Greetings and welcome to my blog! My name is Marley Montano and I've produced and performed hip-hop music under the emcee alias "The Messenger" for well over ten years now throughout this great state of Florida. Over this time, I have had the honor and privilege of performing numerous shows with some of the most talented and unique hip-hop artists Florida has to offer! Some of these acts have included; Solillaquists of Sound, Sevenstar, Cyne, S.K.I.P., DJ Dirty Digits, Tough Junkie, MayDay, Blak Lungz, X144, Double Helix, Rubox, DJ SPS, Simple Complexity, The AB's (formerly known as Asamov), Dillion Maurer (formerly known as Intellekt), Madd Illz, Astronautalis, and many others. For a number of years, I was a member of the Gainesville-based hip-hop & funk fusion band Voice of the People. During this time, when artists like these would visit our city, they would many times find themselves either in my private studio or crashing on the couch of fellow V.O.T.P. emcee, Etch1ne. Show after show, we both found ourselves humbled and amazed by the diverse talent we were exposed to. A feeling began back then that would only intensify over the years; pride in our culture, and pride in our community! This would continue to inspire me and eventually lead to my concept for the show I now call, VERBALIZE with THE MESSENGER.
About five years ago I interviewed Orlando-native, Greg Rollet (G-Ro) from the hip-hop group, STUMPP. This interview was released on URBAN SYNTHESIS RADIO as my first official episode of VERBALIZE in the form of an audio podcast. Over the next several years, I slowly began conducting interviews but did not give the show my full attention.
Since moving from Gainesville and becoming a father, I have still remained active in the Florida performance circuits and have even returned to Gainesville on many occasions to play shows and host events for The Hip-Hop Collective. Throughout my travels, I have always been deeply troubled by the sad reality that so many of these artists that I've met, many of whom are performing across the country and throughout the world, seem to exist, at times, virtually unknown by the very communities in which they live. In the cases where communities have known and supported these artists, I still feel as though the true message of their work is somehow being missed.
It is my intention with this show to give you an up close and personal understanding of what lies behind the music, minds and lives of these incredible artists, and all-around phenomenal people. All interviews are divided into parts and are designed to expose you to new chapters of their respective stories.
My first official episode of VERBALIZE with THE MESSENGER, launched November 10th, 2010 and featured Orlando-based hip-hop artist, S.K.I.P. Below you will find the youtube links to all available VERBALIZE episodes. When an episode is launched, each additional part will air exactly one week after the previous episode. I hope you enjoy learning about the lives and the processes these artist go through to compose their art. I also hope that these stories will inspire you to share the message of these artists lives and their music with others!
Peace & Love
- Marley The Messenger
www.reverbnation.com/MarleyTheMessenger
www.TheMessengersBlog.com
VERBALIZE EPISODES:
S.K.I.P. - Orlando, Florida - November 2010
D.P. - Gainesville, Florida - March 2011
