Mars ILL has released several albums and EPs through independent record labels and two albums on Gotee Records. Their success in the underground in the early 2000's led to their performing at Scribble Jam in 2003 and 2004 and ultimately their signing to Gotee.
Beginning in February 2008, manCHILD will be releasing 5 new songs every month on manchildinsider.com purchaseable by subscription.
MARS ILL DISCOGRAPHY
* Raw Material (Sphere of Hip Hop Records, 2000)
* Raw Material (Uprok Records re-release, two tracks removed & two added: 2001)
* The Blue Collar Sessions (Ill Boogie Records, EP: 2002)
* Sound Methods (Independent, 2002)
* Backbreakanomics (Gotee Records, 2003)
* Sound Methods 2.0 (Independent, Re-release with added tracks: 2004)
* Pirate Radio (Independent, 2004)
* The Blue Collar Sessions (EP, re-released 2005)
* Backwaterprophets (Independent, full remix of Backbreakanomics by Dust: 2005)
* Raw Material 5th Anniversary Edition (Independent, 3 bonus songs: 2006)
* No Fame (Indpendent, Dust solo instrumental album: 2006)
* ProPain (Gotee Records, 2006)
* Old Ironsides (December 20, 2006)
* Slow Flame (Independent, full remix of ProPain by Dust with 3 songs from original '04 version of ProPain: Dec. 2007)
Inside Out
Mars Ill Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Building in a cell block, shocked at the mystery
Unlocked the misery kept inside his body's chemistry
And when he's by himself, he has to cry to keep on living
Reads letters from his children from far outside the prison
And it isn't enough that he didn't pull that trigger
Just a neighborhood fixture on the corner drinking liquor
A two-time offender who got caught up in the moment
And somebody got shot and son was fingered in the line-up
Tossed into a 6x9, stuck because his time's up
Fine luck, had to beat a brother on his first day
To protect his own best interest in like the worst way
Blames the system that built jails instead of schools
Blames religion as a set of useless rules
Blames his father that he never even knew
Looks in the mirror. Yeah, he blames him too...
(Verse 2)
He starts to read books, an empowered resolution
Malcolm, Dr. King, Mumia and Huey Newton
Learns that nothing worth having is ever gon' be easy
He studies philosophy while everyone's watching TV
And after 33 weeks, he starts to do the science
Sees God's handwriting there underneath the fine print
It had been there all along just waiting for him to find it
But he'd been blinded by his time spent trying to fight it
But the spark ignited the fuel inside him
And now he holds the flame that burns the brightest
Because the slightest touch from the heavens can heavily change the tides
Or tip the scales to either side of the problems in our lives
He found faith in a cage and his mind's already free
And he can float through these walls far beyond what he can see
He sees his cell as a cross that he'll carry if need be
But of course his body wants to join his soul and be free...
(Verse 3)
So he's a new man, motivated to slice through the hatred
And radiate to those that play with death and want to take his breath
He'll make each step count for something greater
Understands that he can hate the game and still love the players
He shares his cell with another one-strike-too-many-type of Jon Doe
Who wants his rights back though
The conversation words flow and get kind of thorough
And it just so happens that they're from the same borough
From the same neighborhood, from off the same freeway
From the same ghetto and from the same PJ's
And Jon Doe knows how his situation started
How kids were busting shots at their local supermarket
On that one fateful night that changed our hero's life
And how he got knocked wrongfully and how it isn't right
But strangely, our man is calm and doesn't lose sight
He knows that he was broken so that he could find Christ
And for that he's thankful, no shank pulled got him
He's never felt so high while he was standing at the bottom
And after six months, a judge heard his appeal
Released into a city that becomes his mission field
He pulls a free breath that feels fresh despite all the smog
He used to hit the bottle but now he fights for God
And since he's seen it all, he can say what it's about
And to think this all started from the inside out...
The song "Inside Out" by Mars Ill tells the story of a man who is sitting in his cell, reflecting on his past mistakes and the circumstances that brought him to prison. The first verse describes his inner turmoil and the regret that he feels for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He blames the system that failed him and the people around him for not steering him in the right direction. The second verse is about how he finds hope and redemption through studying books written by influential figures in African American history, and how he is able to find God's love and forgiveness even in the darkest of places. The third verse talks about how he is released from prison and uses his experiences to reach out to others who are struggling with similar issues.
