Today we’d like to introduce you to Master Rainer.
Hi Master, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Nashville, TN. at General Hospital March 11, 1977, to my beautiful mother Edith Carol Mai and my Father Bobby L. Whitaker aka “Whit” (R.I.P).
I was raised around music my entire life, one way or another, by all of my family. Also, I think it was the time in music as well. I’m fortunate enough to have experienced 4 decades of music in my own life alone. Dating back musically to the 50’s from my grandmother (mothers’ side of the family) being a huge BB King fan. My grandmother (R.I.P.) was an angelic spirit with a voice of strong spirit. She also played the piano. My mother, aunts’ & uncles also sang to some degree. My first era of musical exposure was music from the 70’s but they all played music from the 60’s and up. I have vivid memories of family functions with the music going and my adult family all singing along. My grandmother used to try and bribe me to sing all the songs only she had privy to hearing at that time. Lol My mother has always had an eclectic taste in music. For example, in range in taste, two of her favorites were Fankie Beverly (R.I.P) & Maze and country singer Randy Travis. My mother’s record collection put me to sleep many nights laying on the floor in the living room in the dark. Saturday morning’s cleaning routine consisted of me being awakened to Frankie Beverly & Maze, incense burning and the vacuum going. LOL
I have several cousins who were into music as well. My older cousin, Troy Brown, was the drummer for the famous gospel group The Son’s of Glory as a teenager and young adult. My younger cousin, Grammy award winner and first urban act to sign to Music Row’s Murrah/Colton Publishing and prouction deal is better known as “Bar None”, who was also a drummer and pianist, is deeply rooted and responsible for much of Nashville’s rap culture from the late 90’s through the 2000’s. Hince the phrase we coined mid 2000’s “Join the culture”. I’ll elaborate on that later. Bar None went on to produce for and collaborate with “Cashville” legendary producers, artists and groups such as Grammy award winning “Street Symphony”, Shannon Sanders, “Syk Sense”, Speak Into Existence (S2X), KillamusiQ, Young Buck, Serving the World Click, Pistol of Street Flavor Records and later Eazy E’s Ruthless Records, Kool Daddy Fresh, American Idol season 10 finalist and the musical competition show SHINE judge, Ashton Jones and many more. I myself have had the honor to have worked with or alongside most all of who I mentioned.
My Pops “Whit” aka “BLW” was both a drummer and singer himself. He was born in what most would consider “the country” in Fayetteville, TN. He played jazz, blues and gospel. “BLW” was a big Lou Rawls fan, and I remember all the 8 Track Tapes. Lol He traveled the country from Miami, FL to Chicago and more playing gigs, etc. Funny thing about that is I had always known my father to be a drummer but didn’t truly discover how great of a singer he was until much later in life, even though I had heard him sing. This is when he began singing in his church choir, Mount Olive Missionary Church, in Fayetteville. I began playing drums by ear as a young child on my Pops’ drum set and I continued on to play drums in elementary, Park Avenue, W.A. Bass middle school and ended my drummer days at Antioch High School. My elder sister La Chandra aka “Shawney” has been singing all her life as well in Florida and Georgia. So, as you can see music runs all through my family and blood. It’s just in me.
