Memphis, Tennessee rapper Pooh Shiesty is more than just a hometown legend. In a short span of time, he’s amassed a national following and earned his place as part of Gucci Mane’s The New 1017.
As a child, Shiesty was surrounded by music. His father founded Mob Tie Records and rapped under the name Mob Boss. Following in his father’s footsteps, he too pursued a career in music. It wasn’t until 18 that he began pursuing music seriously, “My dad didn’t expect me to rap, but when I did, he helped me,” says Shiesty, “he taught me how to put my pain into what I’m doing.”
After going viral with hits like “Choppa Talk” and “7.62 God” which garnered over 19 million views, Shiesty was contacted by Atlanta legend Gucci Mane. On April 10, 2020 Gucci Mane direct messaged Shiesty and shortly thereafter signed him to The New 1017 Records.
Most recently, Shiesty’s “Back in Blood” featuring Lil Durk peaked on Apple Music charts, debuted at #3 on Rolling Stone’s “Breakthrough 25” and was his first entry on Billboard’s Hot 100, but it doesn’t end there. Shiesty is gearing up to drop his debut tape Shiesty Season next Friday, February 5th via The New 1017 and Atlantic Records. Today Shiesty joins us to discuss his rise to fame, his relationship with Gucci Mane and debut project Shiesty Season. Check out the full interview below.
The Knocktunal: Were you musical growing up and when did you start experimenting with music and rapping?
Pooh Shiesty: Around 18, 19 years old, but I always loved being around the sound of music because my pops had a studio.
The Knocktunal: Your father founded Mob Tie Records, do you feel like you’re following in his footsteps and that’s what motivated you to pursue music?
Pooh Shiesty: Definitely, he motivated me most definitely.
The Knockturnal: What’s the best piece of advice your father’s given you about the rap game?
Pooh Shiesty: He told me just always stay humble, things can go bigger. We might think we had a peak, but something bigger might happen tomorrow, so just stay humble.
(Directed by 300Visions)
The Knocktunal: What made you start pursuing music seriously? What was that turning point in your career?
Pooh Shiesty: Gucci Mane. Just him texting me made me take it more seriously. Being able to make it to that point.
The Knocktunal: What is it like having Gucci Mane as a mentor?
Pooh Shiesty: I don’t want nobody else, I couldn’t name nobody else. He don’t tell me nothing wrong, he knows what shoes I’m in so his advice be valuable.
The Knockturnal: What’s the best piece of advice he’s given you or what have you learned from being around him?
Pooh Shiesty: My recoding, he got me to produce my music better, just being in the studio, him teaching me.
The Knocktunal: How does it feel to have your first Billboard Hot 100 entry with “Back in Blood” featuring Lil Durk?
Pooh Shiesty: Raw, it was a raw moment for me. I’m tryna go all the way up the chart, keep going.
The Knockturnal: Did you think it would pop off the way it did? Or were you surprised?
Pooh Shiesty: I was surprised. I thought I knew something, but it did too much. It did better than what I had thought.
The Knocktunal: What have been the top 3 highlights in your musical career so far?
Pooh Shiesty: My last highlights, the third one is my mixtape coming out, first one getting signed and the other one is dropping “SoIcyBoyz.”
The Knocktunal: What’s it like being signed to Gucci’s The New 1017 & Atlantic Records?
Pooh Shiesty: It’s dope. I get love all the way around. Everything genuine on both sides. They coulda been putting me last, overlooking me, but everything going as planned.
The Knocktunal: How does it feel to be dropping your debut tape Shiesty Season?
Pooh Shiesty: It’s lit, I love it, I’ve been waiting for this mixtape for forever, it’s well overdue, everybody been waiting on it. I made this from the heart, this for y’all.
