From Georgetown to the Fast Lane
Georgetown, SC, a town steeped in history and community, provided the foundation for Von Barz’s journey. Growing up in this small but vibrant town, Von learned lessons of resilience and ambition that would define his music career. His story is one of determination, transforming hardships into stepping stones.
With his latest single, “Nazcar,” Von Barz combines his love for racing and music, creating a track that reflects the challenges of life and the drive to keep pushing forward. It’s more than a song—it’s a statement of perseverance and ambition.
The UrbanSound Team Interviews Von Barz
The UrbanSound team sat down with Von Barz to discuss his upbringing, challenges, and the inspiration behind “Nazcar.”
Von, can you tell us a little about your early life growing up in Georgetown, SC, and how it shaped you as an artist?
Georgetown and even SC was much slower than most places. So you know, we were
able to kind of really go through growing pains, learn as we go, make mistakes and everybody
was raised by the community you know. When I was coming up in the early 90s, grandparents
were still around heavy. My grandparents on my mom’s side really raised us. Man, we used to
love going to their house because many of our cousins would be there and we’d all just hang
out and play and enjoy each other. We visited my grandparents on my dad side as well , but
often most of our cousins and friends weren’t there when we would be there so we’d have to
entertain ourselves more lol. We enjoyed those times as well but most of our memories were on
Dunbar road as younger kids. As far as parents and grandparents I only have my mom, step
pops and my moms’ dad left. I have plenty of uncles, aunts and cousins with deep family roots,
you know, back when black families would buy property, and crop land, my granddad owns quite
a bit of property and land in Dunbar where We are from. My mom is from (gtown county) and my
dad is from Georgetown. Although Dunbar is Georgetown county these two areas were rivals.
Imagine me having family on rival ends, it was crazy. I was literally torn, I have family on both
ends. So it’s always when beef popped off, fights or break out it was a wtf moment and always
pending situation. I’d be in the mix of plenty, but I wasn’t really a trouble maker, but I was into a
lot of things. I have family both ways but being a country boy, you know and a
city boy at the same time, I was really gravitated to that old country side. Really town period is
the country to keep it 100. My mom and my dad split when I was like, I think 14 something like
that, so it was a transition where I had to, you know, I needed some guidance because I didn’t
have my dad in the picture much then. My mom did a great job raising us into young adulthood
by herself. My dad was there financially early on and did have an impact while he was with us.
We came from a trailer to having our own rooms, nice house, good area and just experiencing
prosperity. We were becoming what some would call the
American dream. Georgetown is a town where everybody knows everybody. Town was a
hustling bustling homie vibe. It’s no place like Town, its special. Plenty going on in the hood. You
know you got the smart folks, the athletes, the hustlers, the outside folks, the well to do, the
grinders, the wealthy and more. Plenty of my time in town was spent downtown front street and
highmarket street. My daddy is from Dusenbery street. That’s basically the center of town and
was probably considered a little rougher area to come up in back then. Of course, Greentown,
White Creek, Maryville, Santee, Sampit are all areas I had family and friends. I would be under
the tree often back home in Dunbar by Cox store back in the day. Man, those were the good old
days. I enjoyed playing ball outside riding go cars, dirt bikes, shooting guns and
hunting and fishing and all that good stuff, that’s how my life came up for the most part.
What was your childhood like, and what were some of the biggest challenges you
faced growing up?
I’m a very intellectual person. I catch on and adapt quickly. I learned from my parents’
relationship highs and lows what I wanted and didn’t want for myself. You must experience
things to appreciate and grow in life. Through the missing events and time loss from my younger
days I always said I’d simply be better than the one before me. My mom set the bar high for
what a woman should be like in my eyes. Her generation can’t be replicated. The modern
woman just doesn’t have the same upbringing as they did back then. My dad made it clear what
It meant to provide for you family, but I had to feel what is was like to not have him in the home
to know I’d never want that for my own kids. I understand things happen but you have to learn
and develop awareness to rise above those known obstacles. Plenty growing pains coming up
but its what made me. As a man I understand many things that went on in the household now
and what things really meant when it was said to me while I was a kid. Its still hard being a
young black male now so imagine what it was like back in the 90s. I have two boys that I’m
raising now and I’m teaching them how to be integral, solid, provider, competitive and ambitious.
