Published on September 1st, 2015 | by Jameelah "Just Jay" Wilkerson

Who is M16 & The Full Moon Wolves?

Just when you thought music had lost its originality…that every rapper and band were beginning to sound the same…that artists have forgotten how to be performers and cast you under their spell with their undeniable talent, a new era of music has surfaced that will not only leave you spellbound and awestruck, but grateful that true artists still do exist and get that they have a responsibility to create and show others how to live life to its fullest. M16 & The Full Moon Wolves is a phenomenon that believes in and promotes whole-heartedly the expression of one’s own identity and personality.

M16 & The Full Moon Wolves convenes from different walks of life. The band emits a blended feel of Linkin Park, Limp Bizkit, and Kid Rock, while the vocal delivery is an uncanny yet pleasant mixture of DMX, Mystical, Ja Rule, Lenny Kravitz and Busta Rhymes, all combining to create the ever-present kinetic energy of the Black Eye Peas. This formula brings about a funky, grooving, Hip-Hop sound with a rock infusion. Who are M16 & The Full Moon Wolves? Metaphorically, a full moon wolf is a werewolf. The wolf transforms into this mystical yet powerful creature and takes over the environment it’s in, changing it forever. This is exactly what you can expect while witnessing this band’s performance. They draw you in, free your mind, and expose you to life’s many prolific revelations.

M16 & The Full Moon Wolves have began a new Project titled “OUTLAW” and the first single from the project “WORK” has been moving and making noise for the band. The fans range in age from 10 to 58 years old. The music is clean, free of derogatory and offensive language and delivers a true message of life to the listeners. In a world where negativity is promoted on an on-going basis, it is necessary and refreshing that positivity, encouragement, and enlightenment are finally being used to ignite the soul within, all via that fabulous universal language we all know and love…music!

As you see your self, who is M16?

To me M16 is a young man who was once lost not having a direction or knew what path he wanted to take. I was a black sheep, an outcast who had to learn how to believe in myself. I am the voice for those who are the same.

Who brought you to the entertainment industry and music specifically?

Music was an inheritance for me. My father played guitar and traveled the world and play with greats like the Staple singers, and many others, my mother was a singer, heavy in the church, and siblings all musically inclined. I was classically trained on the piano at an early age and later made the decision to gravitate towards hip hop infusing it with my influences of growing up listening to jazz and funk. The first hip hop artist i heard were Twista and Gang Starr.

What and/or who influenced the sound you bring today?

My sound is influenced by different artist such as Lenny Kravitz , DMX, Twista, Busta Rhymes, Black eyed peas, Limp Bizkit, and kid Rock. Early on in my career, Panama Red gave me the moniker as the rap Lenny Kravitz and we developed my sound not based off my influences. The hip hop with a funk undertone is what you hear in the music.

What’s happened in your career that makes you feel this is the industry for you?

I knew this industry was for me when I had a young man’s father come up to me after hearing my first mixtape, gave me 20 dollars when it was free. He explained to me it was worth more, that my music helped save his sons life. I knew then I was on the right path.

What was the biggest obstacle in getting to your current career phase?

The biggest obstacle was that the people I was surrounded by did not believe in the music and didn’t understand the new sound we were creating. I was not a typical hip hop artist, and the fact that i had a rock influenced sound, it was not well received in the hip hop community I was in.

What do you want people get from your music?

I have real life experiences like everyone else and I can relate to them as they can relate to me. I want them to take away from it to believe in their selves no matter what. “Refuse To Be Xd Out”

Tell us about your current project?

The current project is titled “Outlaw” the name came because our music and style was extremely different from typical hip hop. We went against the so called rules and regulations of hip hop, we were truly Outlaws to the circle we ran in. #WORK is the first single off of the “Outlaw” project and has created a buzz and momentum for the project.

What do you feel has been your greatest life achievement so far?

My greatest achievement was being one of the artists who were hand selected to participate in Spring Board South Festival 2015 and being the leading artist amongst 150 others from all genres at the conference receiving rave reviews across the board from radio program directors, movie music supervisors, and from the other artists about the music, the stage performance, my work ethic, and my unique style.

If you could collaborate with one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?

It would be tremendously hard to just pick one because I would love to work with Lenny Kravitz, DMX, Tupac, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Kid Rock, Prince, T.I., and Busta Rhymes. My reason for these artists is because i was heavily influenced by them all.

If you had to pick one song of yours, that really explains YOU, what would it be?

If I had to pick one song that explains me, it would be “CANT TELL ME ANYTHING” It defines my personality and what I believe. “We don’t care at all, what they about us, we just keep doing our thing”

Last but not least, HYPE wants to know…What’s your CRAZIEST “Where they do that at?!” moment…

A promoter that booked us for a show and when we got to the venue the promoter told the club owner that when we got there that would help him set up his sound sound for the club. “Where they do that at”

Interview By: Just Jay

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