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Marlon Craft onNew Album “While We’re Here” & Freestyles Over The DJ Premier Produced “Nas Is Like”
May 24, 2022
Marlon Craft stopped by Sway In The Morning to talk about the release of his new album “While We’re Here” and kills the “Nas Is Like” beat in a classic Marlon Craft freestyle.
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0:00
Come on, man. Real MC right there
0:03
Facts. Real MC, Tracy G. This man has been a mainstay on our show
0:10
Not just the show. You know, I remember when I first started doing radio
0:14
we used to play artists that we wanted to help set the tone of what people can expect
0:18
Those artists being of a certain yoke. You know, how they presented their music, their authenticity, their innovation, their drive
0:26
You know, their purpose. this particular artist that we have up here today has been coming up to the show for a couple of
0:33
years but most importantly what I love about him is the conversations that we we would have beyond
0:38
the show and it's always special when you make a connection with a person who becomes beyond the
0:45
artist yeah you know what he shares about his beliefs this man has been in the front lines
0:50
fighting for justice you know using his platform to speak about disparities and injustice
0:55
using his platforms to talk about the unfairness that we see in today's society
1:01
but also being someone who's a great entertainer. He's a great thinker
1:05
You know, one of the things I love most is his relationship with his mom that he even shared with us publicly
1:10
I've seen this man on many platforms speaking on behalf of hip-hop and just being very real about it, very practical about it
1:17
who he is as an artist and who he is as a person. But when he went into business with his mother, I said
1:23
oh, this guy is different. He's making his mother money with his grandmom's whiskey
1:29
I wish all kids would do that with their parents. Let's go. When Gwen Keomi
1:33
Yeah, I'm talking to my own if she's paying attention right now. But he's here today to talk about his new album
1:39
It's been out, but I've been up on it for a minute. I love the musical composition on it, and I love the messaging in it
1:46
And so I want to welcome him back, citizens, to pick up the album now while we are here
1:50
While we're here, the one and only Marlon Kraft. to Marlin Craft. It's great to be back, man
1:57
Marlin Craft. Happy to see the hair is so long, too. Thank you, yeah
2:01
I was even trying to get a little cut before I came up here, but I've just been... Long hair don't care
2:06
Long hair do not care. Does hair give you a different response
2:12
depending on the length of your hair when you're in the public circles? Yeah, for sure
2:16
People just like the long hair better. Really? Yeah. It's just been a cool thing
2:21
And it's been cool. When I was young, I was a hooper. So I never wanted to have long hair
2:25
because it got in the way. Like, you know what I mean? I always had like the... And I was trying to figure it out
2:29
because I was like a city kid. And like, so I was like getting shape-ups and shit back in like high school
2:34
but it didn't really work because I had the white boy hair. It was like, you know, so..
2:38
Now we... I feel like we've arrived in a good place. You know what I'm saying? Like, we're here now. White boy hair
2:43
You know what, Marlon? Speaking of being here now, like, as Sway mentioned
2:48
like, we remember you. We remember when you first came out. You was first coming out
2:52
You came up here. is this game and hip hop and success and all is it what you imagined because I like I remember
3:02
wanting to be an art an artist and making it and I had these ideas of what I thought it would be
3:07
from practicing my autograph all the stuff and then I got in it I was like okay um this ain't
3:15
the video this ain't you know how how has it because seeing you now like how has it been for
3:20
if you don't mind kind of sharing that um i think it's just been i always knew it was going to be a
3:26
lot of work but it's been way more work and then i even anticipated and like the length because
3:32
just once i started getting into the inner workings of it making decisions about how i wanted to do it
3:37
and sort of taking this longer independent you know grind road that i've taken and how just
3:44
seeing like what a what a marathon it really is that's kind of been the surprise and then like
3:49
you know just everyone has kind of it's become kind of trite to say but you just meet certain
3:54
people that maybe you looked up to or you get in certain rooms and it's just like man these people
4:00
in here don't even know themselves in these rooms i thought they were like really ill and that's why
4:04
i love coming here because like just is a rare it's a rarity this was one of my like first real
4:10
kind of like music industry moments being here with y'all and i was blessed that it was filled
4:14
with actual authentic people that care about the culture. Is that what Nursing the Blind is about a bit
4:20
Yeah, Nursing the Blind, I mean, Nursing the Blind, it's kind of just about just the impending doom of the world
4:27
Like, it's a dark-ass album. I feel like that's what reality really settles in
