Roc Marciano
An MC and producer from New York City's tradition-rich Long Island, Roc Marciano is well-respected for his moody, claustrophobic beats and stream-of-consciousness, heavily stylized lyrics. Briefly affiliated with Flipmode Squad early in his career, he formed the short-lived crew the U.N. during the early 2000s before going solo, earning massive acclaim for his self-produced 2010 full-length Marcberg. Collaborating with rappers and producers like Q-Tip, Ka, and Action Bronson, subsequent releases such as 2013's Marci Beaucoup and 2018's RR2: The Bitter Dose featured more experimental production as well as sharper lyricism. Numerous collaborations appeared during the early 2020s, including 2022's The Elephant Man's Bones, produced by the Alchemist, and 2023's Nothing Bigger Than the Program with Jay Worthy.
Born Rakeem Myer, Long Island hip-hop steered his musical vision, approach, and tastes as a youth growing up in Hempstead. He cited Long Island greats such as Public Enemy, EPMD, De La Soul, and the lesser-known Grand Daddy I.U., as well as new-school pioneers Nas and the Notorious B.I.G. But it was Busta Rhymes, originally from Long Island's Leaders of the New School, who gave Marciano his biggest break. Busta was given a tape of early Marciano music, and the platinum-selling rapper decided to sign Marciano to his Flipmode label, which, at the time, was one of rap's foremost artist-owned imprints. Marciano appeared on Busta's 2000 full-length Anarchy, on which he traded verses with Wu-Tang's Raekwon and Ghostface ("The Heist").
Around this time, Marciano formed the U.N., made up of Dino Brave, Laku, and Mike Raw -- all high-school classmates at Long Island's Uniondale. Together, they appeared on Pete Rock's PeteStrumentals and released their buzzworthy mixtape Strength & Honor and the 2004 LP UN or U Out? Soon, though, the crew disintegrated; they found it hard to get industry traction. Marciano forged on by dropping verses on GZA's Pro Tools and Marco Polo's Port Authority. In 2010, he released Marcberg, his official solo debut album. He handled all production, and wrote and rhymed all but one verse. It was hailed by New York underground hip-hop royalty. The following year, he teamed up with the Alchemist and Oh No for the Greneberg EP. LUV NY, a supergroup set featuring Marciano beside the likes of Kool Keith and A.G., was released in July 2012. A few months later, Marciano issued his second proper album, Reloaded, which was mostly self-produced but also included the Alchemist as well as Q-Tip. Critical praise nearly equaled the level of Marcberg.
Marci Beaucoup appeared at the end of 2013, with many features (including frequent contributors Ka and Knowledge the Pirate, plus Freeway, Guilty Simpson, Action Bronson, Evidence, and Cormega). Marciano spent several years lying low, but was featured on a track from De La Soul's And the Anonymous Nobody. He finally emerged in 2017 with his fourth album, the independently released Rosebudd's Revenge, which included few guests but more outside production (from beatmakers including Knxwledge, the Arch Druids, and Mushroom Jesus). This kickstarted a prolific run which continued with no less than three full-lengths in 2018: the murky, electronic-influenced RR2: The Bitter Dose, Behold a Dark Horse, and the DJ Muggs-produced KAOS. The Prequel, a brief collection of rarities, appeared in 2019. The year ended with the release of the full-length Marcielago.
Reasonable Drought (with Stove God Cooks) and solo effort Mt. Marci both surfaced in 2020. Several additional collaborations followed. Delgado (with Flee Lord) and Ekphrasis (with Bronze Nazareth) both appeared in 2021. The following year, Marciano released Blame Kansas (with T.F. Mephux) and the acclaimed The Elephant Man's Bones (with the Alchemist). He then took the producer's chair for the 2023 effort Nothing Bigger Than the Program with Canadian rapper Jay Worthy.
© Vincent Thomas & Paul Simpson /TiVo
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Marciology
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by PIMPIRE RECORDS - MARCI ENTERPRISES on Mar 29, 2024
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Elephant Man's Bones
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by ALC - Marci Enterprises - EMPIRE on Aug 26, 2022
Pitchfork: Best New Music24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Marcberg Deluxe
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Fat Beats Records on May 4, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Elephant Man's Bones The ALC Edition
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by ALC - Marci Enterprises - EMPIRE on Aug 26, 2022
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Nothing Bigger Than The Program
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by GDF Records - Marci Enterprises - EMPIRE on May 26, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Reloaded
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Marci Enterprises on Dec 25, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1000 Mile Stare
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Nicholas Craven Productions on Oct 15, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Scarface N***a
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Fat Beats Records on Dec 14, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Snow (Remix) [feat. Sean Price]
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Fat Beats Records on Dec 14, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Marcielago
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Marci Enterprises on Dec 15, 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Reasonable Drought
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Babygrande Records, Inc. on Mar 27, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rosebudd's Revenge
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Marci Enterprises on Feb 21, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mt. Marci
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Marci Enterprises on Nov 30, 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
RR2: The Bitter Dose
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Marci Enterprises on Mar 9, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Delgado (Deluxe Edition)
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by LordMobb, LLC - Pimpire INTL on Oct 8, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Adventure Time
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Two Twelve Technologies under exclusive license to ONErpm on Mar 31, 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Nothing Bigger Than The Program
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by GDF Records - Marci Enterprises - EMPIRE on May 26, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Behold a Dark Horse
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Marci Enterprises on Oct 4, 2018
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Pimpire Strikes Back
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Marci Enterprises on Mar 27, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Pimpire Strikes Back
Hip-Hop/Rap - Released by Fat Beats Records on Nov 5, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo