As Chicago Mixtape King Leo Getz prepares for his debut album, Passports & Visas to drop this year, he continues to leave his lyrical footprints all over the world. Getz has been working on his craft since the tender age of 11. Born and raised in Chicago’s London Town community on the south side, life for Leo Getz ain’t been no crystal stair (as Langston Hughes would say). Leo is launching his own label (Stomp Down Entertainment) under the KOR-Enterprises umbrella. He has worked with the likes of: Fabolous, Cassidy & Freeway as an opening act. Also, John Blu (Jive), Jeremiah (Def Jam), and Block Exchange (DTP).

I got a chance to sit and talk to Chicago’s own King of the Mixtape, Leo Getz about his career, and what keeps him motivated to make music. Check out our talk:

***Tell me a bit about who Leo Getz is:

LeoGetz:  Let me start by saying, Leo Getz is from the Southside of Chicago. Born and raised in the wild 100’s. London Town stand up! I’m Puerto Rican, Black & Cherokee Indian. My father is black and my mother is Puerto Rican. I grew up in a Black neighborhood and when I grew on this music, it took me to a place where it spreaded me on each side of Chicago. I couldn’t get my experience if I didn’t go out. So when I treaded out into that world & experienced the streets. I took all of that and put it into my music. And that’s Leo Getz!

***I read in your Bio that you started at an early age. Tell me how it feels to know at the age of 8 what you want to do when you grow up?

LeoGetz:  It feels good. A lot of people don’t do what they want to do. You have in your mindset that you want to be a Doctor; you want a Lawyer; I want to play Basketball; I want to play Baseball. Well, I did a lot of things and I’ve experienced it: I played Baseball; I played Basketball. But there was just something about the music that kept me in tune. It was exactly what I wanted to do in life. It always put me in a place where I can speak my mind freely and don’t have to worry about anybody saying anything about it.

Leo Getz On Longevity in the game.

“You know you turn it into a career; there are a lot of opps out there in this music game. You got a lot of people that think they are a part of this game becuz they can put two lines together. Its not like that! It’s a lot of ppl that put their blood sweat and tears in it (like Mua).

***What inspired you about the Leo Getz character?

Leo Getz: Leo Getz is basically me. I had to go out and get what I wanted; no matter what it was, I had to do it myself. What came with that? Leo Getz! Everybody started saying, man you get what you want, you Leo Getz. And of course, I’m a lethal weapon. Ok? Ok!!! (Laughs)

***When I googled you, I found out that you running the mixtape circuit in Chicago.

Leo Getz:  Oh yeah, I’m definitely doing good with the mixtape thing. I got my mixtape out right now called, Money over Ego. I got a lot of ppl on there, such as: Erica Caine (Twista’s Get it Wet), Gucci, OJ Juiceman, So Hood (who is my crew coming from Stompdown Ent./KOR Enterprises). You know and we moving! Oh, we got As Is from Chicago.

***Passports and Visas? Tell me about the new album

 Leo Getz:  Wow! Passports and Visas! I gotta stand up for this one. We flyin’ high man! I don’t want anybody to think that we are subjected & limited to the hood, because we’re not! All you gotta do is get up on those to feet, and let those lil legs move across the way. We’re not gonna stop here in this city; we’re not gonna stop in this country. We’re gonna push out into this world. When you hear my music, I want people to say, “hey that’s who I’m gonna be”. There are too many wannabes and not enough gonna be’s out here.

***When does the album drop?

 Leo Getz:  Ah man, right now we’re getting ready to drop a summer song this Sunday on Power 92 with Raw Radio TV. The name of that song is called, “What’s Ya Name?!” You can actually check it out on Power92Chicago.com. I really wanna get a thank you to Sha’dell for getting stuff out there. And I definitely wanna thank KOR-TV and the alliance for pushing my project. Its been a real struggle.

***What other things do you have going on?

 Leo Getz:  I have my actual single coming out in September 2010; it’s called “On Top”. I want yall to check it. It’s for the ladies, but every guy can reminisce off of it. You’re gonna love that one! I’m also working with some guys called the Wind City Connection. They’re headed out to Kuwait to do a tour for the Stop the Violence Campaign. So, I’m planning to head out there with them to try to get something together for the soldiers.

“Before I go I definitely wanna tell Mami Chula at 95.5fm in ATL: I’m about to fly my single your way. Thank you for your support and everything. I also wanna thank Bam and J. Allen from Power 92 radio station. Last but not least, Cutty! I wanna thank you. Because what you are doing for Chicago, Atlanta and the world is bigger than anybody could imagine right now. Everybody need to get on that scale!!! You know!!! I wanna thank KOR-Enterprises again for pushing my project. I wanna thank Chris, Kelly and Eric Bradley. And, I wanna thank the world… Big Chase – he’s doing big things for me… I never seen anybody work that hard and be that hardworking & dedicated. He been pushing it to the limit everyday”

LEO GETZ

Check out Leo Getz on myspace at: www.myspace.com/LeoGetz100

Check out Leo Getz on facebook at:         www.Facebook.com/leogetz

Follow Leo Getz on twitter at:                    www.Twitter.com/Leo_getz