Mars (rapper)

Not to be confused with Marz (rapper).
Mars

Mars publicity photo from 2002
Background information
Birth name Mario Raphael Delgado[1]
Also known as West Craven, Stinky The Rapist, Count Slapula, Marsellus Wallace, The Zodiac
Born April 18, 1980
Antioch, California,[2]USA
Origin Pittsburg, California[3]
Genres Hip hop, horrorcore
Occupation(s) rapper, entrepreneur, record producer, actor
Years active 1997-present
Labels Mad Insanity Records, Rest In Peace Records, Apartment 3 / DNA Entertainment, Black Market Records. Empire Distribution
Associated acts Kung Fu Vampire, Ganksta N-I-P, Insane Clown Posse, J RZ Tha Antichrist,
Website http://www.madinsanity.com

Mario Raphael Delgado (born April 18, 1980), better known by his stage name Mars, is a Mexican American rapper, entrepreneur, record producer, photographer, and actor from the San Francisco Bay Area city of Pittsburg, California [1][4] that often performs with a Hannibal Lecter style mask.[5] He specializes in horrorcore music.

Career

Delgado began his rap career in 1997 with childhood friend J RZ who formed Mad Insanity Records to release their basement style tapes to a circle of friends locally. His stage name "Mars" was a nickname he had been called by classmates as a short version of his name Mario.

In 1998 he released his first unofficial project S.I.D.S. on homemade cassettes and CD-Rs. Topics included rape, suicide, murder, and abortion. The tape is now considered a collectors item by fans.[6]

On Sunday May 9, 1999 J RZ and Mars along with several members of the Mad Insanity Records roster and crew were involved in a fight with Detroit rapper Eminem and Proof at The Fillmore in San Francisco during Eminem's performance on his first headlining "Slim Shady" tour.[7] The incident was published in several notable hip-hop blogs as well as Bay Area newspapers allowing Mad Insanity Records to gain a regional buzz.

In 2001 Mars signed with Black Market Records and helped found Rest In Peace Records with Rod and Anthony Singleton. That same years Mars helped sign horrorcore pioneer Ganxsta NIP and released the Huston, TX artist's album The Return Of The Psychopath in stores nationwide and headed the publicity and marketing as project manager for the album. When Black Market CEO Cedric Singleton observed the success Mars achieved with the project management of Ganxsta NIP, he was assigned to oversee the latest album from convicted cannibal rap artist Big Lurch entitled "All Bad". The Rest In Peace moniker was short lived due in part for Mars requesting his release from the label to push his own brand Mad Insanity Records.

2005 Mars released his debut album Mars Attacks with online stores selling out of copies its first day, two weeks before his release date on pre-orders alone. Later that year, he received national attention when fan Jeff Weise frequented Mars' website and forum before killing nine people.[8] Mars has stated on his website there was no link to Jeff whatsoever other than the suspect being a rabid fan of his music. Due to media attention and high buzz he gained the attention of hip-hop distribution label Beyond Spaced Entertainment and re-released "Mars Attacks" to stores both national and internationally.[9]

That same year Mars was used as the model of a character in a movie based on a novel by Robert Crais. Hostage was adapted for the screen by Doug Richardson with the Mars influenced role played by Ben Foster.[10]

On the August 19, 2008 Psychopathic Records and sub-label Hatchet House released their "Tunnel Runners" compilation featuring material from underground rappers and groups not signed to their roster.[11] The compilation went on to hit the Top 25 rap albums on Billboard its first week. After the Mars track "They Watchin Me" featuring Mike Marshall became widely known as the most popular on the project, Violent J of the group Insane Clown Posse invited Mars to perform on Psychopathic Records "Shock Therapy Tour" alongside Anybody Killa, Blaze Ya Dead Homie, Boondox, Axe Murder Boyz & J Reno. After Boondox experienced medical issues from a prior surgery, Mars replaced the artist on Insane Clown Posse's 2008 Hallowicked Clown Tour.[12]

In 2009 soon after the release of his album School House Glock: Extra credit, a project that blatantly poked fun at his pervious controversy, Mars received international attention once again when it was learned that Mars' music was an influence on the music of horrorcore fan Richard Sam McCroskey, who allegedly killed four people.[1] McCroskey's MySpace page listed Mars as his favorite rapper, and Mars told law enforcement he had seen and signed autographs for McCroskey at various events before the murders.[13] From these events, he has been interviewed by several TV news outlets around the United States including CBS News, Fox News, ABC News, and CNN.[14][15][16]

Mars releases his music on Mad Insanity Records, including his most recent The Zodiac Mixtape Limited Edition (LP) on March 20, 2012. On June 17, 2014 his entire discography was released on digital outlets through Empire Distribution including new singles Hold On, Hurt Em, and Overnight Change. [17] He is set to release a new mixtape in early 2015 called "Locked Up A Broad".

