TMPNYC : For those who don’t know explain your project and the concept of it

Manny Blanco : Ok so “ThaBlackZackMorris II: 5 Years Of Wisdom” is a sequel to my very first debut mixtape that I released back in November 2010. That’s why it’s so special to me, and the concept is based off Zack Morris from the classic TV show “Saved By The Bell”. I basically took Zack Morris’s character and added my own twist to it. So imagine what would Zack Morris be like if he was Black and went to HS in Brooklyn. And Zack’s character in the show was a super cool ass kid who always stay in trouble and he was “Mr Popular”, who I always wanted to be like when I was in HS but I couldn’t because I was too shy. So I added the skits from the TV show to help bring the concept I’m full circle. Shit is

fire man.

TMPNYC : Did you take two different approaches going into this project then you did making Cool Raps?

Manny Blanco : Yea definitely, “CoolRaps” was an album with all original music so I took my time with it and went thru hell putting it together too haha. We really built “CoolRaps” from scratch and came out great. I believe That album helped me find my sound that’s why I put that shit on iTunes. It’s special…But in all honesty I think “TBZM II” is better, especially lyrically! I was in my bag with this project haha

TMPNYC : Do you have a favorite from the project? My favorite is Girl but it changes all the time from Still Tippin, Girl, I’m on FC Mix, 40 Belows, & Go.

Manny Blanco : Damn, it’s hard to choose man I love every song. It changes for me all the time too. But right now at this moment it would have to be “40 Belows” or “Ya Didn’t Know”. I think I made BIG & Pac very proud the way I approached their records. And you not hearing no other artists from Brooklyn doing shit like that. But ask me this tomorrow I might have a different answer lol

TMPNYC : When I heard you freestyle over the still tippin instrumental I was like wow this guy is crazy lol what made you want to bring that beat back out and freestyle over it?

Manny Blanco : I wanted to show niggaz I had bars! And that song “Still Tippin” came out back in 05′ when I first really started recording, that brings me back to those days when I was a kid man. And I knew no one would think to rap over that shit in 2016, these Niggaz don’t do homework like me son lol. I’m really a student of this rap shit

TMPNYC : Besides the still tippin instrumental you did some classic instrumentals including Tupac’s I wonder if heavens got a ghetto. You did biggie’s give me one more chance also but the choice of picking that Tupac song to freestyle over was different to me. What made you want to do that instrumental and how much of a musical influence is Tupac and Biggie to you?

Manny Blanco : Yea “Wonder If Heaven Gotta Ghetto” is one of my fav Pac songs, and again I wanted to do a beat I knew nobody would think to do. When you ask somebody what’s their favorite Pac record they probably don’t even mention “I wonder If Heaven Gotta Ghetto” because it’s not as popular as his other hits. Maybe because it was released after he passed but that song is powerful man and it’s one of my personal favorites from him. And BIG & Pac are huge influences for me, I’m a Gemini just like the both of them haha. I got a lil BIG & Pac in me for real. I feel like I’m their lil nephew that’s carrying on tradition.

TMPNYC : You and your music collective fatally cool. Will ya’ll ever put out a group project? Because that I’m on freestyle with ya’ll is hot I feel like all ya’ll should do more songs together.

Manny Blanco : Hell yea most definitely, we got a few songs recorded already for the FC album. We just gotta get back and lock in together to finish the project. But we really wanna build our own individual buzz up so when the time comes to put out the FC album everything just falls in place and we take over shit. But that “I’m On” song is scary and just a taste of what we got coming. And my verse for that was written in 2012 and it’s still fire like I just wrote it years ago haha. We working trust me.

TMPNYC : How do you feel about the state of hip hop in New York City?

Manny Blanco : I honestly don’t know anymore and my focus is not that. I love my city and I’m gonna rep to the fullest but NYC is a tough place for upcoming artist. It’s too much hate out here, not enough love and everybody doing the same shit. NYC needs some balance! We got the younger artists rapping like they from ATL or Chicago and the DJs don’t break artists anymore like they use to. We just gotta build this wave and let the talent speak for itself. Peace to all the NY artists grinding though.

TMPNYC : Are there any other New York artist you would work with if so then who?

Manny Blanco : Dave East, Joey Badass, Smoke DZA, Flatbush Zombies and a few others. I fuck with a lot of ppl shit coming outta NY but Dave East is my guy right now. He really bringing that feeling back. I’m tryna harass his manager now to see what the prices is like for that feature haha. Word

TMPNYC : What songs or albums are currently on rotation on your playlist from other Artist mainstream or underground ?

Manny Blanco : Right now, Kendrick’s “untitled Unmastered” album, Flatbush Zombies album is fire too, but I’m really stuck on Anderson.Paak from the west coast. His new project “Malibu” is crazy. I see why Dre signed him to Aftermath recently.

TMPNYC : Last question What’s next since you dropped The Black Zack Morris II are you working on any videos?

Manny Blanco : Yessir! I just release the video to my single “The Meet & Greet” which is produced by my brother and fellow FC Shark Be.Geniu$. The video is getting so much love right now this is definitely my best video thus far. And I’m putting together concepts now for other videos for the mixtape. And yes I’m definitely releasing more music this year also. I got more heat coming probably in the middle of the summer…EAT