Aside from family, my personal musical experience began in pre-school when singing the song One in a Million by Larry Graham in a mock wedding. Yes, you read right, One in a Million in PRE-SCHOOL. LOL I’ve always been somewhat of an old soul. Then I went on to what was called SPECIAL MUSICIANS in elementary school at Park Avenue aka P.A. This was a chorus or choir class/group with a twist. We were taught proper singing techniques, how to play multiple instruments like timpani drums, xylophone, etc and we put on Broadway style productions with costumes and all. We performed at the Governor’s mansion, for the Mayor and more. This was all orchestrated by our great teacher and co-writer of the song My Home Will Always Be In Tennessee, Miss. Margaret Cambell-duGuard. As previously stated, I was later in the percussion section of the band from elementary through about my junior year of high school. I tried both concert and marching band in Antioch high school but unfortunately it wasn’t the experience I had grown up looking forward to after experiencing and witnessing my sister’s alma mater of Pearl Cohn High aka PCH aka Firebirds marching band in the 90’s, who were EPIC to say the least. After watching and playing at Bass the “PCH” band and Tennessee State University’s marching band most of my life I was beyond disappointed once I got to Antioch’s band and song selection. I was in culture shock, mixed in with a lot of ticked OFF when I moved away from West Nashville aka West Nash, aka West Nashty. Lol
Hip Hop is only a few years older than me so I guess you could say we grew up together. My sister “YaYa” had all the cassette tapes of early hip-hop that I listened to from LL Cool J, JJ Fad, Beastie Boys, two of my all-time favorite’s were Big Daddy Kane & Rakim and even the early stages of a local up and coming rapper and classmate Theo who would later be known as “Jack Zane” of “Cashville” legendary 1990’s Terror Mob & later Servin Tha World Click (S Dub C). Just a little fun fact. In those times access to hip hop and rap wasn’t as available as we liked so we had Friday Night Videos that MIGHT play a couple hip hop songs and later the Juke Box, pay to play tv channel. Yet and still, this added to the cause of all the exposure to so many genres of music we had then.
I never intended to become an artist myself. I was just a fan for the most part, but I guess music was just waiting to come out of me as a creator instead of just a fan. I did begin writing at a young age though. I’ll say maybe around 12 years old with my best friend Ty but it was just for fun and love of music. Even his father Kelvin Jones, who was a drummer for Melba Moore and Freddie Jackson, played a role in both my musical growth and growth as a young man. I, along with Ty, Rock Steady (R.I.P), Blo, J Fred and many more of my homies, got to witness Pistol and Kool Daddy Fresh at work as a youngster in Skyview Apartments through the window of Gary “DJ KNS” Hayden as they made that West Side magic. We would hang outside KNS’s window watching, listening and burning *crack jokes* on everybody in there (LOL) not even knowing we were watching history be made. I’ll never forget how 1994 was an unforgettable time in the Nashville rap scene and West Nash as well. Both Pistol aka P Gates (Hittin’ Like A Bullet) and Kool Daddy Fresh aka Don Frizzle (It’s All True) released music and hearing it hit me different and made me proud because these were people I saw in my hood growing up. I had already moved away to Antioch but that brought me back to the West-Side of “thangs” in spirit. You could call this a “West-Side Story” …pun intended. Lol I’m going to be skipping ahead a little to say this, but I must. There was a full circle moment I had once when I was with Bar None at M Rich’s Style Camp Studio, home of Servin’ Tha World Click, as I was working on a song titled Under The Sea with Servin Tha World members Sosa Tha Plug aka Feisty, Ref aka Tha Referee and Pistol was recording seperately too. I couldn’t help but think how at first I was watching him work thru DJ KNS bedroom window as a child and now in the yo *studio* as a man working myself. I also have to mention it blew my mind to see how he started recording with his ad libs first. I also remember seeing Young Buck’s recording methods later on and being put up on game just simply by being present in the room. Real talk and salute to all of the guys mentioned before and the ones to come.
The first moment I knew I had something special was during a normal weekend over one of my homies Steve’s apartment in Bavaria playing spades and listening to some new music that had just dropped with Nitty, CDB, T & Theron (R.I.P). I wish I could remember what was playing. The track started, I felt a vibe, closed my eyes and my mind just went somewhere else. Next thing I knew, I began reciting, out loud, lyrics that were flowing through my mind. I opened my eyes and the look on their faces was like they had seen a ghost or something. A freestyle rapping ghost. Lol They were all shocked and slick mad that I hadn’t already been doing it. The thing is, for some time I had been doing this in my head but for some reason this night it all came out. Sooner than later me and Bar None had started linking up, often times at our grandmother’s kitchen table, creating music together. He was making tracks on what we used to call “the blue board” it was small and limited in functions, but Bar’s musical genius made magic with it and the rest is history.
