Now, after building an empire out of the Calliope Projects that made him a global superstar, Master P is putting away the mic and picking up a whistle. Holiday is looking beyond even that: The No Limit Records founder has said that his "last and final show" will be at the Essence Festival in New Orleans in 2025, officially capping his career in music and kicking off his new era as "Coach P."
The announcement marks both a goodbye and a return. Master P, born Percy Miller, is assuming the position of President of Basketball Operations for the University of New Orleans men's basketball program with a specific vision: revamping the Privateer program and investing in the future of city youth.
"It was time," P said in an emotional interview with WDSU. "Master P, goodbye; Coach P, hello,"
The legacy of Master P in hip-hop is tremendous. His 1998 album 'MP Da Last Don' entered the Billboard album chart at No. 1, eventually selling more than four million copies, and helped shape a golden age of Southern rap. Under the No Limit banner, he introduced the world to artists such as Mystikal, C-Murder, Mia X, Silkk the Shocker, and Soulja Slim, turning gritty street narratives into platinum plaques.
But Master P was a mogul; from music to fashion, real estate to film, he constructed a brand to signify hustle, ownership, and empowerment. The Louisiana Legislature went so far as to designate June 11 "Master P Day" to recognize his contributions to the state, and he was recently enshrined on the NOLA Walk of Fame.
I grew up in the Calliope Projects, living with my grandparents," he remembered. My dad was a workhorse. He showed me what hard work was; It's been nothing but a blessing.
While fans may be sad to miss him on stage, Master P's circle knows the story behind this move, which has played out over the years. A former college basketball player and, briefly, professional one himself, he has spent the last two decades coaching through his program, P Miller's Ballers. That program has nurtured stars like DeMar DeRozan and Jalen Suggs, evidence that his influence extends well past the recording booth.
With UNO, he's looking to change lives, not just win games. "To be a coach here and just be able to save these kids' lives. Take them off the street. Then help them finance their degree at a D1 school. That's all so important to me," he said.
From selling over 100 million records to molding New Orleans' next generation of leaders, Master P is at it again, changing the game and, this time, in it. As the 2025 Essence Festival approaches, fans get one final opportunity to see a living legend on the stage. But let's take another word for ending, maybe "tip-off" for Coach P.
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