Songs

Listen to Some Old Roc Marciano & KA Material

blame it on JES7 December 7, 2013
roc-marciano-ka-cover

While we await the arrival of Roc Marci’s Marci Beaucoup LP (Dec. 10) and KA’s collaboration with Marci, Piece Be with You (under the guise of “Metal Clergy”), I decided to compile a list of some older material from the two respected emcees.

The aforementioned Piece Be with You project won’t be the first time the two have paired up together either. Roc provided the production for “Firehouse” (see below for a stream) which appeared on GZA’s 2008 release, Pro Tools while Roc Marci also contributed to the same album with “Short Race” (again, see below). And more recently Marci appeared on KA’s cult classic Grief Pedigree and the more recent The Night’s Gambit, while KA shows up on Marci’s Marcberg and Reloaded.

Brownsville’s KA is no stranger or new comer to Hip-Hop. The talent with a pen and pad made his debut in the early-to-mid 90s as a part of the original line up of Natural Elements (L-Swift, Mr. Voodoo, Howie Smalls, G-Blass, InTimidator and producer Charlemagne). Although mostly recognized in the underground scenes, NE gave us such classics like “Bust Mine” and “Lyrical Tactics” before KA left and A-Butta was added to the group. KA then went on to form the duo Nightbreed with childhood friend Kev, aka Oddbrawl the Lyrical Juggernaut, eventually disbanding where KA went on to work on solo material, including his first project-for-dolo, Iron Work.

On the b-side, Roc Marci’s story is no different when compared to KA’s. The Strong Island emcee made his debut as a part of The U.N. (no affiliation to Killa Cam & Vado’s group by the same name), when Busta Rhymes – who attended Uniondale High School when he moved to Long Island – discovered the young upstart and enlisted him for a verse on Bussa Bus’ 2000 album, Anarchy. Contrary to the info that’s out there on the internet, Marci and crew – Dino Brave, Mike Raw and Laku – were already recording music under The U.N. brand when Marci signed his deal with Flipmode.

Roc would eventually cross paths with Pete Rock while working out of Green Street studios, which gave rise to a working relationship between Soul Brother # 1. Pete Rock would go on to supply beats for The U.N.’s UN Or U Out – an album that I personally find shares parallels with any album from M.O.P. – which ironically was released through Carson Daly (yes, that Carson Daly) and John Rifkind’s (brother of Steve Rifkind) Fourfivesix Entertainment.

These days, the two talented artists are focused solely on putting out solo material, and much like Nipsey Hussle, epitomize the importance of remaining independent, distributing content on a grassroots level and building relationships with their fans, utilizing a much more intimate standard that’s rarely seen in an industry brimming with cut-throat parasites.

Roc Marciano


Busta Rhymes – The Heist f. Raekwon, Ghostface & Roc Marciano (prod. Large Professor)


GZA – Short Race f. Roc Marciano (prod. Arabian Knight)


Roc Marciano – MCs (prod. Roc Marciano)


Roc Marciano – Scared Straight (prod. Nottz)


Roc Marciano – L.I. Stand Up (prod. Roc Marciano)


The U.N. – Avenue (prod. Pete Rock)


The U.N. – Game of Death (prod. Pete Rock)


The U.N. – Russian Hat Wear (prod. Mahogany)

KA


GZA – Firehouse f. KA (prod. Roc Marciano)


Natural Elements – Everyday (Demo)


Natural Elements – I Got Your Heart (Demo)


Natural Elements – Mayday (off The Lyricist Lounge v. 1) (prod. Charlemagne)


Nightbreed – 2 Roads Out the Ghetto


Nightbreed – Long Time Coming


Nightbreed – Ruckus