- P R E V I O U S L Y F E A T U R E D A R T I S T -
April / May - Issue 2
ThemeMusiq, rapper |
Song: GOAT 2 (Pinot Gritio)
|
about the artist
Damarcus “Theme Musiq” Pettus was born three days into 1980, on the heels of the official birth of rap music. Captivated by
hip-hop, Marcus spent a lot of time in front of his television emulating MCs such as LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane. The genre’s vibe seemed to be draw him into a space where he could breathe through verbal expression, so he grasped on and never let go. Now, with almost two active decades in the genre, Theme Musiq is utilizing that space to express Marcus. Unapologetically.
hip-hop, Marcus spent a lot of time in front of his television emulating MCs such as LL Cool J and Big Daddy Kane. The genre’s vibe seemed to be draw him into a space where he could breathe through verbal expression, so he grasped on and never let go. Now, with almost two active decades in the genre, Theme Musiq is utilizing that space to express Marcus. Unapologetically.
Marcus’ first written lyric was about a 1964 Impala, which he wrote at 15 years old. Shortly after that, he began creating his image and rhymes hoping to impress a local seasoned rap crew called Terrordome Gangstas. Laughing at him, the rap crew did not take Marcus’ efforts seriously and left him to figure out how to improve. He decided to move to New York – the birthplace of hip-hop – to become a student of the genre on its foundational level.
While in New York, Marcus linked with several local MCs who taught him how to cultivate his writing and flow style, as well as his technique. He moved back to Arkansas a little while later and began to establish his presence at home under the alias “Blaze” to acknowledge his scorching lyric delivery. He took interest in learning how to make beats that would complement his refreshed style. He began working with Michael “DJ Turnpike” Carvell and the two became a production duo that eventually became All Out Entertainment.
At the age of 31, Marcus later changed his name to Theme Musiq to reflect his standout style in comparison to what hip-hop had become during that time. His presence speaks in homage to those MCs that he grew up watching on television and listening to on records, eight tracks, and the radio. Their impression on him is evident in every track and every rhyme, every beat and rhythm chosen, and the showmanship of the performances.
Marcus is now over 16 years in this industry but continues to soulfully sharpen his musical skillset. He has established his individual-style behind the soundboard and the mic and is one of Arkansas’ musical treasures that truly reflects what many of us remember hip-hop to be – feel-good music!
At the age of 31, Marcus later changed his name to Theme Musiq to reflect his standout style in comparison to what hip-hop had become during that time. His presence speaks in homage to those MCs that he grew up watching on television and listening to on records, eight tracks, and the radio. Their impression on him is evident in every track and every rhyme, every beat and rhythm chosen, and the showmanship of the performances.
Marcus is now over 16 years in this industry but continues to soulfully sharpen his musical skillset. He has established his individual-style behind the soundboard and the mic and is one of Arkansas’ musical treasures that truly reflects what many of us remember hip-hop to be – feel-good music!
THE INTERVIEW
URBANE: Who is Theme Musiq?
Theme Musiq: Everyone has a favorite song or something they like about it! It’s me - I’m your favorite song. I’m what they like…the heart of the song. I’m the heart and soul that you hear in music.
URBANE: How would you describe your music?
Theme Musiq: It’s old school hip-hop, but it’s “feel good” music – most definitely. You know that era of music when dudes weren’t tough guying it up on the wall and ladies weren’t in their phones? I try to bring the essence of that back with my music…that real hip-hop party music that makes you wanna get up and dance! It’s stress-free music. It’s real music, you know?! It’s a vibe.
URBANE: Who/what influences your style of music?
Theme Musiq: Artistically - Quincy Jones, but Dr. Dre, J Dilla, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, and all my old-school hip-hop heads from back in the day influence my style. I try to bring the party and the fun to hip-hop like they did, because I feel it’s needed today. There’s too much nonsense going on, especially within our culture, and we gotta do better. So I’m always shooting for that.
URBANE: What’s your fondest memory of music?
Theme Musiq: I was always around music! I remember there were lots of records at my grandma and uncle’s house – it was SO many records. But it was the Sugar Hill gang 8-track that was my favorite. It made me! I could push the button and get it to the exact point I wanted, so I learned that thing from beginning to end. From there, I knew what I wanted to do.
URBANE: How are you connected to Arkansas?
Theme Musiq: My grandma and my grandpa are from the deep woods of Arkansas, so I grew up back and forth between here and New York. As I got older, I liked the feel of the south more so I stayed here.
URBANE: Who are some industry names that you've been blessed to meet, open for, or perform with?