I teach them integrity and loyalty is rare. I’m not the greatest father but I spend time, do for and
love my family! I’m a man first that means faith in GOD, protect and provide, teach and set the
example. It’s a tough feeling looking into the stands and not seeing someone you love not there
for weddings, vacations, graduations, anniversaries, buying your first home, birthdays not being
around. Lord spares my body. I’m their for my kids for all of that! I’m grateful for those that did
experience with me and my mom made up for much of it! Through adversity my mother still
raised 4 kids, put me through college and provided and really raised us well.
How did your move to Charlotte, NC, impact your music career and your journey as
an artist?
My Manager Al was my next-door neighbor. We literally moved into the same
neighborhood right by each other. Al just happened to be producing and directing a music video
for a friend of mines D Rich that he happened to share with me. I mentioned to Al that I did
music back in the day, but I was past it. Eventually I got back into music after an offer to make a
track with popular URL rapper DNA and from my brother n law Rekomstop Skeemz. Skeemz
was a talented artis on well-known DJ Whiteowl’s roster. I eventually produced a popular
mixtape with Skeemz “Barz & Skeemz” After heavy rotation on satellite radio and sound
cloud I ended up sharing the tape with Al. Fast forward Al and I began to collab on work and
began working together. Al linked up with popular A&R Andre Williams formally signed to
Sony Records and now Roc Nation. I started putting a budget behind the music along with Al
and took it serious around 2020. Since then, we’ve done over 30 shows and headlined multiple
shows internationally. Multiple international features and releases along with opening acts for
Eastside Boyz Chubb Rock and more.)
Can you share some of the biggest influences or role models that helped shape your
musical style?
Before we get to the regular artist I f*** with let me say where it really are started.
Listening to these artist when my daddy used to bump those big 808 speakers turned me up:
Isley Bros, Sade, Marvin Gay, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass, Phil Collins, Anita, Aretha,
Zapp & Roger ballads and soul music. You know, they don’t make music like that anymore.
Coming up Lloyd Banks was my guy! Lyrically talented and was top tier with flow. Jada Kiss
& the Lox, Nas, Busta Rhymes, Biggie, Pac, Jay Z, TI. 3 stacks, Young Thug, T-Pain, Lil
Wayne, DMX are all time favs. I don’t really have a style, I’m more of a hybrid. It’s a few in the
game that can do it all but many have a lane. Drake is a good example. I like the Tory Lanez,
Sza, Glo, HER and Megan too. I do a lot of different things, but I go by me, you know. I am
lyrical, but it’s really what bag or mood it is in. As far as new artists DLo, Trap Dickey, Da Baby
and a few others make good music.
What’s the most important lesson you learned from the struggles you faced early on
in life?
In the years where I really needed my dad, I simply just did not have him around you
know. I had to confide more in my coach, uncles, cousins and big homies. My pops was around
when I was younger and ironically I was wilder during that time lol. I certainly was into things
and gratefully I never really got caught up, kind of just skated through without too many
repercussions. I got arrested twice but never got a record, got in fights, rode around in stolies
didn’t really even know at the time and sold my lil dope and grew into who I am now. See, my
mama raised me right with morals, and my grandparents did too. My momma would work and
pick us up from school and take on any bs head on for us. My momma is a no non sense type of
woman. She was raised to be a real woman and be strong, many nights she would cry and have
to fight but she hid most of it from us. Its hurtful to think about but it made us appreciate a better
life and simply want to be better than the last and keep that same energy forward, at least for
me it was. Pops did drop some gems along the way weirdly though and showed what it looks
like to bring money home to feed the family when he lived with us. Solid guy that didn’t go for
much bs at all and was well liked in town, “lil dog jr.” But Just being transparent there was a lot
of trauma we struggled with though. Daddy had PTSD, smoked, drank, domestically violent and
struggled with showing love himself. Life had seemed to really overcome him at a point. He had
lost his job at a point, was arrested quite a few times, faced racial discrimination, beat cases,
and lost his family. He did have a tough childhood growing up in a large household of 7 siblings.
My grandparents on my dad’s side were hardworking independent folks and old school raised
you up. My dad’s energy gave that he didn’t really feel much love coming up but he knew it was
love. It is different knowing your loved vs feeling your loved
Stay Connected with Von Barz
Von Barz’s journey is a testament to resilience, ambition, and the power of blending diverse passions. From Georgetown’s quiet streets to the adrenaline of the racetrack and the energy of the music stage, Von continues to inspire and innovate.
Don’t miss out on his latest single, “Nazcar”, now available on all major streaming platforms.
Stream “Nazcar” now: Spotify Link
Follow Von Barz for more updates, music, and behind-the-scenes content:
- Instagram: @VonBarz
- Twitter: @VonBarz