Marco Polo can refer to :

1. A hip-hop producer from Toronto, Canada… Read Full Bio ↴Marco Polo can refer to :

1. A hip-hop producer from Toronto, Canada.
2. A folk-rock band from Russia

1. Marco Polo is a Hip-Hop producer from Toronto, Canada. Marco Polo was a huge fan of Hip Hop music for a very long time, when he got to a certain point in his life where strictly being a fan wasn't enough anymore. He hooked up with some people in New York and moved to the ‘big apple’. Soon he got the attention of people and started working with people like Wordsworth, Pumpkinhead, Masta Ace. He dropped ‘Canned Goods’ in 2005, an instrumental album with guest spots on it by Rasco, Wordsworth and Skoob (of Das Efx). Later on he produced some work for big artist like Talib Kweli, Fat Joe, Inspectah Deck, Carl Thomas and others.
Also he worked on a more moody side-project entitled Chas, with three songs recently featured on Nickelodeon's Radio Free Roscoe. Marco Polo has also produced tracks for Masta Ace, O.C., The Boot Camp Clik, Heltah Skeltah, Ed O.G., Sadat X, and Rocky Marciano.
Early 2007 he dropped his sophmore album 'Port Authority' with an impressive list of guest spots ranging from old-school heads like Large Professor, Masta Ace, O.C., Ed OG, Kool G Rap to new kids on the block Kenn Starr, Kev Brown and JoJo Pellegrino.

2. The music band “Marco Polo” plays folk rock. The band’s works reflect fairy-tale legends of the past, the romance of travelling, images of courageous and mighty heroes, the ideas of cherishing our ancestors’ lore. It is worth mentioning that both lyrics and tunes are written by the members of the music project.

Nostalgia
Marco Polo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yo, what's up Marco?
What's up Brooklyn?
Filthy rich

People in the audience, Masta Ace the name
I write rhymes and insert them inside your vein
They run through your bloodstream, get inside your brain
'Cause I first put my name up inside the train

My mic control has been unprecedented
And you wrong if you thought you was the best that did it
See I just started messing with it, I been married to the game since '88
You just committed
The entire fate of the whole Empire States
Into hands of a man that's here to inspire hate
Hate for the state of the music
And all these other cats looking for another way to abuse it
I wake you up like a gun in the face
I'm just here to let you know who's like running the place
And everywhere that I perform and do a show
As long as you know

"This is for those that don't know the half"
"Backtrack turn back the page"
"Let me show y'all new rappers"
"That's how the game go"
"This is for those that don't know the half"
"Backtrack turn back the page"
"Don't be missing any word I say"

You love to hear the story, again and again
How it all got started from beginning to end
When cats used to run in a pack and slaughter
The rooftop, Union Square and the latin quarter
And if you came alone then your chain was gone
Unless you was from the hood and your name was known (Yup)
And even then you was taking a risk
They would rush you for your chain while you was taking a piss
Hip hop used to be so thick in the air
When it was there you ain't even need a kick and a snare
It could have been finger snaps and hand claps
But nowadays it feels a little different when a man raps
The track commence and these cats are french
The media lacking sense, what I rap's intense and
I be the best in these rap events
And how I got this far?
It's called experience, come on

"This is for those that don't know the half"
"Backtrack turn back the page"
"Let me show y'all new rappers"
"That's how the game go"
"This is for those that don't know the half"
"Backtrack turn back the page"
"Don't be missing any word I say"

Yo it's the Ace in the flesh, of course I'm fresh
Oh you thought that I was rotten?
Huh, you must have gotten a bad sack of weed cause I track your speed
I run up, fondle your wife and smack your seed
I've been a star since Pat Benatar
And I still want the house, the boat, the truck and the car
The limousine with the big screen and the bar
I'm trying to eat, watch it pour on like vine-gar
'Cause I'm old and grey, control the day
I'm kinda like the light cause I show the way
I'm the one to collect the funds and hold the pay
The kind that fold away than I stroll the way
Shit, I can't name all the hits we charted
That crazy ass Crooklyn ass shit, we got it
We came here tonight to get started
To cold act ill and get retarded

"This is for those that don't know the half"
"Backtrack turn back the page"
"Let me show y'all new rappers"
"That's how the game go"
"This is for those that don't know the half"
"Backtrack turn back the page"
"Don't be missing any word I say"
"This is for those that don't know the half"
"Backtrack turn back the page"
"This is for those who don't know the half"

"In this rap game"
"This might be my last"

Overall Meaning

The song “Nostalgia” by Marco Polo featuring Masta Ace is an ode to the early days of hip-hop culture. The song takes the listener on a journey back to the 1980s, where rap was still in its early stages and hip- hop artists used to perform in the Union Square, rooftop and Latin Quarter. Masta Ace reminisces on how hip-hop used to be so pure and thick in the air that the crowd used to respond to finger snaps and hand claps. However, he laments the current state of hip-hop, where the media has lost its sense of humour and young rappers no longer understand where the culture comes from, resulting in a lacklustre experience for the listener.

The chorus is a reflection of the song’s title. The phrase “This is for those that don’t know the half” and “Backtrack turn back the page” prompt the listener to revisit the past and learn about the early days of hip-hop before making any assumptions about the genre.

