2015 July Unplugged NYC showcase winner : Mocha

Hailing from South Jamaica Queens, Mocha is only 16 years old making her mark in the music industry. She got her name Mocha from her father because of her skin complexion. Her music can be best described as raw as she draws back on personal experiences in life.

Get to know a little about Mocha below and check out her music.

Introducing rapper Mocha

UV: Tell the UV family a little about yourself
Mocha: I’m from South Jamaica Queens and the name Mocha originated from my father when I was young. He used to call me Mocha because of my complexion.

UV: How did you hear about the Unplugged Showcase?
Mocha: My Manager made me aware of the showcase and the opportunities that I could receive had I won. I think the opportunities the showcase provided were very helpful and beneficial to me and my team.

UV: How would you describe your music?
Mocha: I would describe my music as real rap in as an outlook on my life and the experiences I faced in my life.

UV: How long have you been creating and performing music?
Mocha: I have been writing and performing since I was 12 years old.

UV: What are your passions and what makes you continue to strive in a cut throat industry?
Mocha: My passions are for rapping of course, writing, dancing and just excelling in general. When I see other artist who grew up in such hard conditions but continued to strive for greatness and then later achieve success, it makes me believe that I can do it if I stay the course. Artists such as Lauryn Hill, Eminem, Drake, Nas, Meek Mill, Jay Z and J Cole motivate me and help me to realize that if you’re smart with your decision-making and you stay focused anything is possible.

UV: What separates you from other rappers?
Mocha: What separates me from other rappers is of course the most obvious. I’m a 16-year-old female who didn’t grow up in the worst condition but certainly not the best. But I’ve never had to degrade myself or make one decision to be successful. I grind for the things I want and I will never pretend to be someone that I am not .

UV: Who are your greatest musical influences?
Mocha: J Cole, Eminem, Meek Mill, Jay Z and Fabolous have the greatest influences on me and my music because although they all have different stories and flows they keep it real to themselves and their fans and have not forgotten where they were and who they are prior to the fame and fortune.

UV: Have you ever received negative feedback? If so, how did you react to it?
Mocha: Of course I received negative feedback on my music but only from closed minded people. When people are used to hearing the same form of music from the same artist or listen to very little rap music anything other other than that may not be respected but that has never discouraged me. It has only motivated me to make them come out of that closed box.

UV: What has been your best performance to date?
Mocha: My best performance was at the Apollo theater in Harlem. At the time I was 14 years old. This performance made people realize that rapping was not just a hobby for me but it was a way of life. The positive feedback and love I received after the performance made people look me up.

UV: Any current projects you’re working on?
Mocha: Right now I’m working on putting together a mix tape and working on a single so stay tuned for that!

UV: Where do you see yourself in five years?
Mocha: I see myself much more popular, much more successful, way more focused and we are more humbled .

UV: Any words of encouragement?
Mocha: Never ever doubt your self or let others opinions affect how you view yourself. If it is truly your dream, stay focused and be consistent and your dream will become a reality!

Bridging the gap between indie and industry is what best describes the Unplugged music series held in New York City. The showcase provides a supportive environment in which artists are able to share their music with an audience, develop their fan base, and to network.

The series is produced by music and entertainment industry professionals whose mission is to encourage COMMUNITY over competition. Past performers include McDonald’s Gospelfest Award winning group The Sisters, former Motown recording artist Yummy Bingham, and Grammy Award winning Songwriter/Producer Timothy Bloom.

Unheard Voices is proud to be apart of this series. Each winner of the showcase gets a series of prizes including a featured story right here on the Unheard Voices website. We are proud to introduce rapper Mocha, the winner of the July 2015 Unplugged Showcase.