In the streets of Far Rockaway, Queens, stories are written in hardship, resilience, and ambition. One artist who embodies that journey is Isaiah “Mafiaboy” Shannon. Born and raised in Edgemere Projects, he’s lived through the struggle firsthand. Now, he’s using his music to tell his story, putting his experiences into bars that hit deep.
Mafiaboy’s path into music wasn’t built in a major studio or under the guidance of industry executives. It started in a Harlem bedroom with nothing but a speaker, headphones, a laptop, and a microphone. No soundproofing, no engineers—just raw hunger and an undeniable talent. That was in the summer of 2021, and since then, he hasn’t looked back.
Now signed to the independent label Mazuma Mobb, Mafiaboy isn’t just here to rap—he’s here to build. His goals go beyond the mic, expanding into his own record label, a clothing line, and even books. But at the heart of it all, he wants to give back to his community. One of his biggest dreams is to open a fully equipped studio in Far Rockaway, where young artists can have the opportunities he never had coming up.
His grind didn’t come without setbacks. Spending six years behind bars could have broken him, but instead, he used that time to sharpen his craft. He wrote music in prison, turning pain into poetry, long before he ever stepped into a booth. Music became his escape, his redemption, and his ticket to something bigger than the life he once knew.
For Mafiaboywayoflife, this isn’t just about making music. It’s about proving that no matter where you come from, you can rewrite your future. His message is for the ones who feel stuck, the ones behind the walls, the ones looking for a way out. Every song is a piece of his journey, and he’s just getting started.
Check out The Sparkle Family Radio Vol. 3 mixtape and follow Mafiaboywayoflife as he continues to rise.
Stream the mixtape: SoundCloud
Follow him on Instagram: @Mafiaboywayoflife_him
