New Music: Marco Pavé ‘Jordan Year’

Fresh off the release of his Perceptions EP, Marco Pavé was inspired to drop a new mixtape for the new year and in celebration of his 23rd birthday, called Jordan Year. To Marco it’s also a “statement for the great responsibility that I already have as a leader in the city of Memphis.”

Overall Rating: 4/5: Astoundingly good sonically, definitely a set of anthems for self-inspiration and refreshingly celebrates the pillars of Hip-Hop in its storytelling. Production was cleverly interspersed with in your face commentary type skits which synched perfectly with the intervals on the track. Marcos Pavé is a problem…a great one. Looking forward to his continued contributions to the culture.

Who Is Marco Pavé?

Substantively, Marco Pavé is Project Pat meets KRS-One, spitting an urban country consciousness with a confidence that could only emerge from coming of age as a Muslim millennial in North Memphis. As a rapper and songwriter, Marco Pavé appeals to a diversity of rap enthusiasts, from purists to radio lovers to hipsters, with a soulful style of hip-hop storytelling and community engagement that appeals to racially and geographically diverse millennial audiences. Marco’s lyrics are often painting pictures with his songs. Marco’s content is abundant yet both understandable and relevant, speaking on topics fans would agree are distressing and all too common in the life of a person his age in today’s society, using these experiences to encourage others like him to persevere. As a sought-after public speaker in community and university contexts, he lectures on hip-hop and conducts workshops on hip-hop and social justice.

Marco Pavé has been building a solid profile for a couple years now. In 2014, he released his first mixtape, Obscure Reality, which was positively reviewed on several blogs. Based on his incredible live performances and the early positive reception of his mixtape, he was invited to perform at SXSW. Next, he was invited to Los Angeles to record an EP with Grammy-nominated producer Haskel Jackson, Memphis native and prolific Grammy-winning producer Carlos Broady, and Grammy-winning engineer James Hunt.

Marco’s experiences coming of age as the youngest of four in a Muslim household with a single father render him a unique storyteller and observer of social reality. Marco reflects the bourgeoning energy of the New Memphis Movement, a loose collective of artists, activists, non-profit professionals, and cultural entrepreneurs working to improve the city through art. Marco is involved in a number of community improvement initiatives, from literacy campaigns to calls for neighborhood investment. His contributions have not gone unnoticed and in 2013 had the library at Crosstown Arts’ Storybooth named after him. His music and inspirational speaking (universities to TEDxMemphis) have captured the attention of the masses, garnering recognition on a local and national scale. The momentum he built from hustling in the Memphis scene yielded opportunities to open for rappers Skewby, Haystak, and Waka Flocka, solidifying his position as a rising star. So it’s no surprise that Marco’s new EP, Perceptions (11/17/15) to an overwhelmingly positive response – becoming the #1 HipHop add at CMJ radio and still remaining in the top 10 on the charts! For a taste check out his newly released “Black Tux” video here.

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About the Author

Dr. Jerry Doby Editor-in-Chief of The Hype Magazine, Media and SEO Consultant, Journalist, Ph.D. and retired combat vet. 2023 recipient of The President's Lifetime Achievement Award. Partner at THM Media Group. Member of the U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, the United States Press Agency and ForbesBLK.