Today we’d like to introduce you to Murk 1 Mafia.
Hi Murk 1 Mafia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Meet Jose Leija | Big O.U.N.C.E.
The Drive and The Family Man
My name is Jose Leija, though in the music world, everyone knows me as Big O.U.N.C.E. I’m a 35-year-old independent hip-hop artist and entrepreneur based in Cedar City, Utah. But before anything else, I’m a family man. I’ve been married for 13 years and I’m a proud father of five. In a world full of chaos, we make it a point to focus on the positive and enjoy each other.
Providing for a family of six is getting harder and harder as the cost of living goes up. I realized pretty quickly that a regular job just wasn’t going to cut it anymore. I needed another avenue, and that pushed me to look at other options. I decided it was time to take my lifelong talent and step into the professional music arena to create something real for my family.
The Meaning of O.U.N.C.E. Nation
A lot of people ask about the name. O.U.N.C.E. stands for One United Nation Collaborating with Everybody. That is the foundation of my solo brand, O.U.N.C.E. Nation. It’s a movement that goes way beyond music, it’s a lifestyle.
O.U.N.C.E. thrives for those who have been told their whole lives that they will never add up or make it in life. It’s for the people who could never trust anyone because they came from a broken home, no matter what kind of trauma they went through. If you are lost, if you are struggling to find out who you are, O.U.N.C.E. is for you. I know what it means to grow up without much. My grandfather raised me, and I ended up dropping out of school in my youth to take care of my siblings. I’ve been through my share of trauma, just like so many others, and I knew I had something to offer to help the next person get through their hardship. Music became the best way to do that.
Hard Lessons in the Business
While building this platform has always been my dream, I quickly learned that signing up to be an independent artist means you have to become a businessman. It’s an exhausting number of hats to wear, navigating marketing, promoting, booking shows, calling radio stations, and curating playlists.
I’ve also experienced the bad side of this industry firsthand. Early on, I partnered with someone to start a label. While he showed me some of the ropes, the situation quickly became toxic. He would steal my music and monopolize my time doing verses and collaborations for him, which stopped me from creating my own tracks or starting the solo album I envisioned. Eventually, he even talked me into paying for the LLC while putting in absolutely no work himself.
Instead of folding, I took control. I started taking business and marketing courses, learning how algorithms work and how to market on social media. While he mocked me and treated my vision like a joke, I realized he was an anchor dragging me down. Cutting ties was one of the hardest things I had to do, but I knew it was necessary for my long-term survival. Navigating that situation…and dodging my share of industry scammers, taught me to tread carefully and protect my energy.
The Birth of Murk 1 Mafia
Armed with that hard-earned wisdom, my journey took a pivotal turn. While O.U.N.C.E. Nation is my personal movement, my collaborative spirit led me to another incredible artist, Roger Kafuna, who goes by 2Equivalent. He has a very similar, authentic, old-school artistry to mine.
I wanted to see how we could work together, so we collaborated on his track “Truthful,” and the result was amazing. That collaboration laid the foundation for our rap group, Murk 1 Mafia, a completely separate entity from my solo work, but built on the same values. I feel incredibly blessed to have an artist by my side who believes in the vision as much as I do. We operate under a simple slogan: Music you can feel. Together, we are building an empire and a community that people can truly follow.
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?
The biggest obstacle I had to face early on was the theft of my time, my music, and my resources by someone I thought was a partner. We were trying to start a label, but instead of building together, he monopolized my time with forced collaborations that kept me from working on my own solo album. He eventually talked me into financing the LLC alone while he put in zero effort, and when I tried to level up, he openly mocked me and treated my ambition like a joke. Navigating that toxic partnership, alongside dodging the endless wave of scammers who prey on independent artists, made me realize just how brutal the music business can be. Between marketing, promoting, booking shows, and curating playlists, I was wearing a dozen different hats while dragging an anchor that was actively pulling me down.
Instead of letting it break me, I used those setbacks to build a bulletproof business strategy. I realized raw talent means nothing if you don’t understand the machinery behind it, so I decided to become my own machine. I dove headfirst into business and marketing courses, mastering the mechanics of social media algorithms and brand building so I would never have to rely on anyone else’s bare minimum. I implemented a strict, zero-tolerance policy for dead weight and learned to tread with extreme caution. My strategy became about protecting my creative energy, setting hard boundaries, and vetting potential collaborators with a business mindset, a strategy that ultimately proved its worth when I cut ties with the negative energy and freed myself to build something real.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an independent hip-hop artist and entrepreneur. I specialize in authentic, old-school hip-hop and boom-bap that tells a real story. I’m not just making tracks; I’m building movements. I am known for two completely distinct entities: my solo lifestyle brand and movement, O.U.N.C.E. Nation (One United Nation Collaborating with Everybody), and my work as half of the rap group Murk 1 Mafia, alongside my collaborative partner 2Equivalent.
What I am most proud of is my resilience and my ability to build my own infrastructure. Growing up with very little, being raised by my grandfather, and dropping out of school to raise my siblings, the odds were stacked against me. Now, I’m a husband of 13 years and a father to five children, creating a legacy for them. When I first stepped into the professional music arena, I dealt with toxic partnerships, stolen resources, and industry scammers. Instead of quitting, I took control. I am incredibly proud that I dove into business and marketing courses, learned how algorithms work, and taught myself how to be my own machine rather than relying on anyone else.
What sets me apart from others is that I treat this as both an art and a structured business, and my underlying mission is entirely focused on community. I wear every hat, from recording and writing to marketing, booking, and curating playlists. My work ethic is unmatched because my motivation is deeper than fame. O.U.N.C.E. Nation thrives for the underdogs. It is specifically for those who come from broken homes, who have endured trauma, and who have been told their whole lives that they will never add up to anything. I understand the machinery of the industry, but my music will always remain raw, authentic, and something you can truly feel.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
If I had to narrow it down to one characteristic, it would be sheer resilience paired with an unwavering work ethic. Growing up the way I did, stepping up to raise my siblings, later navigating the harsh realities of the independent music business, I’ve had to face my share of setbacks. Early on, I dealt with a toxic partnership that drained my time and resources, but instead of folding, that resilience pushed me to take complete control. I didn’t just complain; I became a student of the industry, took business and marketing courses, and learned to build my own machine. That ability to take a hit, adapt, and keep pushing forward without ever losing my authenticity or my dedication to my family is the absolute foundation of my success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Murk1Mafia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murk1mafiallc?utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@officialounce?si=s3jUxKeNMw9PKujC
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/2equivalent
