In an exclusive interview, Atlanta’s rising artist MARCO PLUS opens up about his upcoming album, MARCO PLUS vs tha Underworld, dropping August 14. He discusses the personal hell that inspired the project, the organic collaboration with Smino on the standout single “Out My Way,” and how co-signs from legends like J. Cole and J.I.D keep him motivated. MARCO PLUS also shares his thoughts on evolving his artistry beyond technical rapping, the balance of viral moments and authenticity, and how he’s helping to shape the “New Atlanta” sound.
Your upcoming album, MARCO PLUS vs tha Underworld, is set to drop soon. Can you tell us about the core concept or inspiration behind the title and how it reflects the themes explored on the project?
I’m really letting listeners into my head with this album, it’s essentially me talking to myself and battling my own personal hell. To me, the underworld is the world of underground rap and trying to get out, but that’s also exploring the overall theme that the underworld can be any form of being down on your luck or facing something difficult in your life. This album is about getting through your own personal hell, whatever that is for you.
“Out My Way” featuring Smino is already generating significant buzz, with Smino himself praising it. What was the collaborative process like for that track, and what made him the perfect feature for that particular song?
I made “Out My Way” in five minutes at my crib and a couple days later, I ended up in LA. I was already planning on linking with Smino, but that’s where I realized “Wait, Smino would sound great on this.” So he came to the studio on one of my last days in LA and laid down a verse in thirty minutes, he was pretty much freestyling. It came together so fast – it was dope to see him work. It didn’t feel like work though – it was natural, we were chilling just watching Tom Brady and Kyrie Irving highlights in the studio, too.
You’ve received co-signs from a diverse range of acclaimed artists like J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa, and Joey Bada$$, with J.I.D even calling you a “real spitta.” How do these acknowledgments influence your creative process, if at all, and what do they mean to you as an artist?
Their co-signs and praise mean a lot to me; it inspires me to go harder. If they’re listening, there’s no bounds to who else is listening and that means my fanbase is growing. Whether it be just the occasional supporter, the die-hard fans or the music industry icons – their words make me want to keep going.
Your recent singles, including On My Momma, have built strong momentum leading into this album. How do you feel your sound has evolved over these releases, and what can listeners expect in terms of musical growth on MARCO PLUS vs tha Underworld?
With this album I had to realize that getting better at rapping isn’t a linear experience. I had to look the expectation of being the best technical rapper in the face and let it go so I could allow myself to just be an artist. In that, I really figured out how to convey what I was feeling and improved my songwriting, for sure. In this album, fans will see more storytelling and see me as an artist beyond focusing on being the best rapper. Sometimes we as rappers start boxing ourselves in, but it’s not the end, all be all. Rap and hip-hop are nothing without expression.
Your On The Radar freestyle garnered over 1M collective views across social media and you were named one of Pigeons & Planes’ Best New Artists of 2023. How do you leverage viral moments and critical acclaim to connect with new audiences while staying true to your artistic vision?
I love showing what I can do online and putting my best foot forward, but it is a balance. You want to make sure you’re giving the people what they want without straying too far away from yourself and coming across as a gimmick. Whatever I do, I make sure it’s still me, but I know how to use the internet to my advantage – whether that be with my lyrics or my tweets, too.
As a rising voice in the BAKKKSEAT! HOUSE collective and a prominent figure in the next wave of Southern hip-hop, how do you see yourself contributing to and shaping the sound of the genre moving forward?
I want to continue helping my friends and cohorts grow as artists because we have a serious chance to really cultivate and shape a new sound coming out of Atlanta. I want more people to not only embrace the changes happening in music down there, but feel free to emulate it or make it their own. Atlanta is obviously a hub for mainstream hip-hop, trap and even boom-bap but there’s another genre emerging on a smaller level right now that I call “New Atlanta” that’s a mix of stoner rap, underground trap and more. I can’t wait to see where we are able to take it.