A Historic first night: River Kings Tour
What does it mean to be a River King? That I may not have the answer to at the moment. It maybe something that I am aspiring to, it very much can be something that I already am. That's of less of importance to me right now than the feeling of the first show on the River Kings Tour. The entire day of August 26th 2016, I had butterflies like a kid on the first day of school. Of course I knew it was an important day, for one it's the kick off to Alfred Bank's and I first tour together. But it's also a pretty unprecedented event that people wouldn't think would be our first show.
We were literally schelduled to perform in Elvis Presley's house. Not even Graceland, the first home that he bought in 1956 when Heartbreak Hotel first hit the world, he was 21 years old.
So, we can establish that there was alot of pressure on Alfred Banks and I to deliver some epic shit. As the day progressed and I ripped and ran to complete errands with the great Bettina Love riding around with me. Keep in mind, she had already flew in from Atlanta just to interview me for the event-- adding just slightly more pressure.
Beyond the historical context of what Elvis's first home means, there is a current movement in my city to hold everyone accountable for improving our city. After the soon to be iconic i-40 bridge shut down in Memphis, there was a shift in the people-- the people that I make music for. Every wanted anseers to the questions that we have been asking leadership about for generations. The following week after the bridge protest, I fearfully, attended abother protest-- in front of Graceland. The "famous" house of Elvis. Close friends of mine were handcuffed, arrested, and dragged in the street, all because we had the audacity to protest Graceland.
So, August 26th 2016, was more than a performance for me. It was an extension of the movement that I wish to continue to dedicate my life to. We know the history of Elvis stealing his music from black artist and then going on to becoming one of the most famous artists in the history is the world. The kick off to the River Kings Tour in Elvis Presley's living room was an opportunity for me to reclaim space and make the connection back to the original creators of rock and roll.-- even if only for one night.
That night ended up being one of my favorite performances to date. My wife, who was probably the MOST Turnt person on the entire show, told me that everyone was in a "trance" and it was "magical." I definitely can see that being true.. I felt it. It powered me up to speak on things on that mic that needed to be said (you've see what was said when the video drops)
River Kings Tour night 1 was a success!
Stay tuned for the video release of this show, and for more updates on the River Kings Tour!
Childhood dreams to Paths & Passions
If all these Facebook posts, tweets, and website posts all showed yall the blood, sweat, and tears of this excruciating grind instead of just mere words, you would understand why I'm so SERIOUS about my craft. This is not just a job I wanna have, this ain't just some goal I always wanted to accomplish. It's a passion, a calling, a path-- a path that I didn't choose, a path that chose me. When I was 8 years old, I imagined that I had my own record label. At 8. Most kids my age changed their career choice every week, to fit their mode. Nope, not Tauheed Rahim II, I wanted to be CEO of a label-- EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
In 2014, I made that childhood vision come to life and I started my own label. 2 years later after a few accolades (actually quite a few) and some grinding later, Im going on my first tour. The River Kings Tour with Alfred Banks from New Orleans.
I'm bringing that tour through Memphis, September 3rd 2016, and I want all my Memphis fans and supporters to be in the building in full support of the growth and the mission to keep growing.
You can purchase tickets from the Marco Pavé Merch store:
http://www.kingofmarco.com/merch/river-kings-tour-memphis\
New Bars: Classic Memphis
New flows dropping for yall on Friday, July 8th! I am putting my take on the classic Memphis song by Yo Gotti, "Gangsta Party." Produced by my mentor and producer, Carlos Broady.
This song is hella special to me, around that time when it was bout to drop in 2006, I was in 7th grade at Cypress Middle, Yo Gotti used to ride through the hood in a truck with his face on it.
You gotta be a real Memphis vet to remember these days-- I do. In 2006 I was a wanna be rapper, a kid-- just hoping. In 2016, I am an actual rapper and a label owner. Yo Gotti and I have linked on a few occasions, in LA in 2014 when, after I hop over security to get to him, and In Austin, Texas in 2016, when Ebro Darden gave us a formal introducton at the Apple Music party.
In celebration of things coming full circle, I am dropping some bars to "Gangsta Party": Friday, July 8th, on KINGOFMARCO.COM:
Legends of North Memphis.
What do you think of when you hear North Memphis? Better yet, who do you think of? Many forget, many others have no idea of the legendary hip hop names that have come from the, sometimes infamous, Memphis neighborhood. I didn't have the luxury to forget, growing up I experienced alot of that infamy-- from (2) friends dying before I reached high school to being jumped three blocks from my home by a gang, to almost being killed while playing with a gun. So i had to find and pay attention to the positive. Beyond these all- too-common tragedies, I wanted to be a rapper, i wanted to change my life with hip hop, I had legendary examples to look up to--From Yo Gotti to, Juicy J, to Project Pat, to Dj Paul. In retrospect, I know that none of those guys were rappers, they were and are businessmen that happen to rap. Coming from a city that hasn't had a thriving music scene since 1975, with the closing of Stax, all of these guys were able to establish themselves as prominent forces in hip-hop. That was my inspiration, I knew it was possible to make a positive change on our city. I wanted that for me, I wanted that for my friends, I wanted that for my family, I wanted that for my neighborhood.
In 2013, I was struggling to keep my dreams afloat and establish myself as an artist. Around that same time there was another north Memphian about to follow in similar footsteps of our neighborhood's past. Snootie Wild was just released from jail, and he literally hit the streets a free man, with one of the biggest hits out of Memphis in recent years. "Yayo." We heard that song everywhere, all the time. The song debuted at number 50 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and at number 40 on Billboard's Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hopchart. This caught the attention of another legendary North Memphian, Yo Gotti, who signed Snottie to his imprint CMG. While, in my own corner of the world chasing my dreams, I had the opportunity to connect with Snottie at the video shoot for this mega regional hit.
Many might look at my grind as an artist and assume that me and Snootie have nothing in common, that's further from the truth than anyone can imagine. In a recent interview snootie, explained his need to know the business: "I had to educate myself on the business part a lot but every chance I got, I got a chance to sit down and work with people to make sure I understand the business part of the business." Anyone that knows me and is familiar with my grind, they know that that is dam near a quote that I've said before. I don't know what it is, but us hustlers from North Memphis don't play about the business.
Fast forward three years, I have started my own label, released a project on that label, been featured in the Source and had my video for the lead single on MTV. It's safe to safe that I know a little bit about the business. Three years later, I was able to link up with Snootie Wild, not as an extra in a video, but as 2 North Memphis natives with goals and dreams, plotting.