I actually began recording in the studio around 1997. I was then and continued to be blessed to have some of the best experiences and access when it comes to recording. By that time, we had formed a “coalition” of mc’s titled B.I.G *later named Secret Society & then finally NEW AGE HUSTLE COALITION*. That consisted of myself, Bar None, Dough Good, AP, Raw Law (R.I.P.) and Khaos. We hit the ground running. One of my first experiences was with a Grammy award winning engineer Voytek Kochanel.This was Dat and a-Dat era and even reel-to-reel was on deck. Fast forward just briefly to rocking shows in Clarksville, and Bowling Green, KY with Juvie, BG & Buck at Club Cobalt with the coordination of Big Luck & Jay. Another staple in Nashville rap/hip hop history I had the pleasure to work with and know personally is the group known as The Untouchables *KC3, Mayhem & Skinny Boss*. Them boys were HARD at a young age! They also were working at Tek’s *Voytek* studio ,in either Hendersonville or Goodlestville, on their music and had previous ties to Bar. Linked up with them and got it in a time or two. The Untouchables already had their first deal, touring and in the midst of a situation with a label out of South Carolina tied in with who we all know now as Charlemagne The God from the Breakfast Club. At that time our “group” name was either B.I.G. or we might have been Secret Society. Anyway we had brief talks with their label but it never came to anything. Both KC3 and Mayhem are still active and making noise in the Cashville hip hop scene and Skinny Boss has other successful ventures in media etc. This is also around the same time I met Cashville’s acclaimed producer Fate Eastwood. Funny story about Fate is he was still in Highschool at Hillsboro and basically ran their industry standard studio all day. He was already cold at his craft. I actually recorded with Lil Timme on his first couple of songs at Hillsboro with Fate back then and we linked up last year to create the song called LEGENDARY. Legendary is on Lil Timme’s bangin’ album titled HUSTLEOLOGY. Also check out that song JOY on there with Timme, me and the Memphis, 3-6 Mafia legend Project Pat. Shout out to Pat, DJ the Dj, Gloria, Kountry, his staff and tour manager Shaky for having us on the Project Pat Redemption tour last summer 2025. Those were some of the biggest crowds and and venues I’ve ever touched. Big thanks to of course home Nashville, Memphis, Birmingham, Houston, New Orleans, Jacksonville & Tampa Florida for all the love on tour. Our dancer Aisha killed it too!
Another part of my musical arsenal is I also sing most of my hooks, etc. Just as most didn’t know I rapped, many didn’t know that I sang either. Lol It slowly began by me wanting to make songs about my experiences with women, to cater to women and go at a different angle. It’s just in me. Lol Blame it on my Pops. Lol Also, I just love to create in different ways. I refuse to be creatively boxed in. I’m influenced by rap, r&b, soul, reggae, jazz, blues, country, gospel, rock and a little pop. I think my first recorded singing hook was a song I recorded with A.P. on my first released self-titled mixtape “Mr. Master Vol. 1 in 2005. As time went on, I also linked up with my homie Punch, may GOD rest his soul. I called him Punchie Mane since he’s from Memphis aka “The M” Lol Punch, was a rapper, singer and musician and was also into soul and vibe music. He eventually linked me up with Kwesi B, at his then studio off 28th Ave N called “The Sweet Spot” All of us including Punch cousin, another hard M Town producer named Wud Grain, and Awoll from Compton, CA all came together to create some great things. I’m cooking up some new music with some of them and also intend to drop some of my past collaborations with my homie Punchie Mane in his honor.
The F.T.E. in my stage name MrMasterFTE stands for Family Ties Ent. and is associated with an umbrella, associated with other business ventures as well. My clients and circle more often than not, know me as family. I’m selective of my company for reasons of both caution and nature. Most all of my musical peers and I go way back. Some even to childhood. Street Symphony being one who’s also family of another producer/artist/best friend who himself produced my unreleased song to come titled “PRESS IT”. Koda aka Platupus Jones. He’s been a long time ATL resident now.
