Raised in the small town of Olney, Maryland MNA (Matthew Nino Azcuy) watched and listened to all of the greatest rappers and musicians during the 1990’s and early 2000’s. During this golden age of music and music videos, Azcuy was inspired by both rappers and rock groups alike, and when he was sixteen years old decided to make his own music.
After years of finding his sound, he teamed up with local producer nemo, to make his album “Diamond Dog”. Matthew Nino Azcuy, who prefers to just go by MNA, was born and raised in the small town of Olney, Maryland during the 1990s and early 2000s and has taken great inspiration from the great names of this time for his work as a result.
Indeed, his music’s unique energy and passion often come from these early inspirations, offering a unique blend of the rock and rap genres to create an electronic-type sound that’s wonderfully unique. MNA’s first ventures in the music field occurred at the age of sixteen when he first ventured into music writing.
However, it took years for him to truly find that one unique sound that he could call “his” – but we’re so glad that he got there in the end! In fact, music writing was something of a saving grace for Azcuy, who turned to the comfort offered by songwriting after a difficult period in his life, and he credits both God and his music for helping him to get back on track and strive for greater pursuits.
As well as being an accomplished singer and songwriter, MNA has also dabbled in several other creative fields as a professional movie actor and published author, with numerous works of poetry to his name. Some of his previous musical albums include titles such as Black Flag, Paradise, and For You.
We wish MNA all the best with his musical career, and with over 1000 monthly listens on Spotify alone, it’s fair to say he’s an up-and-coming artist to keep an eye on! MNA proves himself to be a rather versatile performer, capable of sincere, emotionally expressive R&B crooning, and casual, charismatic rapping. He often incorporates bits of humor into his delivery, which keeps the vibe fresh and fun.
Mercenary by MNA is an album about the dark fantasy world in which rap culture and the entertainment industry exist. Mercenary, which compares a businessman to a gun for hire, is an album and story that depicts the battle inside of every entrepreneur. How fighting for one’s money, power, career, legacy, and place in the world can often resemble the personal sacrifice of war and soldiers, albeit for profit.
This album was inspired by the personal successes and two-year journey of rap artist MNA and his music production company MNA Industries in the music world. “Mercenary” was recorded by City’s Best Sounds in Olney, MD and was released on January 22, 2022.
