Mars Co-Op, the Philadelphia rapper who introduced avenue authenticity to The Roots crew and co-founded Tali Up Boyz Records with the late Malik B, has died from unknown causes. Crew member Dice Raw confirmed the unfortunate news.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, the artist, who additionally glided by Black Caesar and M.A.R.S Co-Op, carved out his personal lane whereas working along with his Roots relations.

Most heads know Mars from his memorable verse on “Clones” from The Roots’ traditional Illadelph Halflife album, the place he spit alongside Black Thought and Malik B.

But that monitor was only a glimpse into what this cat was actually about. Mars wasn’t your typical backpack rapper – he got here from the streets and by no means tried to cover it.

“I grew up in the streets. I didn’t grow up poor or f_cked up._ I ran away from home, got out on the streets, shooting mofos, doing all types of sht. Luckily, at some point in my life, I did have a father. The music saved my life,” Mars told AllHipHop in a 2012 interview.

That realness is what separated Mars from the pack. While The Roots have been constructing their repute as acutely aware Hip-Hop intellectuals, Mars and his associate Malik B represented the grittier facet of Philly’s rap scene.

They weren’t attempting to evangelise or educate – they have been simply telling their fact.

“We brought the streets to The Roots. Early on, they was doing street festivals and stuff, and then me and Malik was doing stuff that our peoples liked. Me and Dice [Raw of The Roots] was from Logan, so our style was different. We was that street stuff,” Mars defined.

The partnership between Mars and Malik B ran deeper than simply music.

Together, they launched Tali Up Boyz Records, giving them the artistic freedom that main labels couldn’t. The label grew to become their platform to talk with out censorship or company interference.

“That’s why we got T.U.B. Records. We can say whatever we want,” Malik B mentioned about their unbiased enterprise.

Mars understood the enterprise facet of Hip-Hop higher than most. He watched how the business tried to sanitize The Roots’ message and determined to take management of his personal narrative.

Through T.U.B., he launched initiatives like The Power’s within the Tongue and his single “Black Caesar,” showcasing the unfiltered perspective that set him aside.

“I have a lot more information to give people when I spit; it’s all reality to me. I don’t write about other people’s lives. Either you love it or hate it. We need another lane for this other type of music that we are making,” Mars mentioned.

The Logan part of Philadelphia formed Mars into the artist he grew to become. Growing up alongside future Boyz II Men member Mike McCary and different native abilities, he developed his craft in an atmosphere the place authenticity wasn’t optionally available – it was survival.

Mars’ dying comes simply years after shedding his artistic associate and good friend Malik B, who handed away in July 2020 at age 47. The two had been working collectively for the reason that early days of The Roots, creating music that bridged the hole between avenue credibility and creative integrity.

The Hip-Hop world has misplaced one other unique voice, somebody who proved you may be a part of a legendary crew whereas sustaining your individual identification.

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