ATLANTA, GA. (Gotee Records) - Mars ILL's latest endeavor, PRO PAIN, is an offering that is as diverse as it is consistent in its superior delivery. After building a base that started with local club dates, the group pressed limited edition vinyl and embarked on national tours to support their first and second releases, Raw Material and Backbreakanomics, respectively.
On July 19th, PRO PAIN, their third full-length release, remains on Mars ILL's course of continued evolution. The framework of Mars Ill, the two-piece Atlanta collective comprised of Manchild (emcee) and Dust (DJ) may seem deviant of others in the circuit but the results achieved are in a class of their own. Razor sharp rhymes interact with street-smart lyrics, turntable scratches and free flowing hip-hop rhythms. There is a hearty dose of sweat-stained reality derived from years of slugging it out on the Atlanta scene.
'Atlanta is very much responsible for who we are as artists and people, from weekly open mics to working with a community of artists over the years,' explains Manchild. 'This one's about showing the world who we are as artists and taking it to the next level, raising it up one more notch then we were before. I certainly see a lot of guys living a particular lifestyle and I'd be an actor if I tried to be like that,' admits Manchild. 'To us it's all about the music and making the best quality you can, not about the smoke, the mirrors and the hype. Every time we do something, we put a lot of ourselves into it and seek growth. The goal is to communicate better while still keeping the groove going.'
Mars Ill digs deep on PRO PAIN, laying out personal struggles and setbacks while providing a realistic hope Having that 'no holds barred' mentality sets the pair and assigns an instant credibility and relate-ability to the tracks on PRO PAIN. Sonically, the album is marked by progressive pop prodding, powerful production and a delicate balance between underground acceptance and accessibility. A fusion of grassroots beat box experimentation coasts neck and neck with slick lyrical statements sure to captivate longtime followers and capture new observers.
New tracks that up the ante include 'When Heaven Scrapes,' an entrancing neo-soul shuffle, and 'Effortless,' a poetically charged wake up call to stop complaining about catastrophes and how to cut them down to a more manageable stature. 'Sound Off' is equally as potent, signaling a call to arms for people to plug into their communities and increase fellowship. Mars ILL themselves employ several Georgia locals on the project.
'Saturday Night Special' is supplemented by lightening speed battle emcee Ishues, 'Write of Passage' includes the shimmering saunter of Ben Hameen and J-Mil of Collective Efforts, while 'More' is met with supplementation from Ahmad (part of fellow Gotee act 4th Avenue Jones').
'We want to show the world who these guys are,' enthuses manCHILD. 'There's a lot of incredible talent out there that deserves a platform. By working together, it only helps us all make better music.'
