MARCUS SPITS THE TRUTH WEEKLY BLOG

This week I checked in with Marcus about how the new album is going and what he has in store for us.

Lettey: Tell me what your working on this week. 

Marcus: This week I'm working with a couple producers from Michigan. The Seventh, Joose, and Mozaic. When I went to Grand Rapids last week, we all vibed and bounced around ideas. So now we're sending loops back and forth, writing verses, placing sounds in tracks to give the tracks elite sounds, and just being great. Also placed some scratches on the track I produced for Lena Chanel.DJ Omega scratched for it. Much love to him cause everyone was telling me he doesn't fuck with a lot of people.You need people like that, that means they know in detail about being elite. 

I also did a feature with Michigan rapper Famos Aame. He gave me some real, in ya mouth facts in his verse and that song is completed. Been back and forth about whether it should be the single. 

Lettey: Any sneak peaks or clips for the new album coming up? 

Marcus: Um, no more clips until it's in it's entirety. I'll show everyone once it's finished.

Lettey: Do you have any shows coming up or appearances to let the fans know about? 

Marcus: Still no shows right now. I'm gonna work on setting a few things up with local promoters to do shows once the project is done. 

Lettey: What is one thing that has grown you as an artist this week?

Marcus: Simply just doing what I plan to do. I think I'm in cruise mode as far as mixing, placing extras to beef the tracks up, and connecting subject matter. I'm doing pretty good as far as not sounding redundant by being only a rapper who is better than anyone. I like how I'm tapping into my different styles. 

Lettey: Where and how did you get your inspiration while in Michigan? 

Marcus: AGO had an open arm energy soon as I got there. We were just bouncing ideas off of each other. Great recognize great. Easy. 

Lettey: Little change of pace for the fans, what's your favorite food? 

Marcus: My favorite food, hmmm I don't know. I'm allergic to peanuts and shellfish and I don't eat pork, so anything outside of that is cool. Working on dismissing meats and dairies altogether and going straight Vegan, but that's a process. 

Lettey: When life gets stressful, what do you do to unwind and get comfort? 

Marcus: When I'm stressing I meditate on being great, read something informative, talk to my close ones. I used to smoke, but being high started getting boring. So I just tap into my inner great and be. 

Lettey: What would be one major change you would make in the world if you could? 

Marcus: My answer for this question changes all the time, and honestly, I wouldn't change anything. If you know you're born to be great, just be great already. I used to get so caught up and dwelling on the negative and by doing that I attracted the negative to me. So I would just change me for the better. Folks are gonna be bad regardless cause great folks need something to decipher from. 

Check in next week for more questions and answers from Marcus Yates. 

New Projects On The Horizon

Lettey:  What style of music would you say the new project sounds like? 

Marcus:  Good Morning!! It's still in the works but of course it's more empathetic to the listener than Dark Taupe Schemata. For example, A song I'm working on now is more personal about the women (yes plural) that I'm attracted to and how each one of them equally caters to me. (Playa playa) Haha!! Nah but I'm like really sincere and honest about my confusion in this project because that's where I am and that's what makes me wake up and wanna find myself everyday. 

Lettey:  What is inspiring you in this project and what direction are you hoping to go in? 

Marcus: I'm really free with the creative process at this point. Living and jotting down basically. Planning to visit Harlem here soon to eventually live there.

Lettey: . Do you have an idea of when you'll be releasing it? Any new shows coming up?

Marcus: I talked to my brother Jon Bap.. I definitely don't mind my project taking a year or two to be completed. Seriously.. And it's definitely worth the gamble of supporters losing interest and gaining them back. I have nothing but high hopes for this project. Greatness takes time. In between that time, I plan on doing production for Tech N9ne for his upcoming album.. Working and writing with Krizz Kaliko and touring with Krizz Kaliko as well. 

Lettey:  Are you moving to Harlem to connect closer to your neighborhood and to get more inspiration? Marcus: I think it's more to just THINK in a different space. I have family there to reconnect with too. I have 3 songs maybe 4 out of a possible 15 that I wanna do.. And I got all the time in the world to build upon them. 

On a quiet Saturday afternoon, Marcus took some time to share with me some ideas for the new album and where he is at this time in his life. The information was mind opening and will lead Marcus down a new road of discovery, in himself and in music. 

So I asked Marcus, "What is your inspiration for this album and what is running through your mind?"

Marcus had a look in his eyes of self discovery and intuition. He unloaded some information on me that changed my idea of what it means to be a person in this scene. 

"I really have been reading a lot lately, about the black male in America. The book I'm on now is 

The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson. 

I would have talks with my close friends about things that I am seeing. Like how, for example, guns for black males are tools for escape from truth and true mental freedom. It's like the gun IS their confidence tool or compensation for their lack of patience and identity. Also the financial slavery of the black collective. I walk my neighborhood every day. I see check cashing businesses and liquor stores, but I never see these things in the "higher class" neighborhoods. I also observed the black women's role in degrading the black male. Making him feel lesser of a man or subconsciously teasing him by relating with white males because of the scarce opportunities for him in America. I'm starting to understand that this subject matter is a road less traveled because of fear of backlash and or worse. I honestly am embracing the ignorance of my surroundings to see what simple truths I can find within it. I also will be more unified in the production side of the project. 