There are several themes present in this song, including the effect of systemic racism on people of color, the transformative power of education, and the role of faith in transforming lives. The story told in the song is relatable and powerful, and it speaks to the feelings of hopelessness and regret that many people feel when they find themselves in difficult situations. Ultimately, the message of the song is one of hope and redemption, and it encourages listeners to take responsibility for their own lives and to work towards positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
Building in a cell block, shocked at the mystery
In prison and confused about how he ended up there
Unlocked the misery kept inside his body's chemistry
Finally opened up emotionally and mentally after being locked up
And when he's by himself, he has to cry to keep on living
Needs to release emotional pain to cope with his situation
Reads letters from his children from far outside the prison
Finds solace in letters from his family he can't be with
And it isn't enough that he didn't pull that trigger
Even though he wasn't directly involved in the crime, he still ended up in prison
Just a neighborhood fixture on the corner drinking liquor
A regular person who made a mistake and got caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time
A two-time offender who got caught up in the moment
Ended up in prison for the second time, due to a split-second decision
Was close by when a robbery was operated sloppily
Was in the vicinity of a robbery that went wrong
And somebody got shot and son was fingered in the line-up
A person was shot during the crime and he was identified as a suspect
Tossed into a 6x9, stuck because his time's up
Put in a small prison cell and stuck there because of his sentence
Fine luck, had to beat a brother on his first day
Had to fight someone to protect himself on his first day in prison
To protect his own best interest in like the worst way
Had to resort to violence to protect himself
Blames the system that built jails instead of schools
Believes the criminal justice system prioritizes punishment over education and rehabilitation
Blames religion as a set of useless rules
Doesn't find comfort in traditional religious practices
Blames his father that he never even knew
Blames his absent father for his current situation
Looks in the mirror. Yeah, he blames him too...
Blames himself as well for his mistakes and choices
He starts to read books, an empowered resolution
Takes the initiative to educate and empower himself through reading
Malcolm, Dr. King, Mumia and Huey Newton
Reads books by influential figures in African American history and activism
Learns that nothing worth having is ever gon' be easy
Discovers that valuable things in life require effort and perseverance
He studies philosophy while everyone's watching TV
Chooses to invest his time in education and enlightenment rather than mindlessly consuming media
And after 33 weeks, he starts to do the science
Deepens his knowledge further by studying science
It had been there all along just waiting for him to find it
Realizes that his faith and spiritual connection to God was always present, he just needed to recognize it
But he'd been blinded by his time spent trying to fight it
Was consumed by his anger and resentment, preventing him from recognizing higher power in his life
But the spark ignited the fuel inside him
Finds inspiration to pursue his spiritual journey
And now he holds the flame that burns the brightest
Finds hope, positivity and purpose in his newfound faith
Because the slightest touch from the heavens can heavily change the tides
Believes in the power of divine intervention to make significant change
Or tip the scales to either side of the problems in our lives
Can affect the balance of good or bad in our lives
He sees his cell as a cross that he'll carry if need be
Sees his personal struggles as a burden he has to bear and overcome
But of course his body wants to join his soul and be free...
Desires to be free from the physical and mental constraints of prison
So he's a new man, motivated to slice through the hatred
Transformed into a different person with a positive outlook on life
And radiate to those that play with death and want to take his breath
Inspires and brings hope to those who are in a similar situation
He'll make each step count for something greater
Believes in the importance of taking purposeful action towards realizing greater aspirations
Understands that he can hate the game and still love the players
Dislikes the criminal justice system but still has empathy and compassion for those who work within it
From the same neighborhood, from off the same freeway
Discovers a connection and shared history with a fellow inmate
From the same ghetto and from the same PJ's
Grew up in the same impoverished community
And Jon Doe knows how his situation started
The other inmate understands how he ended up in prison
How kids were busting shots at their local supermarket
Describes an incident that led to the other inmate's arrest
On that one fateful night that changed our hero's life
Reflects on the moment that drastically altered his path
And how he got knocked wrongfully and how it isn't right
Details the unfairness of his own wrongful imprisonment
But strangely, our man is calm and doesn't lose sight
Remains composed and hopeful despite continued adversity
He knows that he was broken so that he could find Christ
Believes that his difficult experiences allowed him to find his faith
And for that he's thankful, no shank pulled got him
Grateful for his survival and transformative experiences in prison
He's never felt so high while he was standing at the bottom
Feels spiritually fulfilled despite his imprisonment and hardship
And after six months, a judge heard his appeal
Successfully appeals his conviction after months of legal action
Released into a city that becomes his mission field
Finds purpose in helping others and sharing his story after his release
He pulls a free breath that feels fresh despite all the smog
Feels renewed and liberated after his release
He used to hit the bottle but now he fights for God
Turns to faith and advocacy work as a way to cope with his past struggles
And since he's seen it all, he can say what it's about
Gains a unique perspective and understanding from his experiences
And to think this all started from the inside out...
Reflects on how his transformation began within himself despite external adversity
Contributed by Gabriel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.