Published: Tuesday - November 20, 2007
Words by Alexander Fruchter
Marvo (Photo: Supreme Money Markers)
There is no such thing as "good enough" for Marvo. The MC from the Windy City doesn't just aim to be great, but rather, "the greatest." With goals as lofty as the skyscrapers that dictate Chicago's skyline, Marvo is gaining attention in his hometown and beyond.
Despite turning out artists who sit atop the charts, as well as remain in the tape decks of "real underground heads," the city has gained a reputation as a city of fickle hip-hop fans and artists that would rather fail separately than achieve together. It stretches beyond hip-hop music and into the fabric of the city itself. In Chi-town, people are either a Cubs fan or a Sox fan. They're from the North Side, South Side, or West Side, and they're pumping Common, Kanye, and Lupe, or Twista, Do Or Die, or Crucial Conflict. But Chicago is much more than those "either or" strokes and Marvo is planning to paint a fresh masterpiece.
"My album is a movie, a motion picture starring Chicago and Marvo. It's the untold story of America's 'Second City,' Chicago. It's my journal of a young black man's struggle to survive, with his back against the wall," the rapper explains. "Before you can understand Marvo, I have to first introduce you to the Chicago mentality. Chicago is a city built on power. Mentioning Harold's chicken, name and block dropping, that's cool, but its way more to it than that. Let's take a walk thru Chicago / Where the youth desperately need a leader to follow / N----s run, duck and hide, when you dumping hollows / We live for today, we don't expect to see tomorrow. The world has only seen glimpses of what Chicago is like. Growing up here is like no other place in the world! Our story is bigger than the city itself and I gotta make sure that story gets out here."
Raised on the gritty streets of Harvey, Illinois, Marvo has been overcoming odds his entire life. Left to raise himself at a young age, the rapper succumbed to youthful indiscretion, dropped out of school, and hustled his way through his teenage years. It was on the streets that Marvo did his homework, learning from lifelong hustlers and criminals. After living on the streets brought him close to death, Marvo quickly traded a life on the streets for a life in the studio. He found a new professor in the hip-hop world by the name of Juice, Chicago's underground superhero. Much in the way that Marvo had to grow up quickly on the streets, rapping alongside Juice made the MC improve rapidly in the booth.
"I always enjoy working in the studio with Juice because it's a challenge. We are both real competitive. He forces me to push my skills to the limit, because I know if I don't bring it, he is going to set me on fire lyrically. He's a great mentor. For example, when we did the 'Stay Chi' joint, he called me up and told me he wanted me to come down to the studio and jump on a song," Marvo recalls. "So I get there and he throws the beat on to let me hear his verse and I'm like 'Damn' and Juice is just sitting on the couch with this arrogant smirk on his face, like 'Yeah, try to top that,' so I had to go in there and jap out. He always puts pressure on me to bring my best."
Older, more mature, and with a family to take care of, Marvo is more determined than ever to break out of Chicago's underground scene, and to do so by avoiding the mistakes that other Chicago artists have made. "I put my all into my music. I'm not in this game to be rich and famous. I'm in this to make history. 10 years, 20 years, 50 years from now, when they talk about hip-hop, when they talk about Chicago, they're gonna have to bring my name up. They're gonna have to talk about the Marvo Era," he states. "Somebody told me the other day that I'm the next King of Chicago and my response to that is, 'I am the Voice of Chicago!' See, it's not just about how many sales you got, it's about the message you are giving to those however many million people that are buying your CD."
Marvo's passion is illustrated inside of a clever concept joint that seems humorous on the surface, but underneath it all, Marvo is anything but joking. His buzzing new track, "Dreams of Kidnapping An Industry Exec," from his latest mixtape, Respect & Live Vol. 2, has been making its rounds on hip-hop websites and received praise at every stop along the way.
Download Flash
"Dreams of Kidnapping An Industry Exec" - Marvo (press play to hear the track)
The industry has elicited many emotions from the artist nicknamed M11. He's had good deals turn sour, and is tired of people talking smoke and playing games. But his experiences, on and off record, have shaped who he is today and made him ready to finally seize the spotlight.
"If there is one thing that I have learned in life, it's that patience is a virtue. Easy come, easy go. I have grown so much over these last few years, as a man and as an artist. The bamboo tree spends five years growing its roots before it begins to grow out of the ground, but then it grows to be over a 100 feet tall in just six months. The tree that grows to be the tallest and the strongest is the tree with the deepest roots/ That's how I'm treating my career, instead of just trying to jump out there," he says. "I'm like a tree, inside me you can see all types of growth rings and each one is a story all on its own. My past developed my present, which enabled me to plan my future. A few years ago, I wasn't ready. I would have been happy with just the money. Today I'm all about greatness, respect and power. Now I'm building the Great Pyramids. Centuries from now people will still be wondering how I did it."
The sky is the limit for Marvo, figuratively and literally. While he stands small in stature, his voice, and dreams present a challenge for anyone looking to overshadow him. With his Supreme Money Makers Team, Marvo is on a mission. "It's all about being Supreme with my team," he states. "We are always trying to figure out new ways to separate ourselves from the rest of the industry. We stay trying to top whatever else is out there. It's about making the music great, first and foremost, but also the artwork, the packaging, the marketing, the promotion, the deal, everything. We strive to be the best. That's what Marvo and Supreme Money Makers are all about. Hot music changes chart positions, GREAT music changes emotions, lives and history."
Scouting Report
At first glance it's easy to underestimate Marvo, and many in Chicago have overlooked him. However, that fact gives Marvo shock value as he is able to shine with a classic delivery and adept lyrics. His voice, flow and cadence is a conglomeration of his influences, and has tinges of Mos Def meets Notorious B.I.G. At just 20 years old, he has a way to go to catch up to those two. But with tracks such as "Countdown," "Dreams of Kidnapping An Industry Exec," and "Just Breathe," he is definitely on his way.
Where Marvo excels is through concepts. Along with the aforementioned "Dreams," this MC is a great storyteller, who's upcoming album is packed with concept-driven songs in the manner of "Step Into The Bad Side" and "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" on Respect & Live Vol. 2.
He has gained credibility across Chicago's musical lines, another spot where rappers falter. His early work with Juice has gained him acceptance in Chi-town's underground, and collaborations with Twista, Shawnna, and GLC also opened him up to both a mainstream audience, as well as those scattered throughout Chicago's streets.
Marvo's latest project is Respect & Live Vol. 2 and he is currently working on a full-length album, which he hopes to wrap up in 2008.
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