Marlon Williams (born September 30, 1962 in Queens, New York City), better known as Marley Marl, is an influential hip-hop producer. He was the house producer of the Juice Crew, which included (in addition to him): Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté, Kool G Rap, MC Shan (his cousin) and Masta Ace, and produced songs for outside artists including King Tee and LL Cool J. He was also an important figure in the careers of Eric B. & Rakim, producing their first hits "My Melody" and "Eric B Is President", mixing James Brown samples and synthetic beats in a fashion previously unheard of.
Hip-Hop Lives is a collaborative album from MC KRS-One and producer Marley Marl that was released on May 22, 2007. The album is sometimes consdered a bench mark in the history of hip-hop, in the sense that 20 years ago, KRS and Marl were once bitter rivals involved in the legendary Bridge Wars.
"It all happened with one phone call," Marley Marl told AllHipHop.com during a March 2006 interview.[1] "They called me and he jumped on the phone and told me it would be spectacular for Hip-Hop...My reason for doing this is to show these kids that [Hip-Hop beefs] are not that serious."
Album sampler has premier on HipHopGame.com
This album was ranked #1 Top Hip-Hop releases for May on About.com
Rising to the Top
KRS-One & Marley Marl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All you fly guys and fly girls
Welcome once again to the world famous
Mister Magic Rap Attack and of course I am [Incomprehensible]
Way way back before the 'Hots' and the 'Powers'
We used to listen to live mixin' for hours
Roxanne Shanté, U.T.F.O.
But I was in the shelter in weakness
Homeless, turntableless and microphoneless
Fresh gearless but still I was fearless
And focused on being the dopest MC alive
It's '85, LL's on Def Jam with the best jam
And Whodini's on Jive, man you know I had to survive
New York City was crazy in the 80's but damn it was live
So here comes the Juice Crew with MC Shan
Shanté's already the queen, Marley's already the man
Y'all don't really understand
When you throw on Shanté or Shan it got live in the jam
So we went to Mister Magic
If anybody had to power to put you on he had it
We gave up the demo tape no love lost
But it seems Mister Magic just brushed us off
Somehow we heard we were whack
Every track, and that we shouldn't even call back
Right there my jaw dropped, no doubt
But it made me see what I was all about
And I'll keep rising to the top while my mind go
Give it all you got, give it all you got
I'll keep rising to the top while my mind go
Give it all you got, give it all you got
We'll keep rising to the top while my mind go
Give it all you got, give it all you got
We'll keep rising to the top while my mind go
Give it all you got, give it all you got, give it all you got
In the spot new hip hop and Latin Quarters
And the Union Square and the rooftop
We used to hear them tunes pop in the parking lot
Where it got dark a lot me and Scott La Rock
But it was all for the hip hoppers
Salt-N-Pepa answered Doug E Fresh with 'The Show Stoppa'
MC Shan was gonna challenge LL
Shanté was battling 3 or 4 groups at the same time what the hell
Answer records were big then after Shanté did it
Everybody was trying to spit them so we spit off
To tell you the truth it was the only way an MC could get on
We answered MC Shan's 'Queensbridge'
A dope jam about where he was from and where he lived
But in the Bronx there was these kids
KRS, Scott La Rock trying to live
And I'll keep rising to the top while my mind go
Give it all you got, give it all you got
I'll keep rising to the top while my mind go
Give it all you got, give it all you got
We'll keep rising to the top while my mind go
Give it all you got, give it all you got
We'll keep rising to the top while my mind go
Give it all you got, give it all you got, give it all you got
This it what an MC was we had a strong street buzz
Marley and Shan showed us some love and love never hurt
'Cause while Shan was with Marley we was with DJ Red Alert
Every Friday night, every Saturday night
On the airwaves the battle was right
Under New York nights, smog and lights
Jargon at night the Roxy used to get so hype
You could put on your headset
And get what heads didn't get yet
Live MCs going, "Check, check"
Spitin' rhymes over the radio set
These are the days and the ways I can never forget
So I don't forget it to Marley and Shan I am indebted
For the start of my career these guys could take credit
For my rappin', the whole battle they let it all happen
Marley and Shan and Shanté could have been gun strapping cousin
But they wasn't and you know why
'Cause we was on some real hip hop let's keep it buzzing
The lyrics to “Rising to the Top” tell the story of KRS-One’s earlier career as an aspiring MC in the New York City hip hop scene of the 1980s. He speaks of listening to live mixing for hours and cites Roxanne Shanté, U.T.F.O., and Mister Magic Rap Attack as examples of artists he respected at the time. KRS-One reflects on his humble beginnings and how he persevered despite having no equipment or any support from Mister Magic. He discusses how the Juice Crew, which included MC Shan and Marley Marl, emerged on the scene, and how he and his group, led by Scott La Rock, were inspired by Salt-N-Pepa and Doug E Fresh. KRS-One also reflects on the impact that answer records had on the scene, and how his start in the battle scene ultimately led to the formation of Boogie Down Productions.
Overall, the song is a celebration of a pivotal time in hip hop music and culture, with KRS-One acknowledging the influence of his predecessors and peers, while also highlighting his unique path to success. He speaks to the importance of hard work, perseverance, and creativity, as well as the camaraderie and competition that fueled the scene at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Way way back before the 'Hots' and the 'Powers'
Referring to a time before popular music genres like Hip-Hop and Pop had taken over, and local DJs used to mix live music for hours on end.
We used to listen to live mixin' for hours
We used to enjoy long, live DJ sessions where they would mix different records and create new sounds.
But I was in the shelter in weakness
Going through tough times, I was homeless and didn't have any equipment to make music.
And focused on being the dopest MC alive
Despite my hardships I was determined to be the best rapper and performer out there.
It's '85, LL's on Def Jam with the best jam
LL Cool J had just released his hit song 'I Can't Live Without My Radio' under the record label Def Jam.
So here comes the Juice Crew with MC Shan
A new rap group called Juice Crew and their leader MC Shan is starting to make waves in the music scene.
We answered MC Shan's 'Queensbridge'
We responded to MC Shan's song 'The Bridge', which was about his hometown Queensbridge, with our own track 'South Bronx' representing our own area.
But in the Bronx there was these kids
Referring to ourselves, as KRS-One and Scott La Rock from the Bronx, who were trying to make it in the music industry.
Every Friday night, every Saturday night
Every week on Friday and Saturday, the hottest radio stations in New York would feature live rap battles where MCs could show off their skills.
These are the days and the ways I can never forget
I remember those times fondly and they shaped me as an artist forever.
Marley and Shan and Shanté could have been gun strapping cousin
Despite the competitive nature of the music scene, there was still mutual respect and camaraderie between artists.
Because we were on some real hip hop let's keep it buzzing
True hip hop artists like us were committed to keeping the scene alive and thriving with our music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LAWRENCE MITCHELL, LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER, MARLON WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind