ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Welcome to 9 Questions with…, an exclusive Spectrum Bay News 9 feature in which we get to know some of the Bay area’s movers and shakers a little better. It could be a politician, an artist, a first responder, a bartender—just about anyone, really. This week’s subject is Mike Mass, a creative Tampa MC, producer and promoter whose ambitious new project Wave Theory will be featured at next weekend's Gasparilla Music Festival. Is there someone you’d like to answer 9 Questions? Let us know!

Are you a Tampa Bay native? If not, where are you from?

No, I was born in Mount Vernon, NY and raised in The Bronx, NY until I was 15 years old. 

How would you describe your job or claim to fame?

I am mostly known for being a complex lyrical MC but recently have been more of an all-around culture cultivator for Tampa Bay and an opportunity provider for artists here. 

What’s your favorite Tampa Bay restaurant?

Breakfast — Ella's for sure. Lunch — Independent Bar. I'm never not in the mood for green eggs and ham. And for dinner — Sa Ri One. Bulgogi game is A1.

Do you have a personal Tampa Bay “secret spot” and/or “hidden treasure”?

Hmmm. The Attic Cafe downtown, although not really a secret anymore. I think First Chance Last Chance Bar in Ybor is a bit underappreciated and it's my favorite bar in Ybor City. Definitely Los Gringos café in West Tampa as well. 

What is your favorite Tampa Bay tradition?

No clue. Probably going to The Hub after anything downtown. 

What’s one thing many people don’t know about you that you’re willing to share with us?

As a high school student, I was in the top 3 percent of the state. I received offers from every Ivy League school including Harvard. I got a perfect score on the PSAT my sophomore year of high school. Stayed in Tampa for a girl. We're long broken up, but I don't regret it. What if, though, right?

If you could change one thing about the Tampa Bay area or your community specifically, what would it be?

I would remove the “Back The Blue” mural from the street in Downtown Tampa. 

How would you describe Wave Theory to someone who basically thinks of hip-hop as a guy with a mic and a pre-recorded soundtrack?

Wave Theory is an all-around artist and business development program. We take people with talent and drive and give them the appropriate resources to work toward music as a professional career. We produce, engineer, throw events, book artists, everything having to do with music and for all genres. Our goal is raising the quality level of Tampa's music scene as a whole. 

What is exciting you about the Tampa original hip-hop scene these days?

Everybody's going big with the live shows. People are getting out of the house. Artists are getting back on stage to kill again. There's a hunger that's back and it's motivating. Gat$, Aych with Loud on Seventh, Senyo from Bangarang with Healthy Phoenix, FWD Thinkers, Albert J with My Guy Entertainment, and of course Brokenmold are all working hard to bring heavy live shows and it's been amazing for not just the hip-hop scene, by the entire spectrum of live music here.