Senior finance major and rapper Logan Moore talks a big game on stage during shows. But the Carnegie, Pa., native has earned the right to do so. More than four years after he started rapping with his friends “to be funny” as a junior in high school, Moore, who goes by the stage name Lucius, can say he has opened for stars in the hip-hop industry such as Big K.R.I.T., 3OH!3 and Ace Hood.

“I definitely brag and talk about how I’m the coolest one on campus — that kind of comes with the territory,” Moore said. But Moore is invested in his work, both as a rapper and a student in Pitt’s College of Business Administration. Perhaps surprisingly, he is very down to earth both in person and in his songwriting. 

Lyrically, Moore focuses on positivity and pushing to achieve long-held goals. 

“I try to send a positive message in all of my music, like doing what you love, not stopping because people tell you to,” he said. 

Moore eventually wants his impact to be felt not only in the city of Pittsburgh, but across the nation. 

“My ultimate goal is to get signed to a label and affect the world on a bigger scale,” he said. 

Although he has been performing for a while, Moore just released his first mixtape on Jan. 13. It may have taken him a while to release the album, but he ultimately wanted it to be near-perfect before he did so.

“I tried to have a couple feel-good songs and then a couple serious songs,” Moore said. 

Favorite Oakland pizza shop: I’d have to say Pizza Romano.

Biggest musical inspiration: Definitely Kanye West.

Favorite movie with “The Rock”: The only one I’ve seen is that [“Gridiron Gang”] with the juvenile delinquents. He’s like a corrections officer or something and he starts a football team.

Favorite Pittsburgh venue: I would definitely say Altar Bar. I think it gives the most ability for the artist to interact with the fans. It has a nice lower section, and it has an upper section, as well. 

Favorite place to go for inspiration: Sometimes if I can’t write or whatever, I’ll just, like, walk with my headphones in and kind of zone out. I kind of take a walk and see what happens, I get inspiration from that. Other than that, I don’t really have a special place I go.

Academic building he’d hold a concert in: Probably David Lawrence in one of those big 100 rooms on the right side. It’s the biggest and it has a little stage.  

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