Theme Musiq: I’ve shaken hands with Scarface, Jermaine Dupree, Too $hort, Bun B, and Devin the Dude. I’ve also shaken Russell [Simmons]’s hand before, and Puff [Sean Combs]’s hand before. I’ve met a lot of industry cats, but they came off as the coolest to me. They were real laid back.
As far as who’ve I opened up for…it’s too many to name – just off the top of my head: Marsha Ambrosia, Monica, 8 Ball & MJG, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and Paul Wall. I’ve been in this game since I was 19 and have opened for a lot of artist – I can’t remember them all.
URBANE: Where has your music taken you - literally and metaphorically?
Theme Musiq: I’ve been around with my music. I have performed in Texas, Oklahoma, Memphis…anywhere close, I’ve been there! But those places that I can’t get to, the internet takes me. All my albums are available worldwide and have been heard internationally. That’s what matters – I may not can physically hit everywhere, but my music can.
URBANE: What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
Theme Musiq: To make the world have fun again with music. I want my music to reach the world and bring peace back. I’m all about peace and chillin’ – I’m old [laughs] so I just wanna chill and be at peace. Our youngsters now got guns?! It’s like they ain’t trying to have real fun, they trying to kill each other. I didn’t grow up like that. I grew up in the fun era and I’m trying to bring that back, and keep it here, you know what I’m saying?? I want it to stay here. I want everybody to enjoy that vibe.
URBANE: What project are you working on right now?
Theme Musiq: I’m working on the “Marcus” album – it will be out at the end of April. I’ve been working on this album for like 2 years. I took some time out after my daughter passed, so I’ve revamped the album like three times with different versions. But I think this version is really me. I’m always helping everybody else, working for everybody else; now with this album, I’m working on me. I’m working for me. In order to heal and be better, I gotta help me so it’s about me.
Outside of new music, I have a podcast in the works with a couple of my compadres called, “What U Jammin’ To?” It will debut mid-spring this year.
URBANE: Who’s helping on this project?
Theme Musiq: It was produced entirely by me and my brother, Apollo Lane - we are the Funklords. I also got Dominique Lindsey on there, I got Kymyra Mo on there, Brotha Mac is on there, JP, and my brother Gator are on there singing – it’s gonna be dope!
URBANE: What do you like most about this project?
Theme Musiq: It’s unapologetic and it’s me. I don’t care what nobody’s opinion is about it or how you feel about the situations that I talk about on it…it came from me. It’s me. And you gotta respect that. Grown man [bleep]. It’s mine, and you just gotta respect that.
URBANE: Where can the people find this upcoming project & what day?
Theme Musiq: April 30 is the targeted release date, and it’ll be available on all the digital platforms – Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon, iTunes…whichever your smartphone can access. They can also access it on my websites - ThemeMusiq.com and Blazebond.bandcamp.com.
URBANE: Any positivity to give other Arkansas artists?
Theme Musiq: Stay yourself. Don’t change because they want you to change. Make the music you love and the music you want to make, because once you change, you’ll lose sight of yourself – I don’t’ want you to lose you. We’re all talented, come from a great place – let’s keep the peace and use it so we can all progress. Let’s uplift each other. That’s it.
URBANE: Any final thoughts to share?
Theme Musiq: I wanna shout out my daughter, Reagan. Rest in Peace! I also want to shout out my label - ALL OUT ENTERTAINMENT!
For my fans, thank you for rocking with me. Be on the lookout for more from me and Apollo. Hopefully, when you hear the new project, you’ll be able to relate, relax, and have fun again. Stay Black!
URBANE: Who is Theme Musiq?
Theme Musiq: Everyone has a favorite song or something they like about it! It’s me - I’m your favorite song. I’m what they like…the heart of the song. I’m the heart and soul that you hear in music.
URBANE: How would you describe your music?
Theme Musiq: It’s old school hip-hop, but it’s “feel good” music – most definitely. You know that era of music when dudes weren’t tough guying it up on the wall and ladies weren’t in their phones? I try to bring the essence of that back with my music…that real hip-hop party music that makes you wanna get up and dance! It’s stress-free music. It’s real music, you know?! It’s a vibe.
URBANE: Who/what influences your style of music?
Theme Musiq: Artistically - Quincy Jones, but Dr. Dre, J Dilla, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Slick Rick, and all my old-school hip-hop heads from back in the day influence my style. I try to bring the party and the fun to hip-hop like they did, because I feel it’s needed today. There’s too much nonsense going on, especially within our culture, and we gotta do better. So I’m always shooting for that.
URBANE: What’s your fondest memory of music?
Theme Musiq: I was always around music! I remember there were lots of records at my grandma and uncle’s house – it was SO many records. But it was the Sugar Hill gang 8-track that was my favorite. It made me! I could push the button and get it to the exact point I wanted, so I learned that thing from beginning to end. From there, I knew what I wanted to do.
