Meet Marcel P. Black | Husband/Father/Emcee/Facilitator/Hip-Hop Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marcel P. Black and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcel P., what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor behind my success is that I love what I do so much that I’m willing to put the time into to be great. I always believed if I stayed true to my personal values, culture, & craft, that what everyone else says or does doesn’t matter.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a southern, underground/independent conscious emcee. What makes me different is that I am influenced by all types of Hip-Hop, but I’m very intentional in what I put in to my art, and whatever I do has to be an honest reflection of who I am and what I stand on. Early on, people told me I was “too Hip-Hop” for the streets, while the Hip-Hop purists said I was “too street.” The southern rap fans said I was “too east coast,” while the east coast heads said I was “too country.” Instead of trying to cater to anyone, I double down on who I am authentically, a country ass southern backpacker who makes conscious raps for gang members.

None of this has been easy. I had to work 10 times as hard as everyone else, and be willing to bet on myself when noone gave me a chance, and it worked. One thing I learned is that it doesn’t matter who tells you no, bc as long as you’re willing to put the work in, there’s someone out there that will say yes, and if the yes ain’t worth the risk, do it yourself. Maya Angelou said “Nothing will work, until you do.” I live by that quote.

My story is one of a person who is in love with what he does, and has overcome so many obstacles strictly by staying true to what I fell in love with in the first place.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m new to Tulsa so I’m still finding my way around, but I would strongly tell my friend to come the weekend of the Dreamland Festival, a Hip-Hop and live music and tech festival that brings some of the best creative minds to the Town. I’d tell them to go to the Black Wall Street Mural on Greenwood, go to Mother Road Market and eat at Leroux’s Kitchen, and make sure you get a good parking spot downtown so you can barhop and catch all the dope shows.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this to my cousin Meche L. Roberts who recently passed away. He is the person who taught me how to rap when I was 5 yrs old, he is the first person who I saw who loved Hip-Hop culture. Rest In Peace Big Cousin!!!

Website: marcelpblack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcelpblack/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarcelPBlack

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcelpblack

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maroonmusic1

Other: marcelpblack.bandcamp.com