As the newly named New Age Hustle Coalition (NAHC/Tha Coalition) came to be, our depth and range expanded to songstress (now Grammy winner/American Idol finalist) Ashthon Jones, Scott Free aka Free World with hit “Everybody BAGG on last NAHC project THE BEGINNING of THE END, Success (R.I.P.) aka Cess Monster who had a banger titled Let’s Roll with Fabo of D4L, East Coast FEB’s Hollywood Da Bully, Destini Winters aka D’Wynter Cold also ft on THE BEGINNING of THE END on my solo song Star Gazing, Young Tezzo also with Non Stop featured all over the same project along with the homie Geno aka “I Hate Geno”. Memphis rapper/actor/entrepreneur Kia Shine was also featured on Beginning of The End project. I think we should re-release now. NAHC had some epic moments, music, The Music City Showcase, promoted party series New Age Saturdays at Atlantis and other venues. We were on set for Young Buck’s Let Me In video, stage appearance with 50 Cent and more. I recorded a never released song with Big V of the Nappy Roots as a UGK remix still in the vault. There were several mottos we lived by and created from the journey we all shared together. “Join the culture”, New Age State of Mind and GOD’s Work were a few. Many of us in “Tha Coalition” were experiencing family and legal troubles simultaneously but there were many lesson learned through these tribulations. Brotherhood, the existence and importance of the energy we received and put out. In spite of our then trials I wouldn’t change a thing because we also made memories and music inspired by real life. Although I never got the millions from the work put in, I will say I got a million in game and experience. Keep in mind most of this was transpiring as I was a husband and proud father of 4 (Destiny, Iyana, twins Master the 2nd & Mekhia) all by the age of 23. Around 2008 life had its rough moments and were always a backdrop to whatever was transpiring in music. You’ll find testimony of this and more all throughout my music. Especially in my more recent release titled AMAZING GRACE produced by Get Back Beats. A soon to be released “Apologetic” was also in that same spirit and me being accountable for my short comings. Music is and always has been a true love as well as therapy and I hope it inspires others as well. Unfortunately, recording music came to a pause for me slowly but surely as life was “lifing” as they say. I never stopped completely but it was definitely close. I never stopped writing but not at the same rate previously.
Sometime around 2015 my homie Lil Timme, who had been living in Tampa, FL for some time, began stepping up his push to record and make moves. He reached out to me to record again as we had previously done some years back and we got to it. There were several songs that came about but the one that stuck the most and to this day is one of our biggest songs together is titled Drogarnse *I Get High* a 4/20 anthem. Produced by Kajun Music and the visual also shot by Kajun Films out of Tampa, FL. Another banger was All In A Day. We began recording more as well as performing locally until eventually going on a run with The Stoner Jordan Tour coming out of Arizona. Our song Drogarnse caught their attention. We hit several cities including Louisville, KY, Colorado Springs, CO and more. This further polished my stage presence, crowd control, just simply soaking up game and gaining new fans abroad. The same for Timme but he had been sharpening hills skills and building his catalogue previously while in Florida and more. Things only continued to go up from there. More shows, more music and more momentum. This lead us to being the first live rap performers in the historical Nashville, TN T.S.U. Homecoming Parade. Not once but TWICE in 2024 & 2025. I began recording with LK & S2X of The Super Saiyans on songs Business As Usual, Spell, Apologetic etc. I also linked up with 100 Proof producers Iven On the Beat *unreleased* and Skates of ‘A Skates Production on “Paradise” and my latest release of “MOTION” released and performed June 13th 2026 on the epic day of Lil Timme/57 Recordz inaugural 615 Muzik City Showcase held at Nashville’s Exit/In. This event was one for the city and even other regional artists of mane genre’s. I must say I’m proud of the move and execution of Lil Timme and all those involved in making it happen. Lil Timme and I were also blessed to perform at the Bridgestone Arena in conjunction with the 85 South Tour. Timme and I have recorded, toured and climbed many a mountain over the last few years and it’s all been a blessing. Much love and respect to Nashville Monday Night Jazz events put together by Fredrick Weathersby/Muzity on historical Jefferson Street at Kingdom Cafe. He’s allowed us and many other Nashville artists a safe place to perform and hone our craft. I’d advise anyone in the city to check out Nashville Monday Night Jazz. The previously stated Project Pat tour in the summer of 2025 was next level. Tampa, FL might as well be our 2nd home from all the visuals shot there and the multiple shows performed at Aych’s Loud On 7th Music festival. With that said, Cashville is and will forever be homebase and I’m proud of my city’s growth and all the past, upcoming artists and platforms. Thanks, a much success to David “Hall of Fame Dave” Suddeth of The High Table with David Suddeth podcast for the great interview last year. He is an iductee in the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. Another great platform in particular is Wesley Crutcher’s Music City Visual Showcase held at Malco Cinemas in Smyrna, TN. It’s an event I’ve been honored to take part in twice and more to come in the future. It’s a platform for local artist to play visuals on a theatre screen. There’s nothing like it. Love Wesley’s unselfish vision. My latest whole project titled “Merlot Music” was released on Valentine’s Day 2026. If you’re looking for vibe music, ride music and something for the lady’s, THIS is the one. My favorite track is “Know You Better” produced by Get Back Beats. I’m currently pushing to my next move and keeping this “Motion” going. Big salute to Lil Timme for the inclusion, respect & love of my craft and all these years I’ve been putting in this work.
