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Mark's Wild Years

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Mark's Wild Years --- 2023-12-07

I remember leaving a performance that would go on to be historical, but I had no idea at the time. I was firmly solidified in my opening/second warm-up act of the Indy NY rap scene. A decent gig, I suppose since we are not counting money here. I was a strong organizer of rap shows that doubled as someone who could draw a crowd of respectable folk who weren’t afraid of a bar tab, a fine asset. It was Armand Hammer’s very first show and Open Mike Eagle’s triumphant return to New York after his star continuously ascended beyond couch-crashing and PBR-soaked DIY spots. I stepped out back of Hellgate Social Club, another in a long line of begotten venues that let us rock with relative impunity and thus subsequently bit the dust, I lit up a cigarette, which I did a great many times per night back then and struck up a conversation with a young man who introduced himself as someone who works for Buzzfeed. He then asked me a question that was almost on par with a hidden camera show… he asked if I had heard “the guy who made the Tom Waits rap record?” Like, for real? It had allegedly been the talk of the Buzzfeed staff for its originality. I was floored… “yea. uh I made it, actually” I hamfistedly produced a Mark’s Wild Years matchbook, which could surely assert my claim. Surprised…he looked a little shook, “shit, whoa okay nice to meet you.” The following 5 min convo illustrated a fine euphemism for my career up until that point and beyond. They loved the record but the editor wouldn’t let anyone write about it, due to the fact nobody had heard of me. I foolishly thought it was their job to break new artists. I know that I said as much as the house whiskey acquired through drink tickets would allow. Tough break but equal parts incredible to hear. I was upset but also I was onto something. I was surrounded by the best and brightest the rap world had to offer about a good 5-7 years before the world would catch on. Humble brag, but I knew then. Fast forward to today and my decision to re-release this back into the world in a physical form I could only dream of in 2011 due to the financial constraints of being a dirtbag getting by on the skin of his teeth in a converted living room back when Avenue C was shockingly affordable. I suppose it was lots of merch table convos over the world this past decade plus coupled with the support I cherished from day one when stuffing a dozen envelopes had me feeling like Master P. Maybe it was emails from total strangers whom if you’ve sent when I was drinking you may have ended up with a long, personal response. I’m not sure I believed I’d be where I am today. Maybe I thought the highways and heartaches would’ve gotten me by now. But alas… Here we are and a special thanks to Dove who helped mold the original and stepped in to help put it out into the world all these moons since. My first collaborations with Dove, Zilla, and woods feel pretty significant too. If you’re new to it I think you’ll find something to chew on and if you rocked with me back then I should hope you’d like to own this. Thank you for everything, Prem A tribute to one of America’s greatest living artists of any medium, Mark’s Wild Years is a diverse collection of songs from the depths of Tom Waits’ catalog reinterpreted in hip-hop form. Whether re-creating a narrative of death and dancing from Rain Dogs’ “Tango til They’re Sore,” Or tweaking a gut-wrenching homage to “Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis,” Mark’s Wild Years offers the glimpse into the mind of one of NYC’s more promising hip-hop artists as seen through the lens of Mr. Waits ORIGINALLY released November 7, 2012 Vinyl pressing by fused arrow records December 2023