Rough beginnings, rites of passage, or so they say.

I've been on this grind for all of my adult life and all of my teenage life, hell, all of my pre teen life. My. Whole. Life. But during those late teen and early adult years I was introduced to the local Memphis rap/music scene. As a 16 year of kid still in High school I began hitting open mics and putting myself out there to perform. I was the youngest guy on the scene, most if my peers were 28+. Therefore I learned alot, not because the older guys were deliberately teaching me, but because I have a gift of discernment. But before I realized that gift, it was tested. Alot. In these 7 years since I've started taking this serious, I have been in more life threatening situations than I can count on both hands and feet. I'm still here. 

Around 2011/2012 I met two other rappers that were more similar to me in age. First I met Preauxx. A hip hop artist that had put in quite a bit of work at the time. His name was buzzin on the scene. I intended for us to link. We did. Things turned sour pretty fast. Barring the useless details of this situation. We went on to continue our grinds on our separate paths. But we always continued to run into each and even do shows together. But we never linked up again. Until 2015 when we decided that we were both being childish and needed to squash any unnecessary drama. Then, he split, dramatically from his long time crew/label. He moved out to Atlanta and Boom. Then we started making some crazy moves.

Shortly after I met Preauxx in 2011/2012 I met another rapper, Ray Rebel from Harlem, with southern roots. We vibed with each from the jump. We just had different circumstances, but also very much the same. Specifically we had no good older energies around us, who wanted to hold us back. We went our separate ways. Ray Rebel had already made a name for himself in Memphis. He moved to Atlanta in 2014 to build. Shit got rough, because some of those same negative energies were still around. Long story short, he cut those off and got back to the basics. And started making moves.  

2016, this is my first A3C and I come in the door on an official level. Matter fact, I has two official showcases with Stankonia and Swisher Sweets. It was only right that I linked up with Preauxx and Ray Rebel in Atlanta. That link up has made us all come to a realization, we really had been through a lot of shit on this grind. We were the young niggas on the scene and we built our brands big enough for them to be recognized in different cities and states across the country.  But we also realized that we are STILL on it and ain't quit. Many rappers have come and gone in these last 5 years. We ain't gone no where. 

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\

Touring: A must for Indie Artists

In the last few months, I've been asked by quite a few people the same question: "how do you make your money as an artist?" Certain people still assume that music sales are the cash cow for artist. Well, with Streaming services rolling into town and paying us poor artists 0.0001 of a penny, there isn't much hope to make tons of money. If we look at the top of the hip hop industry, folks like J Cole only made 100k from Streaming, we talking about an artist that went PLATINUM. 

I'm under no illusion of success, it takes hard work to make it in this industry. You have to be business savvy and creative: creatively business savvy.  

I'm still learning alot as a music business excuetive, but I know one thing for sure, if I can accomplish the things they sell in dreams, on my own, I am in really good shape.  

I've produced and releases my first project with my own funding and now, I've booked my own tour with the homie Alfred Banks from New Orleans.

The River Kings Tour is kicking off August 26th in Memphis with a private event in partnership with Rhodes College and The Mike Curb Institute. 

Show money, is good money, it's really our only money :) Let's go get it!