How Snootie Wild overcame his addiction and got a "second chance" at music

In 2013, Snootie Wild, born LePreston Porter, struck gold with the release of “Yayo,” so much that Yo Gotti offered a verse to the remix and a contract to the fellow Memphis native. Since then Snootie’s been all over the nation, performing on some of the biggest stages, but within the last year or so, he’s removed himself from the spotlight a bit. Unbeknownst to many, the rapper battled a pill habit that quickly became a crippling addiction.

“When music is your passion,” Snootie started slowly, “the need to be creative and utilize your gift becomes second nature. You yearn for it. I know that music is my purpose. Working in the studio is like a necessity. it keeps me balanced.”

“I felt a huge emptiness knowing that I was no longer moving in my purpose,” he continued. “My desire for pills overpowered my desire for music. And once I came to this realization, I knew I had to get back on track. Because my desire for music gave me life. My desire for pills was leading to death. Not only physically, but my purpose as well.”

Transparency is a lost value these days in hip-hop. Everyone’s too cool to admit that they’re overwhelmed or even that they may need to reevaluate certain decisions made and relationships built. Once he fixed his focus, Snootie put his plan in motion, dropping his “Beetlejuise” single last spring and sketching out plans to connect with artists like K Camp and Jeremih. Hitmakers.

The rapper has lofty — yet unrevealed — goals in mind for his crew, Team Yayo, in the coming months. He’s preparing an album to be released at the top of 2017 and is currently pushing “Petty” — a collaborative effort between himself and Rico Ritchie. So while Snootie is still signed to Gotti’s CMG imprint, he took the time needed to sober up and subsequently create his own blueprint to follow. The ball is rolling.

“I appreciate everything Gotti does for me,” he shared. “If he hits me up, I’d do whatever for him. He’s given me a chance to really grow as an artist and give me a chance to see how business goes. I’d never have that chance if it wasn’t for him. But other than that, I’m in a good place. Playing with different sounds and beats and trying to step outside the box of just street rap.”

Snootie says that his new objective these days is building on relationships birthed out of his situation with CMG. He’s working with producers like Zaytoven and DJ Mustard. He’s also working on scheduling studio sessions with Rich Homie Quan and Jeffery (formerly Young Thug), whenever all three men have time and are in the same city. Snootie Wild is preparing for a takeover.

“I feel like every artist should want to do that eventually,” he offered. “Some situations come faster than others where you have to make a random decision on whether to continue what you’re doing or take it into your own hands and stepping outside the box, putting your hands on everything and seeing where it takes you.”

“That’s the space I’m in right now,” he added. “Doing my own thing and trying to find 'me.’ Not just as a gangsta rapper but an all-around global artist.”

When Flo-Rida and Pitbull are mentioned as potential aspirations, Snootie chuckled but admitted that it wouldn’t be a bad position to find himself in. Can’t hurt that OGs like Master P are in his corner to see that it happens. “Anybody can introduce you to anybody, but it’s still how you gravitate towards that person,” Snootie stated. “I had a chance to link up with [P]. We talked business for a minute and he told me all that I needed to know, laid it all on the line for me as far as where I needed to go, and I respect that from P.”

In August, the No Limit capo made good on his faith in Snootie and featured the “Yayo” creator on his latest project, The G Mixtape, on a song titled “Believe.” Fitting.

“No matter what kind of obstacles come into your life make sure you pick yourself up and do it again,” he said. “Don’t fall short thinking it’s too late. It’s never too late.”

“The most powerful tool we have as human beings is our mind,” he continued with conviction. “The power of your thoughts can literally change your life. We have a choice, and I made some bad choices. But after changing the people, places, and things around me that help contribute to those bad decisions, I was able to use the power of my mind to create a fresh, new start towards achieving my goals.”

“I am just grateful for a second chance,” he said thoughtfully. “I hope I can inspire others to make a positive change towards a better life, no matter what their past or current situation might be.”