The shadows have MC Marlon D coming back for more
July 28, 2016
By Alexander Cane
Ā Ā Ā Driving down busy streets of Ocean Beach, we head for Marlonās show at Gallagherās Irish Pub. On the way over, he had explained to me what his next step is for both him and his music, giving me listens to new tracks. I met him briefly beforehand and connected on the music level. He was interested in hanging out with a music journalist and I was more than happy to promote him for his shows. Shadows of My Reflection 3 is his work in progress and one that would wrap up a trilogy ten years in the making, the anniversary of its first admission. Marlon being a seasoned veteran, heās outgoing and collected. He is busy just enjoying the moment.
Ā Ā Ā After the show, I give a glance back at his musical output. What I like most about Marlonās art is that itās balanced look at lifeās ups and downs. Its set of lyrical and musical momentum expresses the truth of the matter but gives new perspectives from all sides. Mind you, this review is coming from a guy whoās been raised on alternative rock and pop tunes from the middle class suburbs of San Francisco. The funky tunes give way to deft stated measures such as in āMy Mind Playing Tricks on Meā The songs he raps pump up the listeners like itās a hunt for whatās true and worthy. Here is an interview in which he took a look at his past and what he hopes for the future.
Q: I noticed you have a few collaborators for this upcoming release, Shadows of My Reflection 3. How did they aid the creative process? Ā
A: Ā Ā Ā Ā Before I even reached out to them and they reached out to me, Iāve been plotting this album for awhile. After I dropped The Deductible on January 2015, I wasted no time to get back to the studio and work on this. I say Iām about 60% done. Itās my ninth album for the past ten years and itās also the third sequel of my first album. I wanted to make it special. And it would mean a lot personally to me if I drop it before 2016 ends so I can celebrate the ten year anniversary of my first album. Iāve been lucky to meet some talented producers Iāve been working with for the past decade. We always stay in touch and catch up on ideas and whatās going in our lives. Some are really good friends of mine outside music because of just building through out the years and we just have that chemistry. Even if itās sent back and forth through emails, they know what to expect from me and I know what I can expect from them. And all of them gave me their best work and it inspired me to really concentrate on making good music. I didnāt want to let them down. It kinda puts the pressure on me to make it dope because theyāre so sick. They always send me a batch of beats, and it helps when the beats match the concepts I have in my head. My studio engineers in San Diego, and Norwalk have been really good to me and treated my album with care. Usually itās just me and the engineer in there tweaking the sound until Iām happy. I feel really blessed with my production team right now.
Q: In the underground hip hop scene, you've been performing quite often. How do you think it's going for you and your music?
A: Ā Ā Ā Ā I got a chance to tour with Bonnie Blue last November, and I got a chance to perform in places like San Francisco and Arizona for the first time. I enjoyed performing at other cities that have no idea who I am. They showed me a lot of love. Stuff like that keeps me going and reassures me that Iām doing something right. And some of the best producers Iāve ever worked with are producers I meet at the shows. I met a lot of great artists and producers in āFrisco and Phoenix and weāre in touch. They helped out with this album. I got a chance to open for Scarface and Devin the Dude recently. That was an honor. I still love opening for the legends I look up to. Iām still a fan at the end of the day. I try to stay involved in the community still by doing benefit shows for cancer or toy drives for the kids. And lately, Iāve been helping out plotting tours and booking shows for artists, and in return I am a part of the tour. Iāve been learning the business side of things a lot more. I know that itās all preparation when I drop this album and go on my promo run. Iām just trying to reach longevity. Making sure I keep myself around good energy and creative people. Iām back on a three day run with Hip Hop Society this April and weāre hitting SD, LA, and āFrisco again. Iām excited. And I am part of another tour in the summer. Couple spot dates in Northern and Southern Cali.
Q: It's been a year since your last major album The Deductible and it's now your tenth year making music, were you concerned about how the world has changed since?
A: Ā Ā Ā Ā The world changed a lot these past ten years. And I work with kids so of course Iām really concerned about where humanity is heading to. Technology is killing us, police is killing us, the presidential election is a joke, the future of America is fucked up. As an artist, I have a responsibility to make music from my perspective on these things. I donāt have a family of my own, but if I did, I feel like my kids arenāt safe. And all these thoughts are definitely addressed on Shadows 3.
Ā Q: How has it been making music, album to album, year to year, what has changed?
A: Ā Ā Ā Ā I would say the first four albums, I would come with the rhymes prepared but then after that, everything is written on the spot. Nowadays Iām so busy working two jobs, I gotta find time to write when I can just to practice. Itās just a way for me to keep my mind sharp. But the day of the studio session is the day I write songs on the spot. And as far as production, Iām still picky as ever. Producers always send me beats and I drive myself crazy picking though them. And the one thing that hasnāt changed is that I always listen to the classic hip hop albums that I grew up on. If I canāt find any inspiration in the new music now, I always revisit the albums that made me love hip hop in the first place anyway. I always listen to Biggie when hip hop gets boring because both of his albums are flawless. Itās like a template of what hip hop albums should sound like to me, know what Iām saying? All that shit helps me get into the zone.
Ā Q: Music is valued a little differently nowadays then let's say even ten years ago, now it's all about streaming. What do you think about the music industry today?
A: Ā Ā Ā Ā Itās the perfect time to be an independent artist and be in complete control. Creatively and business-wise, I love being in complete control. I think the internet and social media gave us the tool to put out our own product quickly but hip hop headsā short attention span can get us lost in the clutter but good music will always be distinct. And as far as marketing and branding, independent artists rely on the internet. Itās not the only way but itās the fastest way. The old school hip hop head in me still believe in building a cult following through shows and I still believe that good music will spread through word of mouth. I think the truth still works, the truth still connects people. I just wanna make good music and block out the distractions because at the end of the day, I just wanna be judged for the music. Itās not a popularity contest to me, I just want my music to be dope.
Q: Where and when did you first discover your talent?
A: Ā Ā Ā Ā I donāt think I was born with this talent, I think this talent is always something that I had to work at since I was 15. And Iām still trying to perfect my craft. Iām 31 now so Iāve been trying to polish my craft for 16 years. And I will stop working at it when I drop dead [laughs]. Ā I think I surprise myself that Iām still doing this and I am growing with my music. I canāt talk about the same things I spoke about when I was 19. I really enjoy making music about being an adult who is responsible but also doesnāt have his shit together at the same time but still make it sound cool and hip hop. I wanna make music about hating your boss but make it sound hip hop still. I donāt have all the answers in life and I donāt know it all but Shadows 3 is like Iām figuring it all out loud with you guys. My closest friends think Iām funny and I think my sense of humor is displayed on this album a lot more. I rap from the perspective of Marlon Daito. Itās who the fuck I really am, wrong or right. But I just wanna make sure the beats are dope haha.
Ā Q: Whatās up with your love for San Francisco? You go back there on your three day three show streak coming up, do you have some good road stories?
A: Ā Ā Ā Ā All I know is that I didnāt want to leave Frisco. I just wanted to run away and never wanted to leave. I wanted to start over my whole life there haha. The whole road trip with Bonnie Blue and Natty the Lioness was fun, we ate a lot of junk food and bumped 90s music in my Civic. We were so drunk by the end of the night, shouts to Mic Doja for letting us crash. As soon we passed Oakland, we just started bumping E-40 and Too Short just to get in the vibe. It was the most fun, tiring, quick turn around trip from Oxnard to Frisco haha.
Live show footage:Ā
https://www.facebook.com/mcmd805/videos/10153419282371711/