We were lucky to catch up with Verbal McMahon recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Verbal thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is “The New York Renaissance: Act I”. The album was created during the covid pandemic in 2020, and all the beats were produced by my good friend & longtime collaborator Lord Zookie.

I grew up right in the middle of a significant shift in eras, music, and overall culture in both HipHop & my hometown of New York City. I wanted to make a project that would represent the conglomerate that is Verbal McMahon. The word “renaissance” is defined as a rebirth or revival in art & culture, hence the name of the album.

Some of my favorite songs on the album are “Native”, an ode to my fallen brothers Snap & Brandon, and the true natives of New York City, and also “Twelfth Street Mystery”, which is one of most my streamed songs across all music platforms.

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.

My name is Verbal McMahon, I’m an artist/creative from The Lower East Side of New York City. I was born to a Puerto Rican mother and a Filipino father, both of whom shared great art of all mediums with me (music, films, etc). This laid the foundation for what I always knew I wanted to do – create, perform, entertain, teach, etc.

I began to make music circa 2012, inspired by my friends who were already filming their own music videos. I had a gift for songwriting and performing live, but I was afraid of the vulnerability that came with expressing my triumphs and defeats through song. With a lot of support and determination, I lost that fear and became more comfortable with sharing my true self.

As I continued making music, the demand for visual content soared with the rise of social media. In addition to music videos, I began to document my live performances, capturing the before, during, & after of various events I attended or hosted. This idea turned into VerbTV, an episodic vlog that highlights both the music & the personality of Verbal McMahon. Episodes include food ventures, special effect freestyles, and behind-the-scenes footage & insight of my creative process.

I am most proud of my ability to stay original in a time where everyone follows trends & copies everyone else. I make art for ME, not for what I think people will like, or what will get me the most views/clicks. I may not be the most popular artist, but I may be one of the truest. If there is anything people can take from my journey, it’s to follow your heart & do what you love, as cliche as it sounds. The freedom & happiness it brings is worth everything and then some.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist/creative is the weight lifted off my shoulders when I express myself. We all go through different feelings for different reasons, and having an outlet to safely release them is something I am forever grateful for.

Many of my songs & lyrics are the expressions of my everyday thoughts & characteristics. I can have a sad song about heartbreak, and I can have a funny song about being anti-social in an elevator. I can praise my grandfather, and I can diss my ex. I can brag about the meal I’m eating, and I can be humbled by my hunger. I can create characters & aliases, and liken myself to legendary wrestlers & movie villains. I can capture a time, a memory, a person, a moment, etc, in a song, and it will stay there forever, because that’s what art is. Forever.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think many non-creative people/followers/fans struggle to understand that artists aren’t necessarily ALWAYS creating or even ready to create (or share). Most artists aren’t following a structured timeline for sharing their art based on when everyone else wants it.

In my experience, sometimes people expect me to release music or content with more regularity, and I have to remind myself to keep going at MY pace. The truth is that creative juices don’t flow 24/7 nonstop. There are many times where, not only do I have nothing to create, I actually need to step away from creating so that I can find new inspiration. Even then, I can create content & not feel ready to share it for a long time, if ever.

Forcing content never feels right, especially if it’s to please anyone other than the actual artist. Creatives should trust their own process and create/share when they are ready to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/verbal_mcmahon
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/verbal_mcmahon/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Verbal_McMahon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI41z_vcf8O8u8WotKOOmV1i22tQmrxlu

Image Credits
Katie Nuñez Phellix Rodriguez Tommy Krause