Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Omega Edwards. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Omega , appreciate you joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

Tha 5MICS Challenge is a reinvention of The Legendary 5MICS from The Source Magazine. The Source’s 5 Mics was the first trading card and grading scale in the hip Hop culture to establish which music or album was a hit. If you received 5 Mics, your music or album was one of the best out! Benzino spearheading the 5MICS took it to elevated heights. After, the fall of The Source Benzino has been doing multiple business ventures. One with myself a local Filmmaker, Actor, and CLAN/Empire Artist from (Walnut Park) St.Louis, Missouri.
Both of us collaborated on multiple films and won multiple awards. I came to Benzino about bringing the 5MICS back but in a new format called “Tha 5MICS Challenge.” Tha 5MICS Challenge is a Showcase for struggling underground artists to help launch their careers in the right direction with guidance from major labels and artists in the business kinda like Artist Development. 25 Contestants, 5 Finalists, 5 Judges, 1 Winner who will take home incentives offered by the sponsors.
Our debut was October 10,2024 in Kansas City, Missouri at CLAN/BLE Studios Harvest In Tha Hood Music Fest. A lot of powerful influencers throughout Kansas City such as (Dame Dash on Da Slaps, David Walker, Biggie Love, Turf smurf, Rahsheda Jeree, etc) help build this project and advertised it. Fox 4 KC wrote a blog about us and now we are shooting our first episode directed by Chef Boy Ching.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Public Figure/Arist/Filmmaker from Walnut Park, Missouri which is North St.Louis. In 2016 I landed a small role of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 through Xander Nicolai Management. I was a Ravager in Yondo Camp. A Marvel Character portrayed by actor from The Walking Dead Michael Rooker. That little exposure got me recognized in Kansas City. I connected with a local Fimmaker Kent Bernard to start my own project title “STREET RUNNERS”.
Bernard found gold in my project abs help me take his mediocre script I wrote to the big leagues. Together we connected with KC Films and Kansas City Women in Film to make this project real. Biggest problem we had was finding a great actor for a new project. A lot of people wanted a lot of money beside on individual. I sent him over the script hoping and praying he would response because I seen him on a lot of projects on Tubi around that time.
Woke up looked on my instagram Raymond “Benzino” Scott wrote me saying “Let’s do it big dog!” And after that 8 years later we have done multiple movies and won multiple awards in film festivals throughout the country. One our latest projects got picked up by Amazon Prime and Tubi titled “ The Best Day Of Your Life” directed by Aaron Dougherty.
After that in May 2022 I did another project title “TNT Jackson” directed by Todd Sheets starting Legend Rudy Ray Moore and Millie Milan which also landed on Tubi, Apple TV, Prime, etc.
Once that show came out Julio Sanchez and Tito Da Plug from Houston offered me a distribution contract with Empire Records. I signed the deal and in June I moved to South Central LA off 84th and Hoover and than up to Thousand Oaks once I got money coming thru.
I started networking in LA and worked with Freeway Millionaires Club and DeathRow establishing myself as dope artist.

Stayed 2 years in California moved back to KC and started this new venture with Benzino called “Tha 5Mics Challenge.” A hiphop competition show case that helps guide artists before they go into the major leagues. It’s a promo platform to help take artist through Artist Development by judging their EP, Crowd Control, Lyricism, Stage Presence, and Style. 25 Contestants, 5 Regions, 5 Panelists, 1 winner.

Two simple things set me apart which are Commitment and Discipline. Simple.

Thing I’m most proud of is how the youth are now putting guns down and picking mics up!

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. God. We are here to produce and serve each other. The one thing I think about the most is “How great is it if I’m the only one benefiting from it?” I now focus on how to help and assist others through my creativity.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Authenticity.
Be You and nothing less.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Tha_o_m_e_g_a_
• Facebook: Omega Edwards
• Youtube: @OmegaEdwards314
• Soundcloud: Omega Edwards
• Other: Google “Lawrence Omega Edwards” or “Omega Edwards” for all my social media platforms.

Image Credits

CLAN🏴 Photography