@808Staks Montana Staks is taking over the DMV rap game

Montana Staks is a talented rapper who has already made his mark on the local hip-hop scene. Staks was quiet for a minute, but now he's back with a new name: 808 Staks, a new team: 780 Management, and new material: Jesus Lopez The Mixtape. Staks understands that there are no guarantees in the music industry, and success can be fleeting, but he's prepared to sacrifice and make the necessary moves reach the top of the rap game.

ST: Tell the world who you are and what clique you're claiming.

MS: 808 Staks, formerly known as Montana Staks. I'm CEO of C.M.F (Columbian Mafia Family) and founder of the 808 Heavyweights Network.

ST: How do you think your skills compare to other rappers in the DMV?

MS: I'm nicer that 90% of the artists in the DMV. In terms of my skill set, I'm the total package. Nobody can match my song creative format. I have the hardest beats period! And I'm official in the streets. If there's anybody out there that feels different, let's go song for song and see who's the last man standing.

ST: What do you think about current state of DMV hip-hop?

MS: There's a lot of political bullshit that goes on in the DMV, and I've seen it all. A lot of people say it's because I don't have a stamp next to my name like a 368 Music Group or BOA affiliation. It's a dirty game out here but I have my political connects right this time. I'm targeting a larger audience with this project.

ST: Other than your own crew, who do you think are some of the best rappers in the city right now?

MS: Other than my mob, it's a select few. I'll say Boobie (Oy Boyz), Garvey, Phil Da Phuture, Lightshow, and Lil Oochie. Shout out to Boobie. He's been doing his thing real heavy in the DMV and also on the road in other parts of the country. When I would see him at open mics when I was first getting my feet wet he always had something positive to say about my performance.

ST: Let's talk about you. What CD or mixtape are you currently promoting?

MS: My next, and most creative project to date, Jesus Lopez The Mixtape will be available early next month. It's basically a bunch of short stories through the eyes of a Colombian drug lord who started out from the bottom. I relate some of the tracks from an American street life perspective, but mostly it's from a Central American point of view. The whole tape is dope from top to bottom.

ST: Where can people purchase your music or see you perform?

MS: My music is currently available on Google Play, Amazon, Spotify, and Rhapsody. In January, Jesus Lopez The Mixtape will be dropping on www.datpiff.com and www.livemixtapes.com. For all my upcoming performance dates, follow me on Twitter or Instagram: @808STAKS. You can also contact Dre "All Day In The Paint" at @DreAllDayInThePaint.

ST: What are your plans going into 2014?

MS: The entire next year will be dedicated to promoting and expanding the 808 Heavyweights brand. We have upcoming projects from Son Sig and 808 Prymetyme. There's a whole lot of bass and a whole lot of crankage in our future. We want to feed the fans the best quality 808 music we can.

ST: Thank you for your time with this interview. Do you have any final comments or shout outs?

MS: I want to send a special shout-out to Organically Grown Radio, Mark Ward, Ms. Porsha (780 Management), CEO Floyd, and all my family and friends who have supported my career from the beginning.