Matthew Lopez (born October 30, 1989), known professionally as Aston Matthews (stylized as A$ton Matthews), is a Guatemalan-American rapper from Los Angeles, California. In 2014, he began to gain recognition following the release of his second mixtape, A$ton 3:16. Matthews is also a part of the Los Angeles hip-hop trio Cutthroat Boyz alongside fellow Californian rappers Vince Staples and Joey Fatts.
Early life
Matthew Lopez was born October 30, 1989, in the city of Los Angeles, California. Born of Guatemalan immigrants, Lopez spent much of his formative years between Los Angeles, Hawaiian Gardens, Gardena, and Carson, California. Lopez, a self described multi-sport athlete, played varsity football throughout the duration of his high school career. It is during this time that he became a member of the West Side Pirus, a faction of the Bloods based in Carson, California. On May 31, 2008, Lopez was involved in an altercation at a house party where he was shot in his heart by a .40 caliber bullet, breaking his ribs, and tearing his stomach in the process. After making a full recovery, Lopez began to write and record songs about his life.
Career
2009-11: Career beginnings and NOFVCKSGIVEN
Following his recovery Lopez would practice writing, rapping, and recording one song a day for two years before releasing his first solo project. On November 4, 2011, Lopez would release "NOFVCKSGIVEN." Lopez described his approach to the project in an interview with VICE as, "I'm just gonna go in on a bunch of beats, make some random crazy shit and see what the fuck happens." NOFVCKSGIVEN largely narrated the events leading up to Lopez's shooting, as well as describing it from his own point of view on the song "May 31st" which also featured then rising rap artist ScHoolboy Q. When he began to rap himself, Lopez primarily studied the flow and musical patterns of Eminem, also citing Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, G-Unit, and The Diplomats as direct influences to his style.
Prior to recording NOFVCKSGIVEN, Lopez would be introduced to Vince Staples through a mutual friend. Staples and Lopez would go on to collaborate on numerous occasions, ultimately appearing together on Lopez's first project. After the release of NOFVCKSGIVEN Staples would introduce Lopez to A$AP Yams who admired Lopez's unique rap style and wanted to further develop him as an artist.
2011-12: Cutthroat Boyz and Versace Ragz
After forming Cutthroat Boyz with rising west coast rap artist Vince Staples and Joey Fatts, Yams would go on to manage Lopez and oversee his next project entitled "Versace Ragz." The title served as an ode to New Orleans rap legend Juvenile's sophomore album Solja Rags. The project furthermore paid tribute as the cover art featured a hand drawn Lopez in the style of early 1990s New Orleans rap album covers made popular by Cash Money Records.
On August 4, 2012, Lopez would release Versace Ragz. The project featured rising New York artists Da$h, RetcH, and Bodega Bamz, as well as Vince Staples. Three weeks later on August 24, 2012, Lopez would premiere his debut music video 'Triple HHH' the video featured both Staples and Fatts, marking the first appearance together on film as Cutthroat Boyz.
On November 6, 2012, Lopez released a remix to the project's lead single "Mini Van Dan" featuring A$AP Nast, Danny Brown, and Flatbush Zombies. A week later on November 12, 2012, Lopez would release an official video to "Hell in a Cell".
Since Versace Ragz release, Lopez has been regarded as being a pioneer in experimental gangster rap as his subject matter reflected a mixture of gang life and the implementation of WWE Wrestling references. Lopez has often referred to himself in song as several monikers in homage to wrestlers including; Brick Flair, his most popular moniker in tribute to Ric Flair, Mini Van Dan, in tribute to Rob Van Dam, Big Poppa Pump, in tribute to Scott Steiner, Eddie Guerrero's Hologram, in tribute to the late Eddie Guerrero, and Latino Heat, also in tribute to the late Eddie Guerrero.
2013-14: A$ton 3:16 and Touring
Following the success of Versace Ragz, Lopez would join A$AP Rocky on the European leg of his Live.Love.A$AP Tour in May 2013. Lopez was then announced to make a feature appearance on A$AP Ferg's debut album Trap Lord before joining his first nationwide tour 'Turnt x Burnt' as a supporting act the following Fall.
On January 16, 2013, Lopez sold out his first show at The Roxy alongside Staples and Fatts, marking the group's first performance and appearance together on stage as The Cutthroat Boyz.