Cory Mo

If producing is his calling, then writing is Cory-Mo's passion. "If things go my way," he predicts, "I'll still be producing music and writing songs when I'm sixty years old." Often dubbed "Houston's Most Unknown," Cory-Mo has actually been a staple in the Texas community for years. Co-owning M.A.D. (Money at the Door) Studios with his older brother Mike-Mo, C-Mo has worked with everyone from U.G.K. to Devin the Dude. His musical expertise has been sought after by artists like Z-Ro, Geto Boys, Lil Keke, Mike Jones, Slim Thug, David Banner, and others who felt C-Mo's classic southern sound added timeless value to their projects. One of Cory-Mo's highest awarded production credits appeared on Bun B's Trill album ("The Inauguration" intro), an album that earned a gold plaque. And while supplying a track for a gold album may seem monumental to most, there is actually an even more significant record on Cory-Mo's resume. He's honored to have produced "Underground Thang" on Bun B's 2 Trill album, the last song Pimp and Bun ever recorded together. Another priceless memory is "Top Drop Dyne," a Best Buy bonus track on UGK's Underground Kingz album. "That's one of the last songs I produced and rapped on with Pimp C," he says. "I think it's gon' forever be a UGK Classic." Underground Kingz appeared in the #1 spot on Billboard charts adding massive weight to Cory-Mo's already mounting list of achievements. Though C-Mo has an obvious knack for hip-hop and rap production, his limitless ear and knowledge of instruments enable him to explore other genres as well. R&B, Gospel, pop, rock, and a variety of other influences are married seamlessly throughout his entire catalog. In addition to composing for some of Rap's greatest artists, this multi-faceted producer also contributed his smooth and soulful beats to Mya's forthcoming LP, even further illustrating his range of capabilities. While creating music for others has given him a notable reputation, it's actually writing and recording his own songs that Cory-Mo hopes to bring to the forefront. "People know me for my production more than rapping," he explains. "But I'm a writer at heart because that's what I started doing first. I've been rapping since I was in fifth grade, so I'll forever be a writer." With the release of the third edition of Still Pay'N Due'z, his sixth official mixtape to date, he's one step closer to shedding light on his primary talent. A follow up to Volumes I & II, and his DJ Smallz and Wally Sparks mixtapes, Still Pay'N Due'z III matches an all-star lineup with Cory-Mo's seasoned style. Verse after verse, C-Mo holds his own alongside heavyweights like Pimp C, Bun B, Z-Ro, Big Pokey, Lil Keke and more. Playlist standouts include "Neighborhood" and "Break It Down" (exclusive album tracks), "Top Drop Dyne" ft. UGK (rock version), as well as a few remakes to familiar industry beats. Inspiration for Cory-Mo's music comes from studying the historical contributions of Dr. Dre, Outkast, Geto Boys, Kanye West, Pimp C, and Ice Cube, among others. Combining a respect for lyricism with a distinct down-south flavor, Cory-Mo has created an unmistakable sound characterized in singles like "Ain't Nobody Trippin;" "It Ain't Me" ft. Pimp C, Bun B, and Slim Thug; and "Obama 08," a tribute song featuring Bun B, Chamillionaire, and Paul Wall. "Get Out the Way," a highlighted single with Bun B on Static Selektah's album, is quickly becoming an internet favorite with the recent video release. In 2008, Cory-Mo was invited to accompany Bun B on a European tour that included stops in Amsterdam, Prauge, Norway, Finland, Barcelona, and Denmark. The tour not only opened a lot of doors for him, it also opened his mind to future expansion. A second location of M.A.D. studios was newly unveiled in Atlanta, where C-Mo and Mike-Mo are broadening their client base. Prospective plans entail further developing their other companies Endure Records and Hustle Brothaz Productions, while Cory-Mo concentrates on branding himself as an artist-slash-producer. As for his full-length album debut, Cory-Mo believes patience is a virtue. "I don't want to release my album [until the time is right] because I spent so much time on it and it's so dear to me," he reveals. "I don't want to just put it out because it's complete, I want to put it out when I've got a budget to market and promote it the way I know it should be done." With years of experience and fresh motivation, Cory-Mo is steadily constructing a lifelong foundation. "I don't want to be portrayed as a gimmicky one-hit-wonder," he states. "I plan to have longevity by staying focused and business minded." Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.