4:33
to Heather's point. You know, we all kind of have an idea of what the industry is going to be
4:39
and there's, like, such a focus on the glitz and the glam, et cetera, et cetera
4:42
But one of the first lines that stands out to me in that opening track is when you say celebrity is a distraction
4:49
Yeah. Yeah. What's a celebrity really but a distraction? Yeah. Yeah. It's like you start to get up here and then you realize like, oh, even the people that you like are just regular
5:00
They're just regular. People are people. People are people. And so then you start it's even it's it's not all negative
5:06
Like it's giving me more empathy. Like now whenever people are like shitting on somebody publicly or whatever
5:10
I'm like, you don't know what they're going through. Like you don't know how difficult their day-to-day is, the decisions they have
5:15
I mean it's not to excuse a lot of the y that we see at the top of shit, but you know what I mean
5:20
It's like you just don't know. Like it's very different. And I'm not even that famous like that
5:25
But like I know that people have misconstrued images of what my day-to-day is like
5:29
So if that's like that for me, then imagine what it's like for some of these people that are way more in the public eye than me
5:35
So yeah, for sure. Marlon Kraft. if you could go back to that, I feel like it was 2015 maybe
5:40
when you came up here? 16. Yeah, maybe 16. Wow. 16. The last time
5:45
The first time Oh the first time Okay The first time So if you compare like even listening to your music from back then to listening to now and the experiences you had
5:55
What's that for, Ty? You about to serve us cake? Celebration, es
6:00
Marlin bought whiskey and cake. Oh, that's right, Ty. Oh, look at Ty
6:07
I'll let it be known. I'll let it be known. This is not a shameless plug. I just brought this as a gift
6:12
but Sway as the big homie entrepreneur that he is is like man you need to put that on the table
6:19
and you bought for everybody I did I can't wait to drink it
6:23
I just love your conversation listening to this album and I'm glad you said it was a dark album
6:28
because I was listening to the album again I went back to listen again let me refresh myself
6:32
and I was on the phone with a friend of mine who's a music lover and whenever I got new music
6:37
I sent it to her and get her feedback and she said before I listen what do you think
6:41
I said the musical composition I really enjoy because it's like to me a hodgepodge of emotions
6:48
that are taking place that is cohesive in a way that only he can make it right it's very
6:54
distinguished to who you are but uh sonically there's a lot of what I call and I don't know
7:01
what the technical term is uh just kind of like down tones to it yeah right and I react
7:07
to down tones. My body chemically, when I hear certain octaves, you know
7:12
it does something to me. And no matter what song, there's always that moment
7:17
where, shit, he's staying consistent with the down tone. And in one of the songs
7:25
what is it? Cool Gray 11-S? I don't know. Cool Gray 11-S. Okay, what is that
7:29
Like the sneakers. Sneakers! 11-S, man. I was like, does he do these titles, man
7:35
Okay, cool gray 11-S. you talk about when you write. You say you write better in bed at 4 a.m
7:42
That's the line you say. And I was like, that's why when I heard that line
7:47
that's why it's probably always dark. But is that true? Yeah, I mean, it just seems like something about those creative hours
7:52
when nobody else is awake and you're just confronted with yourself. Yeah, it just was dark, man
7:58
I mean, it's been feeling dark. I don't know about y'all. It's been like, you know what I mean
8:02
And that's what I feel like nursing the blind is that thing. I feel like a lot of artists are just this idea of nursing the blind
8:07
And it's like, I'm not trying, my purpose in the game is not to, like, feed you shit to necessarily, like, blind you any more than everything else
8:15
And media is already blinding you. Like, my agenda is to not, like, make you feel shitty, but just to, like, bring that realness and say, like, oh, there's someone out there that's seeing the things I'm seeing, but kind of making it sound a little bit beautiful
8:27
Like, that's what great art does to me. It's like, even when it's dark, you know, and just keeping that little sprinkle of hope in there and just kind of calling it like I see it
8:36
And I felt like an imperative to make the album that way because I was just like, this is how I feel
8:40
And this album took a real toll on me, honestly, finishing it personally because it was so dark
8:46
And getting into the weeds of it was just like, I just wanted it to be done
8:50
It wasn't the work. As an artist, there's certain stuff that you do that's really fun
8:54
And then there's certain shit that you do that you just have to do. You got to get it done. That makes sense with Hans Zimmer too
9:00
Just thinking about this Oscar award winning composer and the sounds, you know, going into like those down tones that you're talking about, Sway
9:08
And him being an inspiration in terms of the way that he soundtracks
9:13
And it sounds like he's kind of guiding. But we do have like an uptempo, a light, some levity with Cocky Humble