I'm working with all my friends who appreciate the soul of hip hop." 

This answer really hit the spot. I asked, "Marcus, how do you hope to use your music to change mindsets and our environment?"

Marcus replied, "I just honestly wanna push the boundaries of expressing what you've learned from music. It's the healthiest thing to do and it can save lives!"

"Tell me what you think music can do to change lives and if you could make one big change in your neighborhood what would it be?" asked Lettey. 

Marcus gazed like a man formulating a great plan and said "Music is the noise we hear everyday in perfect harmony, so if it's done right and with good intentions, it can subconsciously bring others together. And I can't name nothing I want to change off the top of my head. I love my neighborhood." 

Lettey takes a moment, pondering her next and final question. Wanting to know much more so choosing her words carefully. "Marcus, with knowledge comes power and responsibility. What do you recommend people do in regards to getting that knowledge and how they should use it. How can music help spread that freedom?" 

Marcus gives himself a moment to truly think this one over. Then replies, "People need to use it in an empathetic way. A helpful way. We know there's gonna be cruel things in the world and that's just there to decipher from. I personally don't wanna be one of those cruel outlets for the people. If you honestly believe in justice, then you need to do it and speak it."

The world we live in will influence our music and our mindset so much. It's good to see people open their mind to what is truly around them without worrying about how P.C. they have to be. I recommend everyone take the time to open your minds to something new today. Truth is Gold! 

Stevie Stone Pictures, Portland OR 2.15.14

Bloody Kutty takes on Portland Oregon! Interview by Lettey Buchanan

Lettey: Tell me how you came about this tour that your currently on, and in Portland tonight? 

Kutty: Well I came about this tour when my dude, Cross Eyed Joe, he’s been booking some shows for me and he’s been reaching out to certain people, certain promoters out here, and got these five shows put together.  Seattle, Eugene, Portland, Spokane, and Albany. I’m gonna be here till I leave Sunday. 

Lettey: Are you looking forward to seeing anything while your in Porltand? 

Kutty: I’ve been here so many times. I’m looking forward to seeing my boy, DJ Chill, and I haven’t seen him in a night. I mean that’s all I really wanna see. I’ve been to any strip club you wanna see out here, and ate at any place you can eat out here. We always come here on tour and perform at the Roseland, its almost like a second home away from home anyway. 

Lettey: Do you have any projects your working on right now? 

Kutty: I am re-manufacturing my Flamez mix tape, cause a lot of my fans been wanting that so we pressed it up with three extra tracks on there. When I get home I gotta do three tracks on the new collabos with Strange Music called Strangulation. I gotta get in the studio and do that and then I’ll be working on a mixed tape that I will be doing, and a Flamez Part Two mixed tapes. So two mixed tapes, as well as getting on the collabos with Strange. 

Lettey: How has working in hip hop changed your life? 

Kutty:  I can guarantee you it’s a lot different than anybody who works a 9-5. This music shit man,  its crazy, it’s a fun thing, the only thing is you be gone from your family a lot. In the end it all pays off, when you get your money in bulk like a musician does, it’s a lot different from having to clock out 9-5, probably in a job you hate being at, but I love doing this. This is me. I am music. I sleep, shit, eat, drink it. You know what I’m saying? Music is my life, so it's paying the bills. I ain't had a job since 2000, so Ive been eating and living off music. So whatever. I wouldn’t trade it in for the world. If everyone could wake up and do whatever they wanted to do man, the world would be a better place.  

Lettey: Many artist have a flow to their albums that changes as they grow in their music. Do you predict any changes in your flow up ahead? 

Kutty: Always. If you ain't elevating, you declinin., You know what I’m saying? From my first album B.E.L.E.I.V.E, to my fourth studio album Black Gold, the style just kept increasing. I think if you aren’t progressing, you doing something wrong. You can’t be staying, you gotta get better as you go and its just gonna keep elevating for me. Each project I do, I try to make every song better then the last. Your only as good as your last song, so I try to make every one better then the last. 

Lettey: Who inspires you in the music scene at this moment? 

Kutty: Who inspires me..hmm..let me see .There ain't to many that inspire me, cause I feel like I be better then 95% of the musicians out here, aint knocking nobody but the music industry has kind of become saturated with a lot of simple rhyme. Which theres nothing wrong with it, cause they making their money. So shout out to everyone who got the simple songs, cause they making their money. What I’m saying is, as far as inspiration, I like TI, you know TI is a good inspiration, he’s a real dude and he actually has lyrics man. I’m a TI fan. I like, um, Rich Homie Quan, for the most part I like listening to what I like listening to on the radio.  You know, you hear the same people all the time, all day. To where you don’t get to hear new, you know what I’m saying? So there ain't to much out there thats inspiring to me besides that.  I may pop in some of my stuff, or I may pop in some Strange Music stuff or whatever. Cause I feel like we real high caliber lyrics and content and subject matter. So if it ain't TI or something like that I’m listening to man, then it ain't to much out there that inspires me except for self motivation.

