Meet Tony Mai | Record label owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tony Mai and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tony, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind our success has always been authenticity. At UGPGN, we don’t chase clout or follow trends — we move with purpose, vision, and community in mind. Everything we create comes from good intent, real stories, and a deep commitment to elevate the culture. That’s the energy driving Return of the Dragon — a hip hop album being called one of the best in years, blending lyrical mastery, street wisdom, and spiritual depth. We channel the blueprint of Jay-Z, the creativity of André 3000, the consciousness of Kendrick Lamar, and the raw precision of Pusha T, but always in our own lane. When you stay true to yourself, consistent with your grind, and unapologetic about your voice, people feel that energy. That’s why UGPGN is bigger than a brand — it’s a movement, a cultural revolution, and a new wave of hip hop for the people.”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
UGPGN is more than a brand — it’s a movement built on authenticity, purpose, and community. In an industry where a lot of people chase clout and trends, we stay rooted in real stories, real struggles, and real voices. Authenticity isn’t just a buzzword for us — it’s the foundation of everything we do. Through music, culture, and creative ventures like Return of the Dragon, we channel that raw honesty to uplift, educate, and inspire. We use our platform to invest back into the community, create opportunities for independent artists, and build something bigger than ourselves. Just like Jay-Z laid a blueprint for ownership, Kendrick Lamar pushed conscious rap forward, André 3000 brought innovation, and Pusha T kept it raw and unapologetic — UGPGN represents the next wave. We’re here to prove that staying authentic isn’t just good for the culture, it’s the key to real, lasting success.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a foodie and a proud vegan, so my go-to Atlanta spots are Life Bistro — one of the best Black-owned vegan restaurants in ATL — Envegan with their fire plant-based menu, and Pho VN for that authentic Vietnamese vegan flavor. Those are the places that really feed both my body and my soul. Outside of food, you’ll catch me at King of Diamonds ATL, one of the most legendary nightlife spots in Atlanta, and Bonfire ATL, which is one of the dopest cultural events in the city. For me, it’s all about experiences that represent the real Atlanta — food, music, culture, and community all in one.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother and my pops

My fiance’ lesean,

my cousins: calvin, David, jimmy, lily, teedee, Kay kay, Dakota

My Aunty’s Vanna and tammy

My sisters cella and diena mai

My god family:
Sinclair, jose’ Brandon waples, Emilio, tia live, quy anh

Website: https://ugpgn-merch-store.printify.me/products?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAae9gu-oMrxsBeOfjzOSMcm5IEzZgQ5-aiTGF1Po6uBBFk0mZIUVPJJjs9mFBQ_aem_i4N3P2tl1pUIBbEy00HQNw

Instagram: @kingmushu888

Twitter: @UGPGN

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Ari7f63bu/

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ugprecordz_goddexnation?si=SZmWB4YC7gy9g1Z9

Other: https://music.apple.com/us/album/return-of-the-dragon/1825661255

Image Credits
Lesean mccall