In conclusion, “Nostalgia” is not just a song, but a history lesson that educates the listener about the early days of rap and how it evolved to where it is today. It is more than just a nostalgic tune; it is a reminder to the younger generation that rap music has a rich heritage that needs to be respected.

Line by Line Meaning

Yo, what's up Marco?
Hello Marco, how are you doing?

What's up Brooklyn?
Hello Brooklyn, how is everyone doing?

Filthy rich
I am very wealthy.

People in the audience, Masta Ace the name
Hello audience, my name is Masta Ace.

I write rhymes and insert them inside your vein
I create powerful rap lyrics that affect you deeply.

They run through your bloodstream, get inside your brain
My lyrics have a strong impact on you and change the way you think.

'Cause I first put my name up inside the train
I became famous for my rap skills by leaving my name on a train.

My mic control has been unprecedented
I am known for my incredible control over the microphone.

And you wrong if you thought you was the best that did it
If you think you are the best, you are mistaken.

See I just started messing with it, I been married to the game since '88
I have been heavily involved in the rap game since 1988.

You just committed
You only recently became involved in the rap game.

The entire fate of the whole Empire States
I have a significant impact on the future of the rap industry in New York.

Into hands of a man that's here to inspire hate
I am here to inspire negativity towards the current state of the rap industry.

Hate for the state of the music
I am unhappy with the current state of rap music.

And all these other cats looking for another way to abuse it
I do not appreciate other rappers taking advantage of the rap industry.

I wake you up like a gun in the face
I will jolt you awake with my powerful rap lyrics.

I'm just here to let you know who's like running the place
I am here to remind you of the impact I have on the rap industry.

And everywhere that I perform and do a show
Every performance I do has a significant impact and influence.

As long as you know
It is important that you understand this.

"This is for those that don't know the half"
This message is for those who do not have the full picture.

"Backtrack turn back the page"
Let's take a look back at the history of rap.

"Let me show y'all new rappers"
I want to teach new rappers about the history of the industry.

"That's how the game go"
This is how the rap industry works.

"Don't be missing any word I say"
Pay close attention to everything I am saying.

You love to hear the story, again and again
People enjoy hearing the history of the rap industry repeatedly.

How it all got started from beginning to end
Let's take a look at how the rap industry came to be.

When cats used to run in a pack and slaughter
In the early days of rap, groups of rappers would join together and compete.

The rooftop, Union Square and the latin quarter
Some notable locations where early rap battles occurred.

And if you came alone then your chain was gone
If you were not part of a group, your jewelry was at risk of being stolen.

Unless you was from the hood and your name was known (Yup)
If you were from a particular neighborhood and known by others, you were less likely to be robbed.

And even then you was taking a risk
Even if you were known, you were still at risk of being robbed.

They would rush you for your chain while you was taking a piss
Thieves would even attack you while you were using the bathroom.

Hip hop used to be so thick in the air
In the early days of rap, the music had a powerful presence.

When it was there you ain't even need a kick and a snare
The music was so powerful, it didn't even require drums to be effective.

It could have been finger snaps and hand claps
Even the simplest of percussive sounds were enough to supplement the rap lyrics.

But nowadays it feels a little different when a man raps
Modern rap music has a different feel to it than the early days.

The track commence and these cats are french
Modern rap songs often have a simpler beat and lyrics.

The media lacking sense, what I rap's intense and
The media today is not as supportive of intense rap lyrics as it once was.

I be the best in these rap events
I am confident in my abilities and presence on stage.

And how I got this far?
I am successful in the rap industry, but how did I get here?

It's called experience, come on
I got to where I am through years of experience and hard work.

Yo it's the Ace in the flesh, of course I'm fresh
I am Masta Ace, and I am always fresh and ahead of the curve.

Oh you thought that I was rotten?
Did you think I was not as fresh as I claim to be?

Huh, you must have gotten a bad sack of weed cause I track your speed
You are mistaken because I am always ahead of the game.

I run up, fondle your wife and smack your seed
I am capable of subverting your expectations and proving you wrong in any challenge.

I've been a star since Pat Benatar
I have been famous for a long time, since the days of Pat Benatar.

And I still want the house, the boat, the truck and the car
Even after all this success, I still want more.

The limousine with the big screen and the bar
I want to continue living a lavish lifestyle with luxurious cars.

I'm trying to eat, watch it pour on like vine-gar
I am working hard to earn more money and be even more successful.

'Cause I'm old and grey, control the day
Even though I am getting older, I still have control over my career and life.

I'm kinda like the light cause I show the way
I am a role model and leader for others in the rap industry.

I'm the one to collect the funds and hold the pay
I am in charge of collecting and managing the money I earn.

The kind that fold away than I stroll the way
I am capable of dealing with challenges and obstacles effectively.

Shit, I can't name all the hits we charted
I have had so many successful songs, it is hard to name them all.

That crazy ass Crooklyn ass shit, we got it
I am proud of my work in the Brooklyn rap scene.

We came here tonight to get started
I am here to continue making great music and pushing the boundaries of the rap industry.

To cold act ill and get retarded
I am here to create hard-hitting, intense rap lyrics that will have a significant impact.

"This is for those who don't know the half"
This message is for those who do not have the full picture.