It's an exciting time to be Marc-Baze. He kicked off the summer by releasing his latest EP "Marco 7:13" and followed that up with a performance at the Usher's New Look Disruptivator Summit in Atlanta Georgia, for Grammy Award winner, Usher's nonprofit organization. Stereotype sat down with him to talk about the release.

WHAT INSPIRED THE TITLE?

My birthday is July 13th. So I knew I wanted to release the EP on my birthday. Initially the title was going to be July 13. I was thinking about what the cover would look like with a simple July 13 title.

I continued to go through the motions and questioned myself on how I can incorporate more of my interests and who I really am into this project. I am a huge wrestling fan, from WWE, to AEW, to even indie wrestling. So, the idea creeped into my head that, maybe I can play off of Austin 3:16. But what would I substitute for Austin.

"Marco-Bazeo" is somewhat of an alter ego. I take on the persona of Marco, when I feel the most free in my art. When I say things in my music that I don't second guess. This version of me is the most confident, the most unapologetic and honest. Ironically, this persona embodies the spirit of Stone Cold Steve Austin. Just like Austin 3:16 is a play on the bible, John 3:16. I also wanted the title to sound a bit Biblical.

Once I wrote it, and made a mock "Marco 7:13" T-Shirt, I knew that was the title.

WHERE DID YOU RECORD THIS ALBUM?:

I recorded this project in 3 different locations. Brooklyn, Atlanta and in my Bedroom.

"Dream World" was recorded at 2E Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
"Conversations With Myself" & "Back" was recorded in my bedroom in Brooklyn.
"Knew What it Was" & "Handed to Me" was recorded in Atlanta, mixed and mastered by DotCom, who is one of Quality Control's (QC) engineer, who's credited on many of Lil Yachty's music, along with Lil Baby, Migos and more.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TRACK? WHY?:

It's tough to pick a favorite song because, I got really personal on all of these songs. But if I am forced to pick a favorite, it would be "Conversations With Myself".

It's one of the most vulnerable songs I've written. The whole process felt like a therapy session. I am also proud of the production. I've always been critical of my production, to the point where I would never get on my own beats. I wanted something that sounded nostalgic and allowed me to vent. "Conversations With Myself" allowed me to do that. Lastly, at the start of my music journey, I would struggle with starting the verse. I would always overthink, how do I introduce my thoughts on this beat. At a certain point, I've studied Prodigy, from Mobb Deep, who some deem to be one of the best verse starters in Hip-Hop.

I couldn't believe that I started the verse so powerful just by being honest. "Conversations with myself, the realest stories that I ever told. Searching for the truth, I end up confronting my inner soul."

Once I said that, I knew I would unpack a slew of thoughts that only lived in my head. By the time I finished the song I was proud of how truthful I was. At the start of the song, it felt like I was gearing up to tear myself down mentally. However, by the end of the song, I was able to reassure myself, and take on a more optimistic theme.

This song also has a voice memo from my mom that I recorded in 2020. I was looking for something that would complete the song, and I stumbled on that voice memo and it worked. All elements of who I am was incorporated into this song.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LINE FROM THE ALBUM?:

I think I provided one of my favorite lines in my previous response. But here's another one for selfish reasons, that many people may not appreciate unless you're a wrestling fan.
"So much heart/Hart, grew up in the dungeon how I learned the ropes." (Conversations With Myself)

The Hart Dungeon is the wrestling school that trained and provided one of the most prestigious wrestling families in Wrestling History, "The Hart Foundation". The most popular names affiliated with this school are Bret Hart, Owen Hart, Stu Hart, Jim Neidhart. Hopefully, the people understand and appreciate the line better after this wrestling history lesson. I amazed myself with how creative I can be when it comes to playing with words.

WHO HELPED MAKE THIS ALBUM WHAT IT IS? WRITERS, PRODUCERS, MUSES, SUPPORT SYSTEM, ETC:

I have to start with God. I am not the most religious person. But, I've been feeling a little more spiritually connected recently. That has allowed me to unlock the God in me.

Next, is me, Marc-Baze. I put myself on a deadline and met it. I had to hold myself accountable in a ways that's been lacking in previous years. I knew what I was capable of, and did not allow anything to push me off the course. I produced 4/5 records on this EP. With me doing that, I proved to myself that I am unstoppable.

Ball SZN, who produced "Handed to Me", has been my go to producer for the last 7 years. He's been an inspiration since he and I linked up in college 7 years ago. For years, I've studied his process, and that has allowed me to find my producer identity.

The engineers that I've worked with Selim, DotCom and Alexey Brooke took the original ideas I had for these songs and amplified my voice in ways that I could not do myself. They are responsible for the clean and professional sound you hear.

My closest friends and family! Those are the people I strive to make proud. Those are the folks I strive to impress with this music. When they appreciate the product nothing else matters.

My mom is my biggest supporter. She hears all of my music first. She's around for the initial idea and supports it from start to finish. I was on a strict budget, and I leaned on her to be my photographer for the EP cover. She had no idea how to work a digital camera. We took a ton of photos and only got one good one out of it after shooting for 2 hours. That one photo became the EP cover. Yes, my mom shot the cover for this EP.

Lastly, life itself. My experiences allow me to grow and write the words that you hear. Often times writing for me is perspective building. We go through these transition periods in life and try to make sense of it. Writing and the completion of a song helps to provide clarity for me.

IF YOU COULD REMIX ANY SONG AND FEATURE ANY ARTIST, WHAT SONG WOULD IT BE AND WHO WOULD YOU FEATURE ON IT?:

I would remix "Dream World" and feature NayXXL. When I made this beat, I said to myself Nay would be proud and would want to get on this.

WHAT'S YOUR DREAM?:

My dream is to be the best version of myself, lead by example and inspire others to do the same. I can't change everyone's perspective on life, but if I have a positive impact on one person, then I've already changed the world. If I can get more people to understand that, then my dream has been fulfilled. It is not on us to reshape the world and convince others to think the way we do, or accept the same values as us. It's on us to be the best version of ourselves in action, not talk. The result, I don't know what that would look like. But, I have faith that it will be positive.

WHAT IS SOME ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO SOMEONE WITH A DREAM?:

Begin Life Under Regular Rules, End Different. We enter this world with social norms already established. Children are pure, then become infiltrated with the social expectations and other things of the world.

Understand your position in life, whether rich, poor, or in between. These cards that were dealt, do not define your path in life. Figure out what you're good at, figure out where the world needs help, and begin to address that area, leading with love, utilizing what you love, and continuing to learn how to love.

INSTAGRAM:

https://www.instagram.com/marc_baze/

TWITTER:

https://twitter.com/MarcBaze

FACEBOOK.COM:

https://www.facebook.com/MarcBazeBV/?ref=bookmarks

WEBSITE:

https://linktr.ee/Marc_Baze

EMBED CODE FOR SPOTIFY:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0aby8IESlHgcTloHfTkhcn?si=buonMle-TcyJ6qKIBrF85w&nd=1

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDIT:

Album Cover - C. Allen
Tracklist - Marc-Baze
Performance Photo - Brandon Malcolm