Colin Padulo via the artist
The Opener is The FADER’s short-form profile series of casual conversations with exciting new artists.
Supah Mario has a list of credits that would make any artist envious. He’s been producing for Young Thug since the very beginning, putting in work behind the boards on 2013’s lunatic “2 Cups Stuffed” and 2017's zippily tropical “Wyclef Jean," to name just two. Whatever the mood, Mario’s instrumentals carry a deft, easy musicality thanks to an instrumentally-gifted family and his formative years playing in church.
Besides Thug, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Uzi Vert, Big K.R.I.T., and Travis Scott are just a few of those who have rapped over the South Carolinan’s beats in the past decade. And he’s stayed tapped in with younger rappers as well, producing heaters for Yeat, Megan thee Stallion, Jace, Bktherula, Cochise, GloRilla, Joony, Molly Santana, PLUTO, and Showjoe in recent years. But his biggest focus of late has been jazz music.
Last fall, Mario released DEMO TAPE, a warmly analog collection of smoothly arranged suites that feel as lush and ornate as his densely layered samples for Drake. As you might guess from the record's name, his first foray into the genre is appropriately humble — I still get a laugh out of the song title “TIME 4 JAZZ (UNC)” — but you can tell the pivot is less about impressing fans of Mario’s prior production than proving his chops in an entirely new arena.
Based in Atlanta, Supah Mario is currently prepping a mixtape with Washington Heights rapper LIFEOFTHOM for spring. The pair released their first joint single “The World Is Yours” on Friday: THOM’s assured bars are accompanied by a battalion of toms and snares as he marches through a rippling bed of woozy synths.
The FADER caught up with Supah Mario on email to chat about the time he spent an entire day working on just one beat, the "completely hilarious" movie he recently watched, and what a perfect afternoon looks like for the father and superproducer.
What’s the coolest thing to do in your hometown?
I’m from a small country town where there’s not much to do but we always went to the gym to hoop, went to drag races and raced dirt bikes and 4 wheelers where I’m from. That was pretty much the highlight of childhood for us.
Tell us about the first album you bought and why.
The first album I ever purchased with my own money was a Korn album (crazy, I know). When I was around 11/12 I was heavy into alternative and heavy rock music.
What was the last movie you watched, and give a short review.
I think it was Bugonia. Completely hilarious and wild. It’s about a man who kidnaps a woman thinking she’s an alien. I won’t say any more because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.
When you’re not making music, how do you spend your free time?
I have children so most of my free time goes to hanging with my girls and doing dad stuff most of the time. Time I wouldn’t trade for anything else in this world.
What’s a song you’d want to remix and why?
I think it’s got to be Frank Ocean “PYRAMIDS”
What’s the best thing you’ve bought for $100 or less?
Ahhhh so many things to choose from but I gotta say this hand held back massage gun.
What’s the ideal level of fame and why?
Honestly, MY ideal level of fame is no fame at all. But, an appreciation for my art is well enough for me.
Describe the best concert you’ve attended.
It was a Rolling Loud show with Post Malone performing. I can’t remember what year, but it was a really good setlist that year and I was backstage and all over the place meeting a lot of people. Great experience.
What’s the most amount of time you've spent working on a single song?
I made a beat one day that took me 17 hrs to finish. I took small breaks in between but I wanted to finish it and not have to revisit it so I decided to go ahead and get it done. Literally, 17 hrs!
What’s a motto you think everyone should live by?
“You get one life on this earth! Chase your dreams and spend time with the ones you love!”
Show us the last meme you saved to your phone.
It’s not exactly a meme but: haha
A caricature of Kevin Gates that made Supah Mario laugh.
Describe your perfect afternoon.
My kids get home from school, they are fed, homework done, washed and relaxed and I get to lock in the studio and make music until I’m too tired to keep at it. That would be a dream come true for me haha.
What’s something you’re looking forward to?
Working on my next body of work and being able to perform it live with some really talented musicians. I’m very excited for that.
Tell us about your favorite accessory.
I’d have to say it’s a gold grill I got in FL a while back. I barely wear it now but it reminded me of a time when I really started to gain real success for the first time in my music endeavors.
Best advice you’ve gotten
Best advice I’ve received was recently and it was to do as much as I can without help to avoid spending so much money!! hahaha
Worst advice you’ve gotten
“We should open up a restaurant.” NEVER!
What’s the last thing you wrote in your Notes app?
The answers to these questions lol.
Colin Padulo via the artist