URBANE: How are you connected to Arkansas?
Theme Musiq: My grandma and my grandpa are from the deep woods of Arkansas, so I grew up back and forth between here and New York. As I got older, I liked the feel of the south more so I stayed here.
URBANE: Who are some industry names that you've been blessed to meet, open for, or perform with?
Theme Musiq: I’ve shaken hands with Scarface, Jermaine Dupree, Too $hort, Bun B, and Devin the Dude. I’ve also shaken Russell [Simmons]’s hand before, and Puff [Sean Combs]’s hand before. I’ve met a lot of industry cats, but they came off as the coolest to me. They were real laid back.
As far as who’ve I opened up for…it’s too many to name – just off the top of my head: Marsha Ambrosia, Monica, 8 Ball & MJG, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, and Paul Wall. I’ve been in this game since I was 19 and have opened for a lot of artist – I can’t remember them all.
URBANE: Where has your music taken you - literally and metaphorically?
Theme Musiq: I’ve been around with my music. I have performed in Texas, Oklahoma, Memphis…anywhere close, I’ve been there! But those places that I can’t get to, the internet takes me. All my albums are available worldwide and have been heard internationally. That’s what matters – I may not can physically hit everywhere, but my music can.
URBANE: What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
Theme Musiq: To make the world have fun again with music. I want my music to reach the world and bring peace back. I’m all about peace and chillin’ – I’m old [laughs] so I just wanna chill and be at peace. Our youngsters now got guns?! It’s like they ain’t trying to have real fun, they trying to kill each other. I didn’t grow up like that. I grew up in the fun era and I’m trying to bring that back, and keep it here, you know what I’m saying?? I want it to stay here. I want everybody to enjoy that vibe.
URBANE: What project are you working on right now?
Theme Musiq: I’m working on the “Marcus” album – it will be out at the end of April. I’ve been working on this album for like 2 years. I took some time out after my daughter passed, so I’ve revamped the album like three times with different versions. But I think this version is really me. I’m always helping everybody else, working for everybody else; now with this album, I’m working on me. I’m working for me. In order to heal and be better, I gotta help me so it’s about me.
Outside of new music, I have a podcast in the works with a couple of my compadres called, “What U Jammin’ To?” It will debut mid-spring this year.
URBANE: Who’s helping on this project?
Theme Musiq: It was produced entirely by me and my brother, Apollo Lane - we are the Funklords. I also got Dominique Lindsey on there, I got Kymyra Mo on there, Brotha Mac is on there, JP, and my brother Gator are on there singing – it’s gonna be dope!
URBANE: What do you like most about this project?
Theme Musiq: It’s unapologetic and it’s me. I don’t care what nobody’s opinion is about it or how you feel about the situations that I talk about on it…it came from me. It’s me. And you gotta respect that. Grown man [bleep]. It’s mine, and you just gotta respect that.
URBANE: Where can the people find this upcoming project & what day?
Theme Musiq: April 30 is the targeted release date, and it’ll be available on all the digital platforms – Tidal, Apple Music, Amazon, iTunes…whichever your smartphone can access. They can also access it on my websites - ThemeMusiq.com and Blazebond.bandcamp.com.
URBANE: Any positivity to give other Arkansas artists?
Theme Musiq: Stay yourself. Don’t change because they want you to change. Make the music you love and the music you want to make, because once you change, you’ll lose sight of yourself – I don’t’ want you to lose you. We’re all talented, come from a great place – let’s keep the peace and use it so we can all progress. Let’s uplift each other. That’s it.
URBANE: Any final thoughts to share?
Theme Musiq: I wanna shout out my daughter, Reagan. Rest in Peace! I also want to shout out my label - ALL OUT ENTERTAINMENT!
For my fans, thank you for rocking with me. Be on the lookout for more from me and Apollo. Hopefully, when you hear the new project, you’ll be able to relate, relax, and have fun again. Stay Black!
For updates on Theme Musiq’s music, follow him on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, or visit website :
www.ThemeMusiq.com - or - Blazebond.bandcamp.com
www.ThemeMusiq.com - or - Blazebond.bandcamp.com
|
BOOKING & MANAGEMENT
Damarcus Pettus mrneo11@gmail.com t+ 501-398-7780 |
PRESS CONTACT
Michael “Turnpike” Carvell TurnpikeAOE@gmail.com t+ 305-676-7890 |
SOCIAL MEDIA
FB: @BlazeBully YT: @MrBlazeBeast TW: @ThemeMusiq IG: @OfficialThemeMusiq |