9:19
Cocky Humble. I would say. The oxymoronic title. Cocky Humble. Another great title
9:25
That's hip hop. You know? Yeah. So being a kid that grew up in Hell's Kitchen
9:30
I have a strong connection with Hell's Kitchen. I went to high school there. Oh, . And so Hans, Park West
9:35
Okay. So, you know, that's right in the middle. Yeah. You know, running from chewing offices and jumping the fence
9:40
and then spraying graffiti on the handball courts. And so Hans Zimmer, to me, feels like a day going through Hell's Kitchen
9:49
like in my high school years. Yeah. I mean, what was the concept of it
9:53
Yo, it's so funny that you say that. There's the line in the hook that's like they try to rob me from my merm when I had North Face money
9:58
You remember dudes always used to wear the biggies, you know what I'm saying? But it was like everyone would always get robbed from these expensive coats, right
10:04
These Mara jackets. I had a North Face. I purposely didn't get a biggie because I'm like, I don't need this smoke in my life
10:11
But I had a North Face that was like the same style. I like took the hood off
10:16
And this happened to me a couple times, but outside Park West, I was walking home and like walking by Park West
10:22
and dudes like yo what's up with that murm son like what's good and i just like kept it pushing
10:27
and keep moving but that's where that line in the song actually comes from is like winter days
10:31
growing up in new york like people just press you like you're not even trying to like be involved in
10:37
the in something to be pressed for you getting pressed like that cold feeling that just people
10:41
of like my generation and later can relate to so that's that's hilarious that you said park west
10:45
that's fire yeah that's fire uh marlon craft is here we're talking about while we're here which
10:51
this new project uh world champ is getting a really great response why do you think that is
10:57
you know that that song when i made it it was just like i sent it to a couple people that i like
11:05
usually send stuff to like family or people that are really close to me and everyone just loved it
11:10
like off rip and i think it's just because that song is just me like i don't know how to explain
11:14
it just sounds like me like it's so me in a song and the people that really know me i think that's
11:19
why they loved it so much and it resonated because they're just like this is just you like this is how you talk this is how you feel this is the essence it's interesting it's in like six eight
11:27
time signature it's like a little different so whether people realize that or not i think that's
11:31
appealing that it a little bit of a different vibe and there people like i think people like the way that i talk about my family Absolutely You know like I think I do it try to do it honestly You know and I think everyone can relate to that you know
11:45
Absolutely. I took some notes because there was one song I felt like
11:49
yo, Split Personalities was showing. It's called being an artist, duality. In Disney, that's the song
11:56
I was like, yo, he just bugged out in the end. Like, who did you turn in? You transform
12:00
It was like Bill Bixby turning into the Hulk. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What happened in that moment of transformation of that song
12:08
I made that in 2020 over Zoom. Wow. Okay. Well, with Arvis, who's in Sweden and my man, X-Man, who's in L.A
12:17
And I made several of these songs over Zoom actually still. Some of the songs are like a lot of them
12:22
The foundation for the album was in 2020, like during still like real peak COVID shit
12:27
And that shit just felt like how it felt like it just felt like, you know, we're here, bro
12:32
like i don't know if people that that song is kind of like the eerie thesis of like the centerpiece
12:37
of the album it was just like and i was experimenting with doing these different voices
12:40
and stuff because you know i'm kind of got like a low voice and like sometimes like i was like i
12:46
need to express this like this kind of different type of voice inside me that is just screaming
12:50
and it's just trying to figure it out and then got into that bag and people been receiving that
12:55
really well the voice thing so i got a lot like i've been learning more with my instrument you
12:59
You know, like how I work it more, you know. I like that. Marlon Kraft is here. Marlon, I'm going back again just in terms of artistry
13:07
We were obviously just talking to CJ Wallace before you came in
13:12
And Sway and I, all of us really, just talking about what it felt like being artists ourselves when his album came out
13:18
when that Ready to Die dropped. And how if you were even in the game, that album just made you take your notebook and just say
13:26
it, I got to start all over. This dude just crushed it. Like, how do you take in other artists' music
13:32
Like, Kendrick just dropped. Do you ever feel like, damn, like, what lane was he in
13:37
I wish I could talk to him. Why didn't I get a call? Just, like, some of those things
13:42
I mean, that's what I used to think. I'm not saying that everybody does
13:45
But for me, just being fully transparent. Yeah, yeah. Do you have those thoughts as well sometimes
