Today we’d like to introduce you to Mauricio Luna.
Hi Mauricio, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Mauricio or Maurice and my stage name is Big Moe. As a child, I had both my parents but my dad was bedridden my whole from a work injury that required multiple back surgeries that left him in that condition. It was a blessing and a curse because I was able to spend a lot of time with him since he was always home but he was never able to come to sporting events or leave the house to do anything with my sister and I. My Mom was his caretaker who also worked full time and still managed to take care of my sister and I. We were even able to still play sports but because of all that my mom hardly slept and never had time for herself, she was a super Mom in my eyes. She did this my entire childhood until my Junior year in H.S. when my dad became really sick and ended up needing a liver transplant which, unfortunately, he did not make it to and passed away. When that happened, I felt like my life was over. He was my best friend and my role model. After that I became reckless and careless for some time but what I feel saved me besides knowing I had to be there for my mom and sister was my love for music and our favorite football team the Minnesota Vikings. I started out djing and did that for a couple years until I DJ-ed one party and later got my equipment stolen. Later I had gotten asked to go to the studio to try rapping. I looked at that as an opportunity and took advantage of that. After that studio session, it was a wrap, I was in love with rapping and never looked back. Life was going good then years later I find out my cousin who is like a brother to me was diagnosed with ALS and he made it past a couple years before he passed. That was a big loss to me and our family. After all that fast forward to 2019 I knew, I was going to get laid off from my job at that time. My Mom had told me I should get a physical before I lose my insurance. After getting my appt and having blood work a week later the Dr calls me and lets me know that I have low white blood cell count. I asked what that means and he said it could mean that I have leukemia. I was in shock and after many tests and procedures, I was diagnosed with MDS which is the Cancer before leukemia. During that time, I wanted to work on a new music project so with that news it made me have to hurry and get it done before I got really sick. I made my EP Big Moetivation Chapter 1: Recover and Discover which is about my life and my battle with cancer. Since dropping that while I was in the hospital receiving a bone marrow transplant after I got out, I have dropped 3 music videos got back on stage, and am starting to work on my next project. On Sept 10 2021 my Dr gave me the news I am cancer-free and in remission. Hearing that was the greatest feeling ever.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not a smooth road. While going to through chemo treatment I was still working full time and working on my EP Big Moetivation Chapter 1: Recover and Discover. Going through chemo makes you tired and sick. So, lots of times I did my chemo in the morning and then was dropped off at my job to work my 8 hrs. or close as possible to the 8 hours. On the weekend is when I would go to the studio and record. This was during the height of the pandemic so I really wasn’t supposed to being going out but I had a goal and there was nothing that was going to stop me…not even cancer.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a hip-hop artist and entertainer. I specialize in party music, it’s that music that when you hear it you cannot just sit still. My music will make you want to dance for sure. I am known for a couple of things I am known for being a hip-hop artist that has a west coast/bay area type vibe, I am also known for doing music for the Minnesota Vikings, I do a song for each match we have each week and put out a video for them. My goal is to get my music played in the Vikings stadium. What sets me apart from others is my work ethic there is nothing that will stop me from reaching my goal not even the illness I was diagnosed could stop me from working.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My Mom and Dad definitely deserve a lot of credit. My Dad showed me how to not to let hardships stop you from being successful and grateful. My Dad was in constant pain but I hardly ever heard him complain about it or was he down about it. He always stayed positive and had a good attitude, so I used that a lot in my journey with my fight with cancer. My Mom was the reason I was able to have a childhood and was able to play sports. She did so much for my dad, sister, and I. She worked graveyard shift so she went into work at 10 pm to 6 am. She got off work just in time for my sister and I to get ready for school make us breakfast and pack our lunches and take us to school. When she got home, she took care of my dad and then later picked us up from school took us to practice, and made us dinner, if she was lucky, she got some sleep before she went into work and did it all over again. It’s because of her I work so hard in everything I do.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://linktr.ee/Bigmoecoo
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigmoecoo/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigmoepmn/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/bigmoecoo
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/bigmoe187
