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Doj McMannis: Beantowns Most Promising Emcee Ignites the Hip-Hop World on Fire!

Words by Bear Frazer

Beantown always seems to be getting the short-end of the stick, but thats been changing lately. In 2004, the Boston Red Sox won back their dignity after winning the World Series and in 2006, homegrown emcee Doj McMannis is planning to bring his city to the core of the Hip-Hop realm.

That isnt a joke. His name isnt either.

Although his name did derive from Doja, a widely-known slang term for marijuana, some people in New York also refer to Doja as a punk. So if some rapper tries belittling him, McMannis will light a fire under someones ass with his lyrical wit and knockout punch lines. I know somebody is going to open their mouth, he acknowledges. Thats why Im prepared to shut em up.

His words could hurt, but that isnt a bad thing because thankfully, McMannis isnt the typical flossin emcee. While some rappers tend to walk around the mall and shop for a pair of grillz that matches their silver belt buckle, McMannis rather take care of his family and concentrate on his blossoming. Seeing as I got a son and a stepson, I usually get them to school. Then after that, I go to my grandmothers house and see if she needs me to help out, McMannis, the 28 year-old emcee explains. Other than that, Ill come back to the house and try to write.

As one could tell, he takes his family and music seriously as they are the most important things to him. McMannis, born Andrew Griswold, didnt have the most glamorous lifestyle growing up. When he was eight years-old, his father walked out on him and his mother, so they spent the next several years moving in and out with family members all throughout the projects of Boston, Massachusetts. This was also when he began listening and connecting with Hip-Hop heavyweights like Big Pun, KRS-One, Tupac, Nas and Jay-Z, which he eventually based his craft from. McMannis knew he wanted to be the next great emcee and even though life seemed dim at times, he muscled through. I guess I was one of those kids who dont have a lot of hopes and dreams, but I kept focus, McMannis admits. I always felt like there were going to be better days. I believe there is better stuff ahead, so I try to keep a level head.

Luckily for McMannis, his situation kept improving. Although he joined several small rap cliques in Boston, none of which ever worked out, he began working with another aspiring emcee called Cornerpocket in 2004. They recorded songs, but never really did much with them. After both men took a brief break, they came back together, shot a video for their single Twisted and are releasing a collaborative effort entitled Money Well Spent early this year. Cornerpocket and I did songs all the time, so we decided to take the songs we liked the best and release them, McMannis says about the project. Its music we didnt want to go to waste.

From a solo standpoint, McMannis is doing just as good, if not better. Through his younger cousins, he met his older brother for the first time in 2002 and he has played a crucial role in McMannis career by becoming a co-CEO of his imprint, Hands-On. McMannis also released his first official EP My Time, which features his smooth flows and lyrical wit. On Legal Papah, he talks in-depth about the struggle to make money while on the title track My Time, he furiously spits bars about making an impact in the industry. He also switches it up by sweeping the females off their feet on Miss Lady. Clearly, McMannis isnt one-dimensional. Im not talking about shooting everybody in every verse you hear, but at the same time, since the streets is where Im from, you hear that in the music, McManus states. I try talking to the ladies and all the stuff in the hood that I go through.

Recently inking a two-year deal with Stoli Marketing & Management (SMM), it appears that 2007 will become an even bigger year for Doj McMannis. With new albums on the way as well as his mixtape Pure Prophit, expect some tricks to come out this rappers sleeve. The music going to surprise a lot of people of how well its put together and how tight the lyrics are, McMannis explains. People are going to see its serious.

Doj Live!