13:52
I wish I was in a circle to, like, get a call about something like that
13:56
Like, that's an aspiration, you know? But like, Kendrick's my biggest inspiration, like bar none, easily
14:01
Like I've always said that. Like he's one of the greatest artists I think to ever live
14:05
I think we actually don't appreciate it as much because we live in the same time as him
14:10
Not to sound all hyperbolic and shit. No, I get it. You know what I mean? It's like sometimes we can't accept
14:14
It's like you living with somebody, you know. So I was just grateful like everybody else to get a new Kendrick album
14:20
But there was part of me that was like, yo, you're going to wait five years and then drop your shit five days before my shit
14:25
like bro I thought we was cool in my head imagine how Jack Harlow felt
14:31
I mean I know he don't know who probably who I am or whatever
14:35
he's surprised yeah I was gonna say he's B.E. you know but actually Tay Beast
14:39
did Something's Wrong in Heaven who produced for Kendrick for years and TD and all those guys
14:43
but yeah I was just grateful to get the album and I couldn't push it back
14:48
because I got like tour coming up and everything like that but I think it works because
14:52
it works perfectly because Kendrick's album such an incredible and important piece of art
14:59
But I was saying, by five days, you're always ready for that next album
15:03
where you want to take a break when you're listening to something over and over again. The Kendrick album, incredible
15:08
But I was ready for a break after my first listen-through because I teared up listening to that album
15:15
It was really heavy. So I was like, this is perfect. I think they work in tandem
15:20
and I don't think it's a bother. But yeah, that should be stressful sometimes
15:24
when you see it. You're just like that. Marlon Kraft, I'll say you in it
15:28
This album is out at the perfect time. Yeah. Yeah, you out at the perfect time
15:33
Man, so listen, speaking of time, two things has to happen. Heather B got to go to her next show, Urban View
15:38
but she looking like, is he going to spit bars? Because I'm a fan. There it is
15:42
She's hanging out, so I want to. This is a real emcee. I ain't even got to ask him if he got something ready
15:49
Look at him. That's what the water was about. See, see, see, see. Right on Paul
15:53
Oh, he heard that s. Now, this is JC Jace on the ones and twos
15:59
DMC champion. I say champion. BLS, Hot 97. He's been around the world
16:05
In fact, Biggie, before Mr. C, once pointed him out as requesting that he be his DJ, according to JC Jace
16:13
Today, he's your DJ. Pleasure. We don't know what he going to throw on
16:21
Hey. DJ Premier. Shout out for your mouth Alright we ready? Yes
16:28
A lot of cats in Huey's shirts But that Uncle Ruckus Started in the city
16:33
But they forgot you Tony Douglas Dropped gems I never tuck it
16:37
Compose a quartet On the strings of the puppets Let's go How I worked this hard
16:42
Without rushing I want it If you did You'd have done it My hair look luscious
16:46
My soul on crutches I goes on it Score more with less touches
16:50
Anyone who tried to write me off Got all they did Dude scared of they reflection what the problem is
16:55
I tried to sell you, tried to tell you So don't act like I did it when the clientele
17:00
Y'all still doing pucker ups to billionaires Don't critique a fighting soldier while you sitting there
17:05
Yeah, I sling hope and distribute care There's expensive and then there's rare, yeah
17:10
Pure motive with a hint of you Could've chose to be real but you didn't want to
17:16
Do it all myself, rarely brag on it Cause they should know it's stamped if they name craft on it
17:20
Hope my future bright cause my past haunted But got on the right track and did laps on it They treat songs like those mid baldies They just always throw some cap on it they ain ready for the truth me i heady in the booth deadly is some proof that i forced to see got me sweaty and aloof never slept as good as they do on me so i
17:38
can't relate to why they won't accept me in the group shit i'm good though you can keep your cool
17:44
table i'm good joe i don't need the free meal i cook bro shit you must have had me mustuck hold
17:50
gone see i made a living off shedding this pain in my room off combating everything about me they
17:54
would assume off making opposite what they told me they would consume i've been patient now i'm
17:59
making a move because i could drop a classic they would just snooze so i'm gonna drop a classic
18:04
make it a few just to show them that shit that they couldn't do they front for you but i see
18:08
how mad it's making them oh oh i'm from hell's kitchen make my luck well wishing we all
18:16
God bars my bells, different. Mind, mind, they don't own their business, though
18:22
I supposed to lose, might be the first to win, MVP and most improved
18:26
They do the most, I just got the most to do. So don't call me this year, man, look, look
18:31
I'm in my bag from the moment I'm awake. The secret ain't complicated, it's just not being fake
18:36
Some of these guys cool, they just not being great. I'm trying not to judge them, but that's just not me of late
18:41
