Marlon Jones, CEO & Label Owner, known professionally as Mic Ruckazz is an accomplished rap artist that has steadily developed in this genre since the age of fourteen. His fluent musical style is compared to the likes of Kool G Rap, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, and Big Daddy Kane. He began writing and performing as a teenager in middle school and local talent showcases.

It was West Baltimore, Maryland where Mic Ruckazz began his composition career. As a songwriter and artist he launched his first record label called Skull Mountain Entertaiment, and his first rap group The Notorious Bloodhoundz in 2000. Since then he has been performing and doing showcases throughout the Baltimore/Washington area.

Mic Ruckazz also did underground TV, The Bfiles and has been traveling outside the Baltimore region. After the disbanding of the Bloodhoundz and Skull Mountain, Mic Ruckazz had taken a brief hiatus, he re-emerged as a solo artist in 2010. Mic Ruckazz is heavily embroiled in the hip hop community, not just as an artist but as a promoter, manager, radio personality, executive producer and running his own label Spallden Nterprize and The Rap Royalty movement which consists of yearly female cyphers, collabs and award shows. Mic Ruckazz has proven he is more than an artist.

1.) For those who aren’t familiar with Mic Ruckazz, can you tell them a bit more about yourself?

I’m an artist, manager, radio personalty, entrepreneur, designer, director, and CEO of Spallden Nterprize.

2.) What are some things that most people don’t know about being in the music industry?

The things that most people don’t know about the business that it is a business, meaning 90% business 10% music, and that it’s not all that it is crack up to be.

3.) Unfortunately the music industry is full of talented individuals who just don’t get any recognition for their talent and/or work. What do you plan to do to make sure you stand out and get noticed?

Creativity. You can never go wrong with creating your own style and not being afraid of being different from the rest.

4.) What made you want to branch out and become more of an entrepreneur instead of just being a rapper?

I wanted to know how things operate. I didn’t want to become another TLC or Toni Braxton story in regards to being taking advantage of.

5.) As an entrepreneur who runs multiple businesses, how important is it that rappers (and music artists in general) understand the business side of the music?

Very important, more so then the music. These people in this music industry can be vultures. You have to know what you’re getting yourself into.

6.) Do you think that the traditional music industry model as we know it is dead? Why or why not?

If it’s not dead, it’s losing oxygen. The industry is working hard to get rid of the culture that we knew inspired and educated our people.

7.) Social media is obviously an extremely important element in today’s world, especially when it comes to business, branding, marketing, etc. With that being said, do you think an artist will be able to survive in today’s music industry if they’re not social media savvy?

NO. You must be social media savvy. If not, you better hire someone that is. It’s the way of the world today.

8.) What were some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered as a musician in today’s world putting your work out there?

It’s almost as if they want to force me to being someone I’m not. I will not fall for anything in this industry.

9.) Professionally, where do you see yourself 5 years from now?

Owning a few more businesses. Maybe open up a school strictly for artist to learn about the business.

10.) As creative professionals, we always have a project or two that we’re working on. What are you currently working on? What should we look forward to from you in the future?

I have 3 more promo videos coming out before my single “Death of A Trap Boy.” I also have another documentary and a movie, so stay tune it has just begun.

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