyone can say what it is or where will go or end.  But I can say that a lot of artists are making good music.  When you think of hip hop to me it was a DJ, Emcee and some dancers back in the day and it was based on lyrics and how you delivered them.  Now you have different aspects of Hip Hop and it continues to grow!

WHATS NEXT FOR YOU?
PRETTYGOOD:  I’m getting more work done in the studio, a lot more performing, a lot more networking, continue to build my brand(Hidnjulz).  Like the 3 rappers I mentioned and including 50 Cent, they have built empires with what they have done.  That’s what I want- to build an empire.  So I am doing what I got to do and put it in the hands of the man upstairs and let it ride! 
Find him on Facebook @ Mardell Miller and on twitter @prettygood.