I'm barely inspired to write these shits no more. I got little to prove, my shot dribbling moves
18:46
I hop skipping some moons from knocking the cocoon. Y'all got me and confused
18:50
The world about to see the wings, but I've been on them Hall of Fame and I don't need the rings
18:54
I played the game my way and didn't cheat a thing. Shit. I used to crave the respect and cred till I realized it's all for self gain and respect
19:01
is dead. A lone warrior like when Draymond's out and it's on Stefan's head
19:05
That's a lot to carry. Shit. So you better keep your dribble. Keep it civil
19:09
Cause these snakes slithering and now I'm speaking riddles. See me and they know me now
19:12
I don't need credentials from how I make a living. Speaking wisdom. Leave the crib with headphones in my aura
19:17
Like, I just need essentials You can catch a chancla to the face still if it be an issue though
19:21
Shit, that's what I call a mistletoe You feel me? Cause like a shoe just like flying through the air
19:27
I say a lot of shit that's risk to know The burden of the truth weighs heavy
19:30
I get resentful, bro Rap game, Jeff Van Gundy Disgusted by the league I love
19:36
In rare form cause I confronted all the me's I was And told him it was time to grow into the me I love
19:41
I've been in rooms you want to be And they don't love themselves there A smog of posture and in front of me
19:45
just covers the air. It's palpable. You can feel all of the gluttonous despair of dudes who thought
19:49
they knew what they want but was underprepared. Cats call it like they see it but ain't seeing it
19:53
at all. So what they say the truth really just be the fog. Gotta crawl before you walk. Who's
19:58
really beyond the crawl? That's why they can't run away from the silliness of it all. So getting
20:02
real tired of telling you who I'm better than. It's kind of a depressing spin. But if they need
20:06
a lesson then I'm not hard to find. On my time, got less to spend so I might not respond if it
20:10
ain't worth my attention then. This peace of mind shit is something I would recommend. I'd rather
20:15
learn from every loss than regret some wins the truth is we ain't too different i'm just let's
20:19
pretend so if y'all ready to grow shit then let's begin yeah not be working for me while cats still
20:25
looking around for a person to be personally worth can't be purchased to me it's gonna take me about
20:30
as long as a surgeon's degree to personally see the riches they assume is my intentions i invested
20:35
in myself and it was worth it to me they made you think working for you was working for free
20:39
but i'm really past issue in these urgent decrees you don't got that fight in you you can't learn
20:43
it from me shit i'm bruce lee with a kick drum who he is an in some choose me the regret come
20:49
i've been proving them wrong since i have income yeah the mike conley a rap even if they don't get
20:55
the facts no i'm gonna get my max if they tackling the issues then i'm warrant sap stop selling me
21:01
you care it's a boring act yeah commodification nation you not an artist if money's your only
21:06
way to greatness living in a land where we turn justice to a product and friendship to a business
21:11
deal we must get something out of back when dudes rock nautica with patent leather pradas i was
21:15
trying to find an image of myself that i was proud of and now that mirror don't lie and neither do i
21:19
took me a couple decades to see through my own eyes the living embodiment of if you know you know
21:25
i just show you the light and if you grow you grow cats gonna do they dirt and you're gonna reap the
21:29
seeds you sow you talk the path holler at me when you bleed it though everybody trying to win with
21:34
the same playbook but you're the only one who really know how your strengths look yeah they gave
21:38
you a bag, but look what they took. You know there ain't no such thing as halfway crooks
21:43
Yeah. Money crap! Money crap! Hold up! Hold up! Hold up! Hold up
21:48
Hold up! Hold up! Hold up! Hold up! Hold up! Hold up
21:52
Hold up! Hold up! I should've been recording that. I was fighting trap
21:58
I had to put my sunnies on. Oh, the sunnies is on
22:04
I ain't brought the sunnies out in 2022. The room is illuminated right now
22:11
And it's shining a light on you. Wow, Marlon. That was so good
22:17
I appreciate you guys. Talk your shit. We got any tour dates
22:22
The tour is coming. Thank you. Yes, we're doing the tour. We're starting with a little Midwest-Northeast tour in June
22:30
So three weeks. We're going Chicago, Columbus, Cleveland, Toronto, D.C., New York, and Boston
22:36
and I'm going to Europe for the first time in September. We're doing a bunch of dates
22:41
Thank you. And then West Coast is going to be in November. We're working on those dates now
22:45
MarlinCraft.com. Get your tickets, man. Come through. I'm ready to see people again, see human beings
22:50
I want to be there in New York. Yeah, definitely. I got y'all for sure. Absolutely
22:54
Marlin, thanks for coming through. Thank you, man. You're awesome, man. Congratulations
22:58
Thank you so much, guys. Absolutely, man. Marlin Craft, make sure y'all pick up the album while we're here
23:06
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