A year from now, you might tell your friends, “I knew him when…” Some of you might already be saying that. Since releasing his first LP, Chaos Theory, in 2009, Matt Monday has taken the Charleston – and national – music scene by storm. A talented hip hop artist, producer, and entrepreneur, Matt founded the indie music label Southern Wealth In Music (S.W.I.M) Group in 2013 and has since released two highly acclaimed albums, Filthy and Filthy 2.
He’s opened for notable artists like J. Cole, Tech N9ne, Warren G, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, The Movement, Pastor Troy, Wiz Khalifa, and Grammy-nominated producer Sonny Digital, and his video for “Strokers Row” was featured at the South by Southwest festival. A native of Charleston, Matt has been voted by Charleston City Paper readers as Best Local Hip Hop Artist and Hip Hop Artist of the Year multiple times. In 2016, he was the first hip-hop artist to be recognized as one of “Charleston’s 50 Most Progressive” by Charlie Magazine.
In our July 20th talk on “Intention,” Matt will share his path to success and how he’s stayed true to his vision along the way. Here, find out more about how he starts his day, where he finds inspiration, and what he’s most proud of to-date.
What do you love most about your work? I love everything about the process of making music, from concept to recording/mix/mastering. I enjoy the connections that are made when people listen and relate.
How did you get into hip hop, and music in general? Did you always know you’d be a hip-hop artist (and entrepreneur / producer)? I started in High School in a class called music tech that taught students how to record and produce music. From there I started writing and recording songs non-stop until I finally made my own album.
How do you start your day? I wake up at about 7am and start with some breakfast & a coffee and hop my bike for a 5 mile ride with my headphones in. By about 9am, I’m showering and hopping on conference calls before I’ll work on an idea that’s in current production or thinking of a new one.
Tell us about your proudest moment or accomplishment. Filthy 2 might be my proudest moment thus far. Being able to record, produce, write, and release that project on my own is a liberation that can’t be bought.
Do you have a hidden talent? I’m the UNO world champion 1998-2001. Not really but I wish, ha! No hidden talents that I’m aware of.
Who or what gives you creative inspiration? Experiences. Women. Film Scores and sometimes the actual film itself. 90’s New Orleans rap (specifically Juvie). Visual Art.
Coffee gets all of our events going. What’s your go-to coffee order? I like a light breakfast blend with 2 creams and 3 sugars (raw cane). Anything more than that would have me off the wall.
What is your favorite place in or around Charleston? My house.
How do you unwind or de-stress? I play jazz, chill-hop, chill wave, British Rock, SOUL MUSIC (STAX, MOTOWN, KING, MCA), and 90’s RnB.
Rapid fire:
- morning person or night owl? Morning
- summer or winter? Neither, FALL
- mountains or beach? Beach
- pancakes or waffles? Waffles
- fiction or non-fiction? Fiction
Photo credit: Jenna Jones Photography
