The rapper Roc Marciano called “The God”
New York emcee Roc Marciano is an often overlooked figure in hip-hop. The former Flipmode member has been on the scene since the turn of the millennium, and after leaving Busta Rhymes’ collective in 2001, the lyricist formed his own underground rap group, the U.N.
Alongside Dino Brave, Laku and the late Mic Raw, they released their 2004 album, UN Or U Out, through 456 Entertainment. As a thoroughbred New Yorker, the city’s legends have always collaborated with him. Marciano was featured on Wu-Tang Clan’s 2005 Wu-Tang Meets The Indie Culture and also appeared on Pete Rock’s NY’s Finest, which was highly acclaimed by critics for its East Coast authenticity and raw lyricism.
During the 2000s, Marciano made guest appearances on records by MCs such as GZA, Royal Fam, and Pumpkinhead. However, by the beginning of the 2010s, he had begun releasing solo material. From 2013’s Marci Beaucoup to his 2022 project, The Elephant Man’s Bones with The Alchemist, Marciano has proved to be unrelenting in his creativity.
That said, following the release of his second studio album, Reloaded, in 2012, the New York lyricist had an in-depth interview with Complex magazine where he spoke about his early influences and some of his favourite albums ever. From hip-hop to funk, soul and even pop, Meyers revealed to Complex that, growing up, the album that impacted him the most and shaped him as an individual was Eric B & Rakim’s 1988 sophomore project, Follow The Leader.
Rakim’s importance in hip-hop cannot be underestimated. From the way he dressed to the style with which he delivered his rhymes, the lyricist single-handedly changed the course of hip-hop and, alongside Eric B, created a musical dynamism that inspired a whole generation of East Coast MCs to tell their stories. With his jewellery, gold teeth, hard-hitting beats and swagger, he gave a new lease of life to a New York that was slowly losing itself to a more prominent and innovative West Coast hip-hop movement.
Recalling his introduction to Eric B & Rakim, Marciano told Complex, “Follow The Leader was my first hip-hop album that I ever got. I loved Paid In Full, but I never had the album. Follow The Leader was given to me as a Christmas present.”
He continued, “My mom knew I loved Rakim, so she got me the album. Follow The Leader was the coldest piece of work. That put the battery in my back. It was like I saw him, then I was like, ‘This is how I see myself doing it.’
As he heaped praise on Rakim, Marciano highlighted how the ‘My Melody’ lyricist was one of the first artists from Long Island to proudly represent the area. Recalling this, Marciano continued, “Rakim is the best. What more can I say about The God? That’s why I even rap. From how they dress, to how they put on for Long Island! Are you serious? The Dapper Dan shit, jumpin’ out the Saab with the long coat. Smooth cold killer shit.”
Although Marciano admitted he did have other influences growing up, he was insistent that none of them could touch Rakim, and you can see the emcee’s influence on Marciano’s aura. From the leather trench coats with fur lapels to the heavy gold necklaces stacked around his neck, the remnants of Rakim are there.