Passionate, affectionate, caring, emotional and creatively inclined – the different sides and colours which make up the “Rubik’s Cube” that is Marcus Haran. The proof is in the pudding, or music in this case.
All Marcus wants is for people to relate to him through his music. He is passionate about it and this is evident in the way he gets lost in himself when he talks about it, his journey and what got him where he is now – a hot asset among the emerging artists of Toronto’s hip-hop world.
From being a diaper dope baby to a minor case (pun intended; he was just a boy) of arson, Marcus’s childhood was not without its own spectacles. After being caught red-handed – or red-wheeled – driving a car that was not his (nor his mum’s, dad’s, uncle’s or anyone he knew – you get the point) at age 14, his mum sent him to Montreal for the summer. It turned out to be the best punishment ever. He was introduced to Fruity Loops or “F.L. Studios” and the rest, as they say, is history. Marcus eventually learned to channel his emotions and anger into music.
This self-taught beat-boxer (we’ll tell you how in a minute) got in touch with his inner Eminem, his inner Drake and his inner J.Cole, to name but a few of his influences. His mother, wanting her two boys to have some culture, bought them each an instrument when they were younger. While Marcus enjoyed strumming his guitar, it was his brother’s drums that caught his attention. Any time he was alone at home, he would take his “beat” at the drums. You can imagine the disappointment when his brother admitted to their mum that drums (or any instrument for that matter) were not for him and she took them away. The creatively inclined Marcus turned what he’d learned from the little drumming he did into sounds with his mouth – thus his self-taught beat-boxing skill emerged.
As the years went on, the aspiring artist had a few more storms to weather before getting where he is. This included taking a year off in high school so he could work and help his mum with household bills while she was pregnant with his younger sister. Caring for family and loved ones has always been important to him. Particularly seeing as they clearly care about him too and are an inspiration, like his older brother Drew Haran. Marcus was inspired by his brother’s hustle which paid off as he is now a successful photographer.
He credits a lot of his focus and success to Rajeev, his neurologist cousin of whom he speaks of affectionately, because Rajeev gets him and is always there for him. Rajeev is “the most genuine person I know; he told me to be true to myself.” Which is probably one of the reasons Marcus trusts Rajeev and sends him his work before finalizing it. Everybody needs that objective view.
What draws Marcus to artists such as Eminem, Drake, J.Cole is their “openness” in the way they talk about their lives, but he maintains that he just wants to be himself. “It’s all about finesse.”
This bona fide hip hop artist’s star is definitely rising. He is currently signed to Commission Entertainment and has hinted to an album dropping soon. In the meantime, tracks like “All My People Say” “Follow the Lights” and “Scooby Doo” (his favourite) will tide your musical-appetite over. He has also graced the FordNation stage, performing for former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford at an event.
The road ahead is long and Marcus is well aware of that fact. When he’s not recording or performing; he works on growing as a musician, by reading books and material on song writing as well as exploring other genres that he enjoys; jazz, rock and one that might surprise you – classical music. He’s also looking into taking a few creative writing classes to further hone those skills.
“Music is the language of the world.” He would therefore love for his music to reach the world– fame would just be a bonus. Well said Marcus.
Passionate, affectionate, caring, emotional and creatively inclined – that’s Marcus Haran in a few words.
Get a taste of Marcus “Beneath the Pavement.”