Controversy

Business Ventures

Mad Insanity Records

In 1997 Mars' childhood friend Jason Gamino who performs under the name J RZ Tha Antichrist established Mindless Ignorance Records. The label was changed to Mad Insanity Records after it was found to be too similar to that of rapper Sugafist's label's name, still keeping the MIR insignia. Over the years Mars took control of the company and Mad Insanity Records went on to sign artists to CD and merchandise deals including Q Strange, Mastamind, and Ganxsta NIP. In 2008 Mad Insanity Records signed Kung Fu Vampire after Mars and KFV along with his current band lineup toured together on the Murder After Midnight tour. In 2013 the label signed Montana artist Koshir. In 2013 Mad Insanity Records signed former Reel Life Productions artist Daniel Jordan, San Jose artist Mr. Grey.

Global Gold Graphix

Mars was hired as photographer an senior art director for Xplosive Magazine. He credited his graphic work under Ghetto Gold Graphics and his photography work under the name Always Flashin' Photography. In 2011 he teamed up with long time friend Jessica Renee and changed the name to Global Gold Graphix to establish a wider array of clientele and absorbing Always Flashin' Photography moniker. The company offers graphic design, photography, and video services. The firm has established themselves as one of the leading visual services in alternative hip-hop circles and has supplied artwork, photography and video production for labels like Strange Music and Psychopathic Records as well as an assortment of highly established recording artists and companies.

Red Planet Enterprises

In 2005 Mars established Red Planet Entertainment as an umbrella company for his current and future business ventures. The name was later changed to Red Planet Enterprises after it was discovered Red Planet Entertainment was already taken by a successful media company.

Juggalo News

In 2011 Red Planet Enterprises acquired Juggalo News, one of the most popular and longest running websites covering the horrorcore genre and similar markets after the brand was set to close its doors. Productivity tripled and website visits increased by 300% within the first three months.

Kill Musick

In 2012 Red Planet Enterprises acquired small but semi-popular horrorcore website Kill Musick. The brand is currently in its re-development stages.

5 Star Booking

In 2013 Mars helped establish a booking agency under the name 5 Star Booking whose main focus is to book and manage national tours for hip-hop artists. That same year 5 Star Booking booked the Mars & Irv Da Phenom Raw Energy tour, as well as Psychopathic Records artist DJ Clay's Scratch The Surface tour. In 2014 5 Star added Donnie Polinske as a business partner and head booking agent. In 2014 5 Star booked Mars and Irv Da PHENOM! "Raw Energy" tour.

Personal life

Mars was born in Antioch, CA and raised throughout East Contra Costa County primarily in the city of Pittsburg. He attended Liberty High School, as well as Pittsburg Adult Education before dropping out of his regular curriculum and enrolling in various college courses including photography, marketing & communication, and publication design. He has two daughters, Valentina Delgado (born in 1999) and Angel Slatten (born in 2003) along with one son Gavin Mario Delgado (born in 2007) who has appeared in promotional videos, press, and music videos alongside his father including the Kung Fu Vampire music video for "Love Bites". Mars currently resides in Northern California with his girlfriend,[18] model, and popular bikini barista Jessica Larson.[19]

Discography

Studio Albums
EPs
Singles
Re-Issues
Unreleased

Guest Appearances and Compilations

Acting & Videography

Tours

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bulwa, Demian (September 23, 2009). "Bay Area suspect allegedly bludgeoned victims". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  2. ↑ "MARS: Music Artist - MySpace Profile". Mar's Official MySpace Page. 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  3. ↑ "Chilling Castro Valley man arrested, suspect in the killing of four people in Virginia". Oakland Tribune. September 19, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  4. ↑ "The old skateboard magic returns with a spin on "da bomb"". Contra Costa Times. November 2, 1997. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  5. ↑ http://www.modbee.com/2009/07/04/770584/juggalos-take-issue-with-label.html
  6. ↑ "Local horrorcore rapper Mars finds controversy, success". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "November Hip Hop News". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  8. ↑ "Officials: Up to 20 Students May Have Ties To Red Lake Plot". MTV.com. April 4, 2005. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  9. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/label/Beyond+Space+Entertainment
  10. ↑ http://mars.madinsanity.com/biography/
  11. ↑ http://www.insaneclownposse.com/carnival/iframe.php?page_id=icp_news&month=8&year=2008#a2
  12. ↑ "Yahoo". Yahoo. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  13. ↑ "Investigators probe 'horrorcore' music in Farmville slayings". WSLS. September 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  14. ↑ Vazquez, Joe (September 24, 2009). "'Horrorcore' killing suspect quiet, picked on". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  15. ↑ "Rap artists say they're made scapegoats in shootings". Star Tribune. April 4, 2005. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  16. ↑ Donaldson, Stan; Hoffman, Nathaniel (June 24, 2004). "Murder of rap promoter puts spotlight on violence in industry". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  17. ↑ "Rapped and Tagged: Mars School House Glock! Extra Credit". Fangoria. July 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-24.
  18. ↑ "Jessica Larson’s Hottest Instagrams « Man Cave Daily". Retrieved 26 March 2015.
  19. ↑ Sara P. "Jessica Larson: Lovely Lady of the Day". SourceFed. Retrieved 26 March 2015.

External links