ArtistInfo

Mars

Hip-Hop/Rap
A.k.a. Mario Delgado

Mars was born in Antioch, California and raised in Pittsburg, California. Sometimes wearing a Hannibal Lecter type mask, his dark lyrics and hypnotic voice gained popularity in the early 2000's throughout the Bay Area, eventually receiving national recognition through his independent record label Mad Insanity Records. His buzz gained the attention of legendary West Coast gangsta rap label, Black Market Records (Brotha Lynch Hung, X-Raided, Big Lurch) which quickly added Mars to their roster. After showing interest in other aspects of the music business, label owner Cedric Singleton assigned Mars as project manager for Big Lurch and started Rest In Peace Records. The young mougal reached out to horrorcore pioneer Ganxsta NIP and signed him to his newly formed label. After two successful releases and new found knowledge of behind the scenes working of a national label Mars ventured off on his own to focus once again on Mad Insanity Records. The young artist quickly went to work releasing "Mars Attacks" with Ganxsta NIP setting the tone of its controversial sound with his signature narration and sold out of its first pressing a week before its release date on pre-orders alone with distribution companies setting their sights not only on Mars, but the entire horrorcore genre. With now a world wide reach he re-released the album that is considered a classic by many horrorcore fanatics. One fan would however change the lives of many including that of Mars himself. On March 21, 2005 Jeff Weise, a die hard horrorcore fan was responsible for the second biggest school shooting in history killing 9 people before ending his own life. Investigators found "Mars Attacks" in the suspects backpack along with writings and printed photos of the artist and later was found to be a frequent user on the official Mars website, posting various topics and messages hinting of his fascination with death and music. With mass media seeking TV and radio interview with Mars he quickly found himself in the mainstream spotlight speaking on behalf of his genre and selling thousands of units of "Mars Attacks" in the process. A few months later Rowlette, TX high school student David Crisp was expelled after officials found hand written lyrics from the album in his binder, in what they thought was threatening rants. Mars again found himelf in the hot seat and back in the view of the general public . "Sometimes the media will try to put the blame on the music because we mirror the crimes committed in our lyrics, but thats bullshit. Real talk? It just makes for a better story." says Mars. In 2005 Miramax Films modeled their villain played by Ben Foster after Mars' image and lyrical content in their award nominated feature "Hostage" staring Bruce Willis. Foster plays the psychotic Mars, who instigates his associates into holding a family hostage in their own home. When Foster was asked about his character in the film he said " I based my character on a serial killer who saw his parents die and now has a fetish for little girls and watching people die." Mars loved the idea and started pursuing his own career in acting appearing in Starbucks Coffee commercials and other small parts before staying focused on his music career and rapidly growing fan base. After years on the national touring circuit Psychopathic Records took notice of the Bay Area native and asked him to submit a track for their upcoming "Tunnel Runners" compilation featuring the undergrounds hottest horror rap artists. The song "They Watching Me" which also features Mike Marshall (Timex Social Club) ended up being a juggalo favorite and also the favorite of Violent J of the Insane Clown Posse prompting him to invite Mars onto their 2008 "Hallowicked" tour as well as their labels "Shock Therapy" tour featuring the entire Psychopathic Records roster. After reaching thousands of people every night and "Tunnel Runners" hitting the Top 25 Rap albums on the Billboard charts Mars went back to California to prepare for another album. "Mars is without a doubt already a legend and I believe he has an incredible future ahead of him. It's that fresh!" says Violent J on his "Witching Hour" radio show. "School House Glock" was his answer to the controversy poking fun at the hype and again creating another classic in the underground to his cult-like following selling thousands right out of the gate and setting off on his headlining "Gat To School" and "Domestic Violence" tours. A year after the release it happens again. On Sept. 15th 2009, 20-year-old Richard McCroskey an inspiring horrorcore artist murdered his girlfriend, her mother and father and a friend after attending a concert. On his Myspace page he names Mars as his favorite artist and the slew of TV and magazine interviews followed once again making Mars the unofficial spokesman for the horrorcore genre, dropping off of his "Murder After Midnight" tour in Hollywood to face the controversy and defend the world of horrorcore music with the likes of Insane Clown Posse on mainstream media outlets. Soon after Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records gave Mars his own radio show on their WFUCKOFF Radio station giving him another outlet to reach their massive fan base interviewing various artists and celebrities making each episode an event in itself for juggalos tuning in every month. With world wide exposure and a full touring schedule Mars picked up various sponsors including Metal Mouth Apparel and Hunid Racks Energy Drink making his face time a marketing and product placement opportunity for his favorite companies. "What's so cool about being able to represent stuff like Metal Mouth and Hunid Racks is, I was already buying their shit anyways. Now I get to rep the Bay in everything I do." Most recently Mars took stage at Psychopathic Records' "Gathering Of The Juggalos" hosted by Charlie Sheen, with Mad Insanity Records artist Kung Fu Vampire for the 5th year in a row playing to thousands of eager fans. He is now preparing to unleash one of the most anticipated mixtapes in the history of horrorcore music, "The Zodiac" featuring artists like X-Raided, San Quinn, Celly Cell, Doomsday Productions, A-Wax, Stevie Stone and more. With the release expected to do huge numbers, and many more tours and appearances lined up, it seems that the sky is the limit for an artist who's music was meant to be for his sinister underground followers. Whats next for the Bay Areas darkest secret? Only time will tell.

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