During a phone call, the rapper — who dropped her classic debut album Ghetto Blues in 1994 and has worked with the likes of Tupac, Mac Dre and The Jacka — explains that the debate about performing over raw instrumentals or a recording isn’t always about talent. Sometimes it’s about accessibility.
“I actually had to go back,” she says, explaining that she doesn’t have the original copies of some of her more well-known songs. “I had to go and get that engineer, and take them words out of there.” After removing the vocals from her songs and leaving only the instrumentation, she now plans on delivering a performance this weekend that’s “straight from the gut.”
“You’re gonna get 52 year-old Marv, still barred up.”
Marvaless, an acclaimed lyricist, author and mother, says her daughter keeps her in touch with the latest wave of talent coming out of Northern California. (Courtesy of Marvaless)
The event, which also features performances by Gennessee Lewis, Versoul and Hieroglyphics’ Pep Love, is presented by Sellassie Blackwell, the hip-hop artist and activist who was part of The Frisco Five hunger strike.
Heading into this weekend’s show, Marvaless is in the midst of a resurgence of sorts. Earlier this year, while in conversation with Dregs-One on the History of The Bay Podcast, the veteran MC shed light on how she entered the rap game by way of C-Bo’s guidance, spent time in the studio working with Mac Dre, and has a longstanding deep appreciation for Messy Marv, who she dropped a project with in 2003 called Bonnie & Clyde.
She also shared a moving story about the letter she penned to a then-incarcerated Tupac Shakur, which led to them recording the track “Never Be Peace.” She ended the interview by noting there’s more music to come.
This year she’s done a number of shows and has been featured on a handful of singles, including X-Raided’s “What’s My Name” and a track with DZ and C-Bo titled “Same Thang.”
Founder of The Marvaless Foundation nonprofit and author of the book Quotes From the Queen, Marvaless is currently finishing up a new solo album called Queen Caliphia and a duo album called Like Mother, Like Daughter with her child, Lil Marvaless.
Crediting her daughter for keeping her ear tuned into the latest movements in the region, Marvaless says she’s proud of the current Northern Californian hip-hop scene.
“It’s dope that it’s still going,” she says. “And a lot of the pioneers from back then are still rocking and going strong, I love that aspect of it.”
Even as time passes and music changes, Marvaless says she has nothing but love for the the younger artists who are coming out and representing for our area.
And, at the same time, it’s clear that the fire inside the former battle rapper hasn’t faded. “I’m glad that I’m still here,” she says, “I’m still rocking stages, and I’m still barred up.”
On Saturday, Oct. 25, the Real Emcees Don’t Rap Over Their Lyrics event goes from 8 p.m. until midnight at Bissap Baobab (2243 Mission St., San Francisco, CA).