In an era of ‘for bland instant rapper…add a big name producer, bubble gum raps and hot water,’ tradition seems to reign supreme in Hip-Hop. The old adage - if we don't change our direction we're likely to end up where we're headed - continues to prove true. Let the old school tell it, Hip-Hop is dead. Unfortunately, the old school can’t see the forest from the trees. Hip-Hop ain’t dead, it’s old. And while nobody can go back and start a new beginning, anyone can start today and make a new ending. Allow me to introduce the future…his name is Marky.
Born Marcus Plater 19 years ago, Marky was raised by a whole village in the mean streets of the Kenilworth section of the Washington, DC. Despite being surrounded by violence, drugs and crime, Marky held himself with a regal air and by-passed the street-dream for something more real, music. At the ripe old age of 11, Marky began developing his ‘b-boy stance’ while making a conscious decision to make his mark in the nation’s capital first.
Since DC rappers did not have their own sound like New York, the Dirty South, and the West Coast, Marky began to fashion music that embraced the sound identified with DC’s go-go music. Knowing that it’s better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation; Marky effectively spearheaded a DC movement that shifted from imitating traditional Hip-Hop music to songs that reflected lyrical-based content with percussively-dense go-go origins.
As a rapper, Marky is a visionary storyteller who helps Hip-Hop lovers see something in Hip-Hop that they might not have been seen before. As a song writer, Marky pulls from his true-life hardships to create songs that communicate a number of different messages. Some editorial, some reportage, some advertisements and some…sport. As a product of DC, he has the edge and street credibility to resonate with the purist and the thug, suburbia and the streets, all in one.
Thanks to a lot of hard work, Marky soon began to generate a tremendous buzz and eventually popped up on the radars of industry heavyweights including executives at Interscope, Atlantic Records and Def Jam. In 2006, Ken Williams introduced Marky to Mark “TarBoy” Williams of the St. Louis based production duo Trackboyz, who've crafted hits for the likes of Nelly (Airforce Ones), Jermaine Dupri, J-Kwon and Trina. Impressed by Marky's signature flow, Trackboyz wasted no time signing the aspiring rapper to their upstart label. Unfortunately, Marky was forced to sever ties with the Trackboyz due to creative differences a short time later.
Unfazed and determined, Marky continued to sharpen his flow while showcasing his colorful personality through his music. He knew things would happen when it was time for them to happen. Besides, a happy ending can’t come in the middle of the story…or can it?
Enter Kenny Burns, CEO of the boutique label Studio 43 and music industry veteran who has worked with superstars such as Mariah Carey, Kanye West, Akon, Dream and Monica to name a few. Upon being introduced to Marky by his sister/business partner Robin Lyon and hearing his sound, Kenny told him, “I’m gonna put you in the studio with and see what we can come up with.” Marky smiled.
Marky’s first single “Sheila”, is currently on tap with a full studio album tentatively set to be released in ’08.
With several other projects on the way, Marky and Studio 43 are set to prove that change starts when someone sees the next step. Guess who’ll be stepping past wherever you expect us to end up?
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