Haastattelussa Bay Arealta kotoisin oleva Horrorcore-räppäri Mars.
- What’s up, Mars? How are you today?
I’m good, brodie! Just trying to keep busy, in the studio, and out here pushing these records. Out here in California, it’s like 106 degrees. I’d rather be in the studio than outside anyway! But everything is really good. For the first time in a long time, I feel like myself again. It has a lot to do with immersing myself back into music full-time.
- For those who are perhaps unfamiliar with your work, could you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Mars. I was born in the United States in a small town called Antioch, CA, and raised all over the Bay Area, predominantly in the city of Pittsburg. P-World raised. YOC town born. I’ve made a career out of recording horror-themed rap music in a genre called Horrorcore. Because of that, I’ve been able to travel all over the United States, and my music is known all over the world. I’ve done some acting on TV in small parts. I’ve made songs with some of the most legendary artists in the world. But really, I’m just a normal dude who enjoys hanging out with family and friends. I would say I would like to be known as who I am, not what I do, to the people I care most about. And really, only those people get to see the real me. I’m pretty shy and private at home.
- How long have you been rapping?
I’ve been making music for about 20 years. I say music because I don’t consider myself just a rapper. I like to do all types of music. I think the more stuff I create, the more I feel I should do what I hear in my head when I choose a beat, no matter what that is. Because I’m not really trying to make music for anyone but myself anyway. I’m just lucky that other people like it too.
- Where do you draw your inspiration from?
These days, I choose to write a lot about myself—the darker side of myself. Fantasies of revenge, depression, suicide, anger. All of these things are real feelings and events that happen in real life. I think reality is darker than making stuff up. So, when possible, I reflect on how I felt in certain situations or times in my life or about people I don’t like, and I imagine that stuff in my storylines. Sometimes I just talk a bunch of shit. Sometimes there is a message; sometimes there is no message at all.
- What’s your process in making music?
Sometimes I just hear a beat and let it tell me what to do. I’ll smoke some weed, sit down, and just write and record all at the same time—start to finish, chipping away at it. I’ll redo a million things a million times and just be in the studio by myself, taking my time. But it really doesn’t take me long to record a song—an hour at most. Most of these albums I’m about to drop only took a week or two. It takes longer to get them mixed or wait for features than it does for the actual recording. So while I wait for those to come back, I record more. I just like to knock shit the fuck out. I feel like we don’t have a lot of time in the world, so I should leave as much of me behind as possible. It lasts forever; I won’t.
- How has your music evolved since you began making music?
As a horrorcore artist from the beginning, I was really young. So growing up on stuff like Brotha Lynch Hung, X-Raided, Esham, Ganxsta NIP, and eventually Insane Clown Posse, I was drawn to the killing baby, Jason Voorhees, and suicide messages, and axe-murdering lunatic stuff, thinking, “This is what I want to do!” The actual meaning and message didn’t matter as much to me as a kid, as long as it was crazy. Now that I’ve experienced more in life, the details are really what matters. The people I talk about could be actual figures, and the situations are real. The reasons are more clear. I’ve also gotten more comfortable with using different voices and tones, adapting to different styles of music and singing. I think I’m just getting comfortable.
- What do you want people to take from your art?
I don’t know, to be honest. I think when I die, I want my music to be something people can listen to, to hear my voice and laugh at my stupid humor or things I say that they know me for. Or just to feel maybe what I might have been going through at times and understand. I think everyone just wants to be appreciated by the people who matter to them the most. And I think when we’re gone, that’s when it actually happens. Nobody gives a fuck when you’re here.
- How do you separate yourself from other artists?
Details. I’m very assertive when it comes to my image, artwork, and promotional campaigns. It’s not just about music to me; it’s about how people learn about your music and see your music before they listen. I would like to say I care about it more than most. People cut corners, and I don’t get why sometimes. I never would. I often butt heads with people I work with because I never say something is good enough when it’s not. I’d rather do things by the book whenever possible, and I have my own book. If it looks like shit, then you’re probably shit. My competition isn’t the people that don’t; it’s the people that do.
- How would you describe your style in three words?
Catchy, funky, weird.
- What is your opinion on the current state of horrorcore rap?
There are amazing artists out there. A lot of the artists that people listen to are friends of mine, and the ones that are making noise have always been making noise. The new generation, like Lyte, Ouija, and A.X.E., are great artists and are super dope at what they do. I love the people at Majik Ninja Entertainment. G-Mo Skee is a good friend of mine and is such a dope rapper. Twiztid is always evolving. Force 5 Records is such a cool label to work with because it’s completely self-sustained. I like Jay Sin, Donnie Menace, UGA, Jenocia X, and Razakel. My dude Kung Fu Vampire is out there killing shit all on his own with no label. Gorilla Voltage and Sythe Note Records always have shit popping. Twisted Insane just dropped two albums this week. Horrorcore is going strong, man. I’m proud of all of the artists out there getting it.
