S. Samuel
Rapper Maino is set to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at his rise in hip-hop with the upcoming documentary Unstoppable set to be released tomorrow (June 9).
Maino explained the film’s focus on the adversity he has faced and his struggles to overcome all obstacles.
“A lot of industry people didn’t believe in me when I first started pounding the streets,” he said via a statement. “Many said I wouldn’t make it off of mixtapes, now look…my album is dropping June 30th. Haters inspired me to write my last two hit records. Unstoppable is the story of my life and struggles to get to the position I’m in now. I had a rough life growing up and nothing ever happened the way it was supposed to happen to me, so I’m accustomed to being turned down.” (Statement)
Focusing on his humble beginnings up until his “Hi Hater” fame, the doc will reportedly be a no-holds barred look into the New York rapper’s back story.
Maino grew up in an environment where selling drugs was more of a way of life than a criminal offense. Nickel and dimes eventually turned into handling weight and Maino’s fun in the streets was cut short when he was convicted of a drug related kidnapping and sentenced to 10 years in prison. While in prison, Maino sought the rap game as his gateway out of the hood. By the time he was released in 2003, he had mastered the rap techniques so much, that he began to embark on a mission to become The next rising rapper from Brooklyn. (Press Release)
Since his release, the rapper has formed alliances within the rap industry, such as his relationship with T.I.
“Me and Tip talk all the time,” he said in a recent interview. “And actually, I was at his house the day before, which was Sunday, the day before he went in [to prison]. He went in Monday. I was at his house, we talked briefly and we talked other times. You know, he’s a dude that’s been through struggle already. It ain’t like he ain’t never been to jail before. It’s just a hard pill to swallow when you got so much going on. He’s a strong dude and I know he’s gonna get through it. He knows what it is when he goes in there, he knows how to handle himself and the focus, goal, is to get back there to his family and to his business, music, money and do what you gotta do. In and out. He gonna be all right.” (iHipHop)
In addition to his New York fanbase, Maino is known for creating a strong Southern crowd of supporters.
“You already know what I’m about, I’m a solider, I’m a rider, I’m a ghetto survivor, matter of fact, I’m all of the above, you feel me,” he said in a video interview. “Over here in Orlando, Florida, just got finished performing you know…A real n*gga always gonna get love no matter what. [I get love in the South] because I’m a different kind of, different design of n*gga. You understand what I’m saying? They gonna f*ck with me because I ain’t greetin’ all the people, I’ma come down and give ’em me. I ain’t gonna come down here with some bullsh*t.” (Power Played)
Unstoppable is presented by Best of the Block/Hustle Hard and may be purchased via www.mixunit.com.
Maino’s debut album If Tomorrow Comes will hit stores Tuesday, June 30th.
Check out the trailer for Unstoppable below:
[For more on your favorite rappers from the Big Apple peep SOHH NYC]
