Exclusive Interview with V OF 40M

Born in the heart of Philadelphia and built up in the trenches of the Carolinas, V and the 40M camp represent the voice of the Black American revolution, not only in Hip Hop but in culture as well. Since the release of his debut album, No Church On Sunday, which sent shockwaves across the underground music world, “Big M” has been on a tear! Presented by XLM+, the creative arm of Forty Million Strong, V of 40M will release a comprehensive mixtape in the coming months, along with a number of singles.
XLM+ Presents: Arab Mxfia produced V of 40M – PWR, which features Hippie G and 40M Tye. The creator of “Revolutionary Rap” is returning in a major way with his next album “PWR”. PWR, which was produced by Arab Mxfia and features Hippie G and 40M Tye, is an anthem for the ages and an entire nation. Following in the footsteps of his past releases, each of which streamed at least 50,000 times, the recently released artist is poised to make significant waves. V of 40M, often known as “Big M,” has been featured on some of the most prominent underground music platforms. Check out the song PWR and the exclusive interview below:

1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?

V OF 40M: Philadelphia born, Carolina built. 4-way the long way, M’s we lit. West Oaklane whatup, Northwest whatup! Pitt County whatup, Grifton whatup! K-town whatup! The movement started in 2019/2020 but was eons in the making. Dropped the first cut, “No Church on Sunday” in 20 too – been going crazy ever since.

2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?

V OF 40M: All credit goes to the Creator, the Universe and the Ancestors. Whatever gifts, talents and skills I have belong to and are because of them you feel me.

3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘V OF 40M’?

V OF 40M: I’m sure that I was influenced by many of the quote-unquote “greats”of our culture. Gil Scott Heron, Peter Tosh/Bob Marley, and Public Enemy to name a few. (lol) The name is self-explanatory but for those that don’t know – my name’s V and I rep 40M. Heavy on the 4’s.

4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?

V OF 40M: The message first, vibe second. Every Melanite or “Black” person with any true knowledge of self, history and/or culture, etc should overstand and feel what the M’s are on. To the “others”, y’all know what’s up. Y’all have read enough, heard enough and have seen enough about our past and present to get why we want and should have absolute control over our future as a people – the same as any and every other group on the planet. If I could describe our sound in one phrase, Black Power.

5. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?

V OF 40M:

(lol) We handle it with love for real. When you’re righteous, you move positive you know. Never pressed, never stressed – we know what point in history we’re in and we’re familiar with how people have become in this point of history. We overstand how things work so we stay prepared, especially for the opps. Character and image assasination is common when it comes to our people and we’re aware you heard.

6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?

V OF 40M:

No cap, our cuts cover all that and more. We make music for the movement – no more, no less. 99.999% of the artists today do it for money, fortune and fame. Melanated artists included but that’s mostly because they don’t know any better. We’re the 0.001% though, we do it for the people.

7. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?

V OF 40M:

I do. It’s a part of the process in effectively connecting with our people and as long as it works – it’s fulfilling.

8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?

V OF 40M:

As I’ve said many times before. It is the Creator, the Universe and the Ancestors who do all the work and it is the vibrations or beat that gives it feel and shape. Outside of that and my little input, that’s it. Thus far we’ve only collaborated with my M’s because if it ain’t to mobilize and revolutionize then we ain’t with it. If it’s not for the people then we ain’t on it and if it doesn’t motivate, inspire or inform then we ain’t for it.

9. What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?

V OF 40M: (lol) Where do I start? This journey has covered a lot over the years in order for things to be molded and put in place so I don’t call them difficulties, just experience. As far as music it’s the same as many artists, finances and legit opportunity. The music industry is big money so it takes big money to play for real. There are many scammers out here too who be looking to take advantage of artist’s hopes, dreams and ambitions. On top of that, the industry is powered by the people but controlled by the opps and we know they would rather capitalize off of our demise than promote our empowerment you feel me.

10. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?

V OF 40M: There have been many but seeming small moments like this, filling out this interview, let us know that we’re moving in the right direction. Progress isn’t always an overnight process but you have to trust it just the same, big M s***.