Master P
Master P – Life, Career, and Memorable Quotes
Master P (Percy Robert Miller, born April 29, 1967) is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and mogul. Discover his journey from New Orleans to building a hip-hop empire, his legacy in music and business, and his powerful words on success, ownership, and resilience.
Introduction
Master P is far more than a rapper—he’s a blueprint for combining artistry, ownership, and entrepreneurship. Born Percy Robert Miller, he rose from poverty in New Orleans to establish No Limit Records, turning it into one of the most influential independent hip-hop labels in history. His story is marked by ambition, risk, setbacks, and reinvention. Whether in music, film, business, or mentorship, his impact resonates through multiple industries and generations.
Early Life and Background
Percy Robert Miller was born on April 29, 1967, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
He grew up in the Calliope Projects, one of the city’s public housing areas.
His childhood was shaped by economic hardship, limited opportunities, and a strong desire to escape the cycles of poverty.
His family would later move between New Orleans and California, exposing him to different environments and cultures.
He attended Warren Easton High School in New Orleans.
At one point, he enrolled at the University of Houston on a basketball scholarship but dropped out within months.
Later, he studied business at Merritt College (a junior college) in California, which gave him foundational knowledge for his entrepreneurial ambitions.
These early transitions—between hardship, education, relocation—laid the groundwork for his blend of hustle, vision, and grit.
Music Career & Entrepreneurial Rise
Founding No Limit & Early Albums
In the early 1990s, Percy Miller started releasing music independently and building a label infrastructure.
He founded No Limit Records in 1991 (later rebranded in various forms) as a vehicle to control his music, release others’ projects, and keep revenue in his hands.
His early solo albums include Get Away Clean (1991), Mama’s Bad Boy (1992), The Ghettos Tryin to Kill Me! (1994), and 99 Ways to Die (1995).
These releases, though modest initially, built his reputation for independence and perseverance.
No Limit’s Golden Era
In the mid- to late-1990s, No Limit exploded in influence. Master P and his roster used a unique “release flood” strategy—putting out many albums, compilations, and collaborations, often with a signature Southern sound and distinctive album cover art.
Hits such as Make ’Em Say Uhh! and I Miss My Homies helped cement both his artistic and commercial success.
He also expanded No Limit into film, television, clothing, and merchandise, turning it into a diversified entertainment enterprise.
Later Projects & Reinvention
Over the 2000s and 2010s, Master P adapted to shifting musical landscapes. He rebranded No Limit into “New No Limit” and then No Limit Forever Records.
He continued releasing mixtapes, albums, and collaborative projects.
In 2025, he announced his retirement from music, planning a final performance at the Essence Festival on July 6.
His new focus is mentoring, community, and a transition into sports leadership, having become the head coach and president of basketball operations at the University of New Orleans (under the moniker “Coach P”).
Thus, his career arc has come full circle—from music to building a legacy beyond it.
Style, Vision & Leadership
Master P’s approach can be distilled into a few key traits:
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Ownership over dependency: He pushed artists to own their masters, keep revenue streams, and avoid being exploited by labels.
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Volume and saturation: By releasing many projects, he maintained visibility and market dominance in the Southern rap scene.
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Brand expansion: He treated his name like a brand, branching into film, clothing, real estate, and more.
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Mentorship & uplift: His public rhetoric often centers on lifting the next generation, giving people tools he wished he had.
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Accountability & adaptation: He’s spoken openly about mistakes, family, and evolving priorities. Recent moves into coaching and community reflect that.
His leadership is not only in front of the mic but in the boardroom, the local community, and the institutions he builds.
Legacy & Influence
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No Limit Records is often cited as one of the most successful independent hip-hop labels in history.
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His model of vertical integration (music + film + merchandise + real estate) influenced later artists who sought greater control—Jay-Z, Master P’s peers, and newer independent acts.
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He has sold over 100 million records (across his label’s catalog) and helped launch major careers.
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His pivot into sports, mentorship, and civic engagement adds dimension to his legacy beyond just music.
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He’s also become a symbol of generational resilience—transforming from poverty to creating platforms for others.
Notable Quotes & Sayings
Here are some impactful quotes and statements attributed to Master P:
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“Work hard and never make excuses.”
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“Everybody has 24 hours. What you are doing with your 24 hours will dictate your life, your future…”
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“Ownership is one thing, but control is the most important thing because you can’t own everything.”
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“I could tell who you are by the people you hang around with. I tell people all of the time, ‘I’d rather fly with the eagles than walk with the pigeons.’”
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“If you prepare the next generation with the right mindset, you don’t have to worry about changing things yourself.”
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“You can get money back, but you can’t get time — time is so valuable.”
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“People do look up to me … I made it out of a bad situation … I didn’t mind bettering myself … That’s what people respect.”
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“I tell people, ‘Everybody has 24 hours. What you are doing with your 24 hours will dictate your life…’”
These quotes reflect his focus on discipline, vision, legacy, and personal accountability.
Lessons from Master P
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Build your own platforms
Instead of waiting for permission, he constructed infrastructure (label, film, distribution) to control his destiny. -
Scale by saturation
Releasing many works can be a strategy for staying relevant, not just focusing on perfection. -
Diversify wisely
Music was his entry; business, real estate, film, and sports extended his reach. But diversification must align with identity and capacity. -
Empower others
He often speaks about giving back, mentoring, providing opportunities he lacked. True impact includes lifting others. -
Reinvent with integrity
Retirement from music doesn’t mean fading away—his move toward coaching and community leadership is part of his evolution, not a disappearance. -
Time is nonrenewable
Many of his quotes emphasize that time, once lost, cannot be regained. That mindset drives urgency and focus.