Interview by Charlie Braxton
Your name is Lawerence OTS. How did you settle on that name?
I just wanted to be original didn’t want to have the same name as anyone in the Music Industry, plus my birth name is “Lawrence”… (OTS) is a movement my uncle came up with [and] I just ran with it. I went and got my haircut one day, and my old barber Cam was pitching names, and (Over Tha Struggle) caught my attention because I been struggling my whole life and it fit my story.
Where are you from?
I’m from Laurel MS, aka Baby LA, the west side is the best side.
What was it like growing you?
It was a rough up-bringing having a single mother with two lil brothers, but thank God we overcame a lot of obstacles. All three of our fathers was in jail at the same time so I had to be the man of the house while my mother worked hard everyday for 17 years straight at a chicken plant. We had our uncles, Bigg, Mac P, Swole, and Man Man around from time to time. We didn’t really have a lot to do besides playing football and basketball around the hood with our friends. My mama bought us a game called “Rock Band” that everybody would come over and play. It was a music game with a mic, guitars, piano, and a drum set. I would always grab the mic not knowing that one day I would be an artist.
How did you get into music?
I believe when I was like in the 8th grade I wrote the hook to my song “Bout That Life,” but I didn’t finish it. So when I got to high school, in 10th grade, I was skipping football practice one day, and I was hiding on the second floor restroom when my uncle JP came and told me Mrs Mckenzie wanted me. At that time, I’m thinking he talking about the principal so I was very skeptical about going with him. After about 15 min I decided to go with him and he took me to the choir teacher. She told me that he told her I can sing and asked me to sing for her. She turned her back to me & I closed my eyes and sung John Legend’s “All Of Me.” When I finished the song I opened my eyes and she was crying and shaking with excitement. She asked me to join the choir and I did.
When did you start rapping?
After I graduated from high school in 2017, I linked with Awall (Austin Sykes), a videographer in Laurel, Ms in [the] summer [of] 2018, to record “Bout That Life,” and we shot the video. A lot of people don’t know that around that time of us shooting the video I was about to get signed to Young Thugs YSL Label. Before he blew up, my cousin and his mama ‘nem use to put meals together. They was best friends even after he blew up, they still kept in contact and would hang out. My grandma moved to Atlanta with my cousin, and one day she told me they was going to her house, and she would call me when they arrive. She called back in like a hour and said Mama Duke would like to speak with you, this is Jeffery’s mama. We video chatted and she asked me to sing for her. I did. I sung Sam Smith’s ”Lay Me Down” and she asked was I ready to leave Mississippi? I told her I was shooting a video and as soon as I get down, I would be ready. She said ok, let your grandma know and she gone tell her and she would send for me, but, when I finished, we dropped “Bout That Life” like a few days later and my city showed crazy love. At that time it was my 1st song so I slick forgot about what Mama Duke said. I guess because I wasn’t focused and didn’t know that this would be my reality.
Who were you influences?
I got an old soul, but I love great music: the Temptations, Drake, Fetty Wap, and an artist from my city, Big Zac.
Why do you call yourself the Flowmaster?
God gave many flows and I’m a master at all of them. I’m very different with a gift that not many have.
How did you and Heartbeatz hook up?
I met him through my cousin Lil Shake he a artist from Laurel, MS as well
What’s the first song you did with him?
We went and recorded a song we got called “Scheming”.
Have done any collabs with other artists outside of your click?
Yessir, I have a song with the late great, MO3, T-Rell, Cuban Doll & Big Zac, and some up & coming artists like Dre OTS, Winter Nights, Yung Ville, FRN, Red Rover, Foojo Korleone, Mj tha G, 74oski, 5iftyball, 1Sean, Purcc, HB Redman.
What the name of your new project?
Legacy is on the way be on the look out it’s going platinum. This will be my first album, and I can’t wait for the world to hear it.
Any last words?
Special shout out to God for never failing me. shout out to my family and fans for keeping me going through all my trials and tribulations. My HEROZ family, much love to everyone playing a part in my career and I would like to say Rest In Peace to one of the greatest videographers in the world, Lu Vegas. We love you bro. Thanks for believing in my talent and giving us your all every time. We created Masterpieces. OTS (Over Tha Struggle)!
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