Mr. Serv-On was a childhood friend of Master P’s and was signed to No Limit Records on the cusp of Master P's breakout into the mainstream. His debut album Life Insurance reached number 23 in September 1997. Leo Stanley of All Music Guide says it’s "one of the better albums on No Limit Records…" "…and it suggests that No Limit may have another star in the form of Mr. Serv-On."
His sophomore album, Da Next Level earned him the week’s highest charting debut and surpassed the sales of other well-known rap acts like Mystikal and Silkk The Shocker.
"I understand that what I do now shapes my future, shapes a lot of kids' futures," Mr. Serv-On said about his success. "I have to do things and put it the way I know it needs to be put. It's not, like, rapping for fun anymore. It's a business, and it's serious."
Mr. Serv-On grew up in New Orleans and during his childhood there, he witnessed a murder. This provided him a solid, albeit disturbing, background to make insightful records. He was introduced to hip-hop after moving to Northern Virginia as a teenager. Influenced by L.L. Cool J and encouraged by friends, he eventually dedicated himself to rap as a profession, signing a contract with No Limit by the mid-1990s. He set out, he said, to counter the bad reputation that Southern rappers had garnered.
His decision to leave No Limit was not an easy one, however, Serv On was confident that he could handle his career on his own. About his departure he said, "A lot of people have been asking what happened and why did I leave? Well, all they need to do is listen to the album. That’s why I called it No More Questions, I answer everything."
Mr Serv-On’s album, No More Questions will be released on March 18th, 2003.
GETTING PERSONAL: MR SERV-ON BREAKS FROM NO LIMIT
AND RELEASES NEW ALBUM TITLED NO MORE QUESTIONS
Mr Serv-On has a new album coming out in March titled "No More Questions." If it sounds like a nod about his former label, No Limit that’s because it is. The new album is his first since Serv-On left matriarch Master P and his No Limit Records. Serv-On says, "So many people have asked me why I left
No Limit. Some fans are angry because they love the idea of the No Limit family and they feel I shouldn’t have left. I decided to name my album, "No More Questions" because the album speaks for itself. After they hear the album, I won’t need to talk about it anymore."
When asked about what’s different about the new material as opposed to Serv-On’s prior albums, he said, "I was restricted before (at No Limit), now I have more freedom to talk about the things I want to talk about. This album is very personal. I went through a lot emotionally while making it, my marriage, my split from No Limit, things I had a hard time talking about I could express on this album."
The debut single from "No More Questions" is called "Where Dat Work At" and is a song fans will love. "The single sounds a lot like me, it’s just a bumpin’ Serv-On track." Fans will have a chance to hear the single live when Serv-On heads out on the road. More details will be announced shortly.
"No More Questions" drops on March 18, 2003.
SOHH.com
Daily Hip-Hop News: Mr. Serv On Says 'No More Questions' About No Limit
written byQ Monday - January 20, 2003
After being off the No Limit label for sometime now, Mr. Serv On is finally gearing up to release a new album. The album, No More Questions is set to drop on March 18 through D3 Entertainment, and regarding the title of the album, Serv On says it's in reference to his departure from No Limit.
"So many people have asked me why I left No Limit. Some fans are angry because they love the idea of the No Limit family and they feel I shouldn't have left. I decided to name my album, 'No More Questions' because the album speaks for itself. After they hear the album, I won't need to talk about it anymore," Mr. Serv On said in a statement. "I was restricted before (at No Limit), now I have more freedom to talk about the things I want to talk about. This album is very personal. I went through a lot emotionally while making it, my marriage, my split from No Limit, things I had a hard time talking about I could express on this album."
The first single will be "Where Dat Work At", which will be shipped to radio shortly.
Bryan (T M H): What have you been up to since you left No Limit? Mr. Serve On: I've been doing a lot of work, I came out with 2 underground records to keep up my name, and I did an edorsement deal, sorta like the Red Star Sounds, Heniken is doing.
Bryan (T M H): What makes "No More Questions" different then the last two albums? Mr. Serve On: The fans will be able to feel it more, than before, I'm proving to be what I said I was. Things got better, my flow is tight, and it got to the point to where they gon love it.
Bryan (T M H): What made you decide to leave No Limit? Mr. Serve On: It got to the point to where I wanted to expand, and get my own label, and I wasn't feeling No Limit, it wasn't family. I wasn't going to take orders from nobody and they wasn't real. They were wearing $3,000 suits on album covers, and that wasn't us, it didn't feel like family anymore and I want ya'll to put this is quotes "P did not get rid of me, I walked out". Look at the sales between "The Ice Cream Man" and "The Last Don" I wasn't getting the respect I needed.
Bryan (T M H): I know LL is an influence to you, have you ever met him & would you work with him? Mr. Serve On: I've met him once, but I didn't really get to holla at him, but it would be a honor to do a song with him, but with this new album, I think it's so tight that I wouldn't have to go to him, he'll come to me and ask to do a song.
Bryan (T M H): Who did you work with on the new album? Mr. Serve On: The album is really me, but I got some new people on the album, I've been working with the same producer I was working with on No Limit, and I got my lil nephew he about 9 and he's tight, I got this tight dude named Hot Boy Ronald, The Lifetymer, and I got some people on my label on it.
Bryan (T M H): What R&B artist would you like to work with? Mr. Serve On: I'm real tight with Ginuwine, but I'm a BIG fan of Maxwell, that's my dude and Mary J Blige, alot of people have done things with her, but I think with all the pain and tribulations she's been through and the stuff I've been through a song with us on it would be historic, but those are the 2 people I wanna do a song with.
Bryan (T M H): Any last words and advice for your fans? Mr. Serve On: I wanna say to them if this is what you're striving to do, know it's not an adventure, don't stop, just do it. Learn the business, and don't think everybody in the business is your friends cause they ain't and educate yourself, stay in school, and don't stop believing in me, don't believe everything you read or hear about me, and keep buying my stuff.
