6AMMA RAY

When we think of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, we think of the 70s Steelers. We think of a dynasty football team that won multiple super bowls. It is almost like our brains are triggered to see black and yellow. For years Steelers were the biggest thing coming out of Pittsburgh. That all changed In 2005 when hip hop made its mark in Pittsburgh. We were now being introduced to guys like Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa. These two put the city on the map and created a blueprint on how to make it out. Now, fast forward to a time a new artist emerged and is now getting ready to take the world head-on. He is ready to be the new staple artist of his community and generation. 

6amma Ray grew up in an area called “The Commons”, on the north side of Pittsburgh. There he gained his passion and love for music while earning situational awareness (street smarts) and a business-savvy mindset. After high school, 6amma went to the US Navy and served his country proudly. Once he returned from the Navy,  the music dream was back in motion. Even while serving, he said he still kept a rhyme book with him. 6amma then attended the well regarded LA film school, where he received his degree in recording arts and entertainment. business. Now, his next goal is to get an MBA in business.

6amma’s passion for music was beyond just being an Emcee, he wanted to know the business and background production of the game. He decided to pack up and move to Brooklyn. While being in the state where the genre began, 6amma went on to work in a recording studio, to pick up skills in the production and engineering field. He got the chance to work for many legends, such as; Common, 50 Cent, Nicki Minaj, and the “God’s Son” himself, Nas. 

6amma has a remarkably unique sound, he says it’s a mix between Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and J. Cole. Not only is he composing diverse heavy-hitting bars, but 6amma touches on the everyday general topics, while dropping knowledge with some conscious bars. He also dabbles in R&B as well, classifying his genre as “Trap-N-B”. His flow and his vibe are displayed in all his records today. 6amma is the future of hip hop. Pittsburgh has their new staple artist to put the city onto. We got a chance to speak with 6amma Ray himself, to get a more in-depth understanding of who he is, and how he became the artist he is today. The takeover is near and here’s what he had to say. 

Q: When and what made you want to get into music?

A: Got into music at a young age. My grandma Joyce had us active in the church. So I came up singing and acting in plays at church. My grandma held a youth program at church, that basically caused her to adopt two teenage boys, and bring them into our home, I was about 5. They introduced me to music and fashion. My mom also is a big influence. She didn’t listen to much rap, but we listened to Jay-Z every day. At  6 years old, I knew all the words to “Reasonable Doubt”, and was reading through 2pacs lyrics and poetry.

Q: What does hip hop mean to you?

A: Hip Hop is water to me. Can’t survive without that. HipHop is a culture I was made from. I’ve been hurt by this culture… I want to be a part of the change and evolution of my culture.

Q: What was life like growing up in Pittsburgh?

A: My city is crazy… Cold winters, Hot boy summers, bullets, weed and cookouts. My city made me. It’s nothing like LA or NY, but it has its beauty. I can see so many faces right now and so much that went into all that I am. I didn’t realize how big the world is, until I got out of there. But I am very proud of my city. I can’t wait to show the young bulls that the world is bigger than everyday life in Pittsburgh, and how they can use their home as a launching pad. 

Q: What impact do you think you make with your content?

A: I’m all about fun and progress. If you are listening to my music, you will hear real stories that you can take lessons from, and I also remind people to take moments to appreciate life. Life is a series of moments. Never let one moment ruin your life… There is too much life to live.

Q: Entrepreneurship…Take me through the process of building your studio empire.

A: An empire starts with a team. I have thorough individuals in my life that make that team. Myself, Breeze and Scooby built “WavCamp”, one piece of equipment at a time. All of us got our recording artist degrees, while we were living on the West coast. A few opportunities later, we opened a studio in Brooklyn. The good thing about being an artist and owning a studio is, the better my music is and sounds, the more business we get. My guys are loyal and work extremely hard. I couldn’t be more proud.

Q: 6s come frequently in your life. What does the number 6 mean to you and how did it impact you on creating your name?