Lettey: Do you find any opposition with anyone in music right now? 

Kutty: Nah. I ain't got no beef with nobody man. I can go from city to city, wear my KC stuff everywhere I go man. It's like I feel I’m respected as an artist, and as a person too. Cause it's like what I rap about is real life, what I rap about is my life. What I’ve been thru and even what I’ve been around, you know people hear it and respect if through the music. So I don’t have any plexes from nobody out there and I don’t think I got none either, wither it some bloods or crips or some folks or whatever. I’ve been respected by every angle of the game man. I have no oppositions or no beef out here with nobody. 

Lettey: What do you think of the current state of hip hop and what direction its going in right now? 

Kutty: It’s on a respirator. To me its on a respirator. I know they're cats out here making money, but to me it's like, hip hops on a respirator. And until I’ve succeeded past this underground status, or whatever man, you know what I’m saying, get a little bit higher on more of a mass audience type of level. I think its gonna stay on a respirator, I’m gonna come back and revive it, you know what I’m saying? I’m not saying I’m the best out here, but if you aint confident in yourself then what you doing it for. So I feel like if I get the chance to do what I need to do, like a lot of these main stream cats is doing, I’m gonna be a breath of fresh air for a lot of people. 

Lettey: How do you feel about how the chiefs did this year? 

Kutty: Awe, I can’t be mad at them. Andy Reid, I got love for the coach Andy Reid, I mean he turned a 2-14 team to a starting off 9-0 man and took it to the playoffs to do what they did. They really had a turn around you know. You know I feel like we got cheated the first playoff game. Iit was too many men on the field with the Colts and it didn’t get called and whatever. But I’m proud of the Chiefs. I’m the Kansas city Chief and a die hard Chiefs fan. Win, lose, or draw you gotta be with your own team. We’ll get em next year. 

Lettey: Where are you looking to be in the future? Any tours coming up? 

Kutty: I got a mini tour starting Feb 16th. It's gonna be starting off in MN. Its gonna be a 20-25 day run that I’mma be doing. It's gonna be called the Self Preservation Tour. So along with the two mixed tapes, I gotta do and record for the Strangulation collabo. I also got a tour. I got a lot on my plate, enough to keep me busy for the beginning of the year. 

Lettey: Can you tell me anything about the Strangulation collab? 

Kutty: There ain't much I can say, but that it’s a collabo called Strangulation and I’m on three tracks, Imma go in and do my business cause I got a whole lotta businesses coming up. So I gotta get in and get out. (Chill jumps in and adds “And he’s putting the industry in the choke hold”) Kutty laughs and says,  “ Ya putting it in the choke hold, you know what I’m saying, a rear naked choke hold." 

Lettey: What motivates you? 

Kutty: I got a six month old son now, and you know, I look at him and I got a new home back at home. I’m married of course, and a new little boy. So it's like, getting on the internet, getting on Twitter and Instagram, seeing all these new people keep following me or whatever. And a lot of people, A LOT OF PEOPLE , these last two tours I haven’t been on, possibly three, and hearing people say its not the same without Kutt up there, They need the three, the trio, so for people to be missing me and for them to be mad I'm not on these tours, they’re coming out supporting me on my solo run. You know, that’s motivation enough. I wake up every morning and I thank God for the home I’m living in and for my family, for a healthy son. That’s motivation enough for me to keep doing what I’m doing and to get out here and work my tail off til I feel like I’m am what I need to be. And even then I’m not gonna stop. I’mma keep on moving and keep on writing, and keep on rapping and doing my thing. 

Lettey: Any chance you might be working with Marcus any time in the future? 

Kutty: Ya, man, Oobergeek better holla at me you know. He better get in touch with me , or Uncle Ike you know what I’m saying. He got me in his phone, he got me logged in. Oobergeek Holla at me man, I remember when he was just dancing, so you know he came along way and the boy is talented too so, Holla at me oobey, you know who it is boy.  

Live Footage From The Roxy

Live Footage From the Roxy, featuring Marcus Yates. Take a peep. 

KRIZZ KALIKO AND MARCUS YATES JAN 2014

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

DARK TAUPE SCHEMATA LISTENING PARTY NOV 9TH 2013

Marcus Releases New Song with Every Chiefs Victory!

Most people know that Marcus Yates  is a Kansas City Chiefs fan, as most respecting people are. So in honor of his loyalty to the team and to his commitment to the game, Marcus is releasing a new song from his upcoming project Dark Taupe Schemata with every Kansas City Chiefs victory!

This week, for Sunday's amazing victory over the Raiders, Marcus released a new song called "Sicksinoh."
Click HERE to listen.


Now if we could just get the KC cheerleaders to sing/cheer to his song on the field, then we would be set!

SOMETHING ELSE TOUR PHOTOS