An aspiring rapper whose song went viral during her stint behind bars has revealed her post-prison plans after becoming a free woman this week.
Phyllis Sentiva Ochoa, 35, whose rap song San Antonio blew up over the last few years, was released on parole from the Hilltop Unit in Gatesville, Texas, on July 15 following a 10-year sentence.
Ochoa was convicted in 2016 for aggravated robbery and human trafficking of a minor, receiving a 16-year sentence behind bars.
Following her long-awaited release from prison Wednesday, Ochoa opened up to My San Antonio about what she’s looking forward to most in her newfound liberty.
Admittedly, Ochoa is most excited about the simple pleasures of life, which include eating steak and pizza, watching The Walking Dead, and looking up at the sky without ‘brick walls, fences, or razor wires’ blocking her view.
She added that the smell of rivers and lakes were also among the things she had missed most and is looking forward to feeling her bare feet on the grass.
Most importantly, Ochoa said she plans to reconnect with her now-19-year-old son, Joseph, with whom she hasn’t spoken since her conviction.
‘I’m going to reach out to him, but I’m going to respect his feelings. He is my son. I want to see him. I want to be a better mother to him. I want to be a part of his life,’ she said.
Phyllis Sentiva Ochoa, 35, whose rap song San Antonio blew up over the last few years, was released on parole from the Hilltop Unit in Gatesville on July 15 following a 10-year sentence
Her track, released under her stage name PMuney, has been used countless times as a backing track for videos of the Texas city
The song became an unofficial ‘anthem’ for the city, and was even played at San Antonio Spurs NBA games to excite the crowd
Ochoa’s viral rap song, released under her stage name PMuney in 2015, has been used countless times as a backing track for videos of the Texas city.
The video, which shows Ochoa freestyling in a chair over a beat, gained half a million views on YouTube alone and was used in thousands of videos on other platforms.
As a result, the song became an unofficial ‘anthem’ for the city and was even played at San Antonio Spurs NBA games to excite the crowd.
Ochoa said the tune was released during the hardest time in her life, telling My San Antonio that she is ‘looking forward to putting the darkest parts’ of her life behind her.
‘I love San Antonio, so I will always sing the song, but I’m not going to be that character anymore,’ she told the outlet. ‘If anybody is looking for PMuney, they’re not going to find her because she’s dead.’
Ochoa spoke about her childhood trauma and troubled early life that ultimately led to her prison time.
At 16, she became pregnant with Joseph and dropped out of John Jay High School.
After multiple failed relationships, which she described as unhealthy and abusive, Ochoa turned to stripping and prostitution in a desperate bid to make ends meet.
‘I hated it, but I didn’t know what else to do,’ she said.
Her circumstances worsened after meeting a man who introduced her to crystal meth and later trafficked her.
She began selling drugs, stealing cars, and doing anything for money, racking up multiple felony charges by 2015 as a result.
She claimed she was unaware that one of the girls she pulled into prostitution was 16 at the time.
‘I believe like me sitting here in prison, it’s fair, and it’s just for the things that I’ve done,’ she added.
Ochoa was convicted in 2016 for aggravated robbery and human trafficking of a minor, receiving a 16-year sentence
Following her long-awaited release from prison, Ochoa is most excited about the simple pleasures of life, which include eating steak and pizza, watching The Walking Dead, and looking up at the sky without ‘brick walls, fences, or razor wires’ blocking her view
The popular rap track was recorded in her mother’s Arizona residence while Ochoa was on the run for charges she was eventually convicted for.
‘I was like, “I miss my city” so I’m about to drop a hook about San Antonio and let everybody know that I love them,’ she told KSAT 12.
Over the years, Ochoa said she has been recognized by fellow inmates and prison staff, received fan mail, and even a few offers from record labels.
Despite this, she claims she has gotten no royalties from the song’s usage.
Outside of prison, Ochoa hopes to share what she has learned from her journey and show others the possibility of changing for the better.
‘I’m no longer PMuney or Peanut. I’m a child of God. I’m smart and funny. I’m artistic, brave, compassionate and charismatic,’ she said.