A: 6 is my number. I was born Sep 6… so 9/6… which is just two sixes. I Turned 6 in 96 which was a big year for me musically looking back. It’s the same year my grandma adopted the two teenage boys. That’s the year my favorite rapper at that time, 2pac was shot, in fact it was the night of my 6th birthday. That was my first real heartbreak, and it took a long time to process. Also, 1996 is the year I was introduced to my long-standing favorite artist, JAY-Z and “Reasonable Doubt” came out that year. That is still one of the best albums of all time of any genre. Even though I grew up in the projects, (S/O to the Commons on the North side), my grandma was connected. I remember Mayor Murphy would be over the house, playing spades eating fried chicken, drinking Kool-Aid sweeter Texas Tea. It wasn’t until much later in life, I realized how normal this wasn’t. Anyway, I was the only Black Kid at the groundbreaking, for the new stadiums on the North side of my city. That groundbreaking happened on the 6th Street bridge… The 6th Street bridge leads to the North side… you’d end up right next to the projects if you cross the bridge. Also, shout out Lebron James, he’s been a big influence. I always joke that he really wears number 6 because 2×3 is 6…. But he wore number 6 in Miami… needless to say, I approved.

Q: Do you currently have any challenges as an independent artist?

A: Honestly, the main challenge is reading people and figuring out who, and who not to deal with. People see new artists as dollar signs. I’ve put myself in a position, to take care of most of the operations in WavCamp, or with friends and trusted associates. It’s really up to the music and the visuals to do their thing.

Q: Who are some of your influences?

A: Jay-Z, of course, is a huge influence. I’m a true fan. The first concert I ever went to was for Jay-Z. His words got me through growing up in the hood just the same as they got me through my tour in Afghanistan. I got out of the military to follow my true self because of that man. (“Some say HOV how you get so fly, I say from not being afraid to fall out the sky”- Jay Z) These words mean everything to me. I was excelling in the military quickly. I could have stayed in and kept a good 6-8 bands coming in per-month. I know how to move in any situation because of him, I’m comfortable…. I’m good. (“Show ‘em how to move in a room full of vultures”- Jay Z). I finessed in the military, the same way I did in the streets. It’s all about networking and being yourself. When you be yourself, real people that stick will actually fuck with you, not that nigga you pretending to be.

Q: Top 5 Favorite Artists 

A: Common, Lupe Fiasco, 2 Chainz, Jeezy, Gucci Mane.

Q: Favorite city to perform, and why?

A: I love to perform at home, in Pittsburgh. There is nothing like getting love at home.

Q: Did you have any other dreams or passions     besides music?

A: To be honest, not really. I’ve always been practical about life though. For instance, right now, I’m a few months away from getting my master’s degree in marketing. But I have been saying for the last ten years, if I end up behind a cubicle then something went terribly wrong. At the same time, I have set myself up so that if I do end up behind a cubicle it will be starting at 100k… ya dig?

Q: Have you ever experienced a live concert?

A: Plenty of them, I use to work in live sound. My friends and I really just love live music of any kind. I really love when an artist I like does a different version of their songs than what I can just play in my headphones. Or, maybe they do a song we never heard before. That, all the way down to hearing some jazz at a speakeasy is what life is all about for me.

Q: Who have you worked with that meant a lot to you and why?

A: I got to work with two people that meant a lot to me, Common and Nas on separate occasions. Not like you think either. I used to do sound for a studio in Manhattan. I worked as a rehearsal tech, but getting to run sound and see them work was amazing. Both are really humble guys.

Q: If you could look at yourself in someone else’s shoes and give 6amma Ray advice and motivation, what would you say?

A: Stay motivated and focus and keep 10 toes down always.

Q: What are your plans for the future?

A: The way I see it is, either one of these songs I do for myself, or for somebody else will pop. Then I’ll either be dropping music or running around on tour, or I’ll be a lab rat in the studio, for the rest of my life making music for other artists. Making money, doing either would be a dream come true.

Q:  What does family mean to you?

A: Family is everything to me. “If it ain’t for the family, if it ain’t for profit, then you need to stop it”-6amma. I don’t have a big family, but we are close. I am here to secure the bag for them. I wake up, I go to school, I went to the military, I work long hours, I got my life together, all for family.

Q: How effective is your team on a day to day basis?

A: My team is supreme, and WavCamp is tight-knit. No petty beef or politics just work and honest opinions, so we can help each other grow and be better. We set goals and we get straight to them. We all just had to relocate, due to the current Corona-Virus Pandemic. We are still always getting work done and going to be ready to hit the ground running when this is over. 

Q: Any advice for the youth coming up in the game?

A:Its simple… you don’t know shit, take pride in listening acquiring knowledge, Stay motivated and focused. Keep 10 toes down and 1 eye up… always.

Follow 6amma Ray on any of his social media handles and get the latest and greatest of his music and upcoming businesses below. 

Instagram: @6amma_ray

Twitter: @6amma_ray

Spotify, Apple, and Tidal:  6amma ray