- Can you tell us what happened to your song “Go Suicidal”?
Legendary San Francisco producer TC did “Go Suicidal.” The guy who brought me to all the dope producers and studios out there got into some trouble at some point, and I’m not sure what happened to a lot of the music recorded for the project it was supposed to come out on. When all the school shooting stuff happened, we sent the song to the news to use for their segment, and that’s how people learned about it. I performed it on a Psychopathic Records tour once. But eventually, it all got lost, or one time TC’s studio caught on fire, so who knows? Maybe it went with it.
- What are you listening to these days?
Hi-C’s album from the 90s, haha. 90s gangsta rap from LA and the Bay Area is like the only thing I really listen to ever. I like soul oldies too. Music was so different from each other back then, but it’s like the same beats.
- If you could collaborate with anyone in the world, who would it be?
DJ Quik. He has to be my favorite rapper ever. I got to hang out with him a few times, and we follow each other on social media. But I don’t think he really knows how big of a fan I am of his stage show, his production, and his raps. He’s fucking dope. I think we could make something great.
- You just released your single “Medication.” Can you tell us a little bit about that?
I’ve been releasing a new project or single every month, and when we dropped “Medication,” it took off like crazy. It was produced by Westside Rell and mixed and mastered by Pop Jensen out of Fresno, CA. He works out of a studio called The Green Room. I recorded it around 3 a.m. one night, and I knew my fanbase would love it. But I also knew everyone else needed to hear it too. With all of these singles that I’ve been releasing, it shows me which ones my fans gravitate towards more, and it gives me a little bit of direction. But on Friday the 13th, I dropped a single with no promotion ahead of time, and somehow, it has already surpassed “Medication.” The internet is hard to figure out. Both are good representations of what I do, so if you’re reading this and just learning about me, check those ones out.
- Can you describe to us what human flesh tastes like?
I would say it tastes like chicken, but unless they have Popeyes in Finland, then you have no idea what real chicken tastes like. So…
- What do you enjoy doing when you’re not making music?
I like taking photos of my friends and family. Creating iconic images that last forever and represent them is super cool. One time, I went out with my homeboy Wedo from Antioch. He’s on a few of Woodie’s albums and on the song “Raised Into It.” Anyway, we went out and took photos for fun in downtown Antioch, and he got some really good ones. He eventually passed away, but the photo that was used for his funeral was the one I shot. It was the most beautiful one that represented him the best. Ever since then, I’ll meet somebody interesting or make friends with a pretty girl, and I’ll be like, “You gotta let me take your photos!” I just feel like everyone should have amazing pictures of themselves that define their life. But I also like to explore abandoned buildings and nature and go hiking. I’m pretty normal, really. Except sometimes we just do all that stuff, bring a bottle, and make an experience out of it all. These days, I spend most of my free time in the gym. I’m still new to it all, but I like having some kind of routine. As an artist, life is chaos—no rules, no schedule. So having something that repeats every day is comforting in a way.
- Any projects you’re currently working on, and what does the future hold for you?
I’m sitting on so many projects and albums that have been done for years or months and are ready to go. While I wait for the other parties to get ready or whatever, I just keep recording. I think I want to record a mixtape next with DJ Stigmata. But right now, I have mine and Danny Diablo’s album “Devils and Demons” coming out on Force 5 Records, bringing the two worlds together—New York Hardcore and Horrorcore. I have the “Locked Up A Broad” LP coming out with Force 5 Records and Mad Insanity and Empire. I have the “Small Sacrifices” EP coming out on Mad Insanity and Empire. I have an album with V-Town on DLK Entertainment coming out. I have an EP that Jason Porter and I did coming out soon. I recently did a deal to do an album with $woop that’s all done. I have Bee Sides coming out. I have three months left. I want to have something big out all three months, if not multiple projects. This is my future. I really don’t want to do anything else—just record music, listen to it a million times, and hope people like it as much as I liked making it.
- Anything else you’d like to share with us?
I just want to say I want more than anything to come out to Finland and rock it. ADR Lavey and Apartment 3 said they loved it, and I know they were taken care of, sold a lot of merch, and had naked chicks on stage. As soon as I get my legal stuff together, I’m there!
- Thanks for your time!
Thank you so much!
Haastattelu: J-P aka Fileerausveitsi