I can honestly say that the moment I began taking music seriously, IT began taking me seriously and so did my peers and those who listened. At times this thing called life has removed or distanced me from music, but I always made my way back. In honor of my Pops, GOD rest his soul, once told me to “NEVER quit if you love it Son” so expect just THAT from me. As the lyrics say to my latest release MOTION (produced by A Skates Production) says, “I’m NEVER giving up. I’m NEVER tapping out.’ I want to give much love, respect and appreciation to each and every person who has impacted my life an anyway, not just in music. My family, friends, fellow artists, supporters, many venues I’ve graced, all the staff members I’ve encountered who make the machine of “the show” keep moving and working.
It’s a must I again give Bar None his flowers for all the work put in, sacrifices and many connections that are responsible for much of what began my now musical lineage in the game and the city. My timeline might be slightly off but “it’s all true Boss” in the words of Fresh. Lol The further I go along in this interview the more I realize how truly grateful I am to have had this opportunity to both live and tell this story. It’s just as important to me to make note of the many, many people who have accompanied me in the many facets of my musical journey and life itself. If I left anyone out, blame it on my head and not my heart. It might also end up being a novel if I told it all! I’ll save the rest for the biography. Lol
If I had to describe what my music is I would say “Life Music”. I believe in my musical creations all be derived from everything that is ME. I’m very capable of creating based on a fictional story but my preference is all based in reality even if the “reality” was just my thought. I’ll razzle dazzle it when necessary to make it entertaining because I understand that’s also part of the game. Lol My aim in writing and performing music is to do to others as I have had done to me. Lol What I mean is, when I first heard, my now favorite rapper of all time, Scarface aka Face Mob aka Brad Jordan. I was young and hadn’t yet experienced ANY of what he was saying but I could close my eyes, and I felt I was witnessing everything he was saying like some Meta glasses. Lol
Last but definitely not least I’d like to thank GOD for all he has done and is doing in my life, all the lives of those I love and connect with, also that I may be able to use my talents with purpose and impact. Thank you at Nashville Voyager for this great opportunity, the opportunity to tell my story and leave my legacy. Bless up!
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?
Obstacles in this music life include those similar to normal life. Like the journey of setting and reaching your goals, sometimes support, finances as well. This isn’t free, monetarily or the priceless cost of time and effort, etc. As in life and most everything it’s just part of it. No need to complain. Just keep pushing, praying and stay locked in.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I began in the moving industry near 20 years ago at a small level and overtime increased my involvement until I decided to get the pie instead of some slices or at worst, the crumbs. I specialize in residential moves but also offer commercial services. Being in control of my time and being my own boss was necessary & only natural for me. I provide quality services and a great relationship with all my clients. My track record speaks for itself, and my general personality wouldn’t allow anything less.
As my slogan says, “Our clients know us as family”.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I truly believe my purpose is to heal others by way of music, wisdom, transference of positive energy and example
Contact Info:
- Website: https://unitedmasters.com/a/mrmasterfte
- Instagram: @mrmasterfte
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/MrMaster-FTE
- Twitter: https://x.com/MrMasterFTE
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MrMasterFTE
