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Ten years ago, the New York hip-hop scene was in a transitional period.
But Long Islands Roc Marciano kept plugging away and upended all of it.
Rapping in a one-sentence staccato, he was subtle and intricate without diving into a word salad.
It gave me the confidence to go ahead and do what I do now.
So you learn a business model that helps you capitalize on yourself.
Its not about being more than anyone else but rather about just making sure you maximize you.
So when youre in the system, I didnt get to do it much.
Ive always thought that.
Your music also uses pretty subversive boom-bap production.
You had samples of movie scenes onReloadedbut not famous ones; they were more of these B-list classics.
Like theGottiTV movie on Two Zips.That mirrored the vibe of your music.That was on purpose.
It is all related.
Taking different styles, in music and movies, it is all the same.
What did your hometown teach you?Taught me everything.
I still remember so much.
You come from a place where people dont have much.
You come from the hustle.
I didnt want to wait, wanted to do this now.
I am only thinking about what I can do to increase my artistry.
Its never what happened in the past for me; its about my legacy and how we can increase.
It has been 12 years since you droppedMarcberg.
What about that album are you most proud of?My sound that I have.
I always knew I was gonna bring that to the game.
And Im just accomplished without needing that.
So I just really wanted to make the best music I could make while being true to myself.
And when hip-hop was in such a bad space, nobody was trying to fill that void.
You know, a lot of people tried to catch a quick hit.
So I was looking at it, like,I know how my first come out.
What do you see yourself doing in the next ten years?I want to continue with the artwork.
I want to do soul, R&B, and different kinds of rap.
I listen to everything, some jazz.
I want to constantly be in the state of discovery.
Were going to get into more shit.
FromMarcbergon, I always wanted to make music I want to hear.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
