*Hip hop and motivational rapper, Marcus “M-Positive” Parker, has become increasingly tired of seeing and hearing the negativity and depredation that emanate from so many hip hop/rap artists and their respective music. There’s no shortage of hip hop artists/rappers pushing lyrics, video images, and lifestyles that’s punctuated with derogatory words, the degrading of women, division of societal brothers and sisters of color, promotion of violence, and the glorification of street life and some crimes.
For Parker, enough is enough. Since the mid-2000s, he has sought viable ways in which to pour positivity into the minds of young black people across America. While his quest has been noble, in some circles, his message, in the past, has been rejected.
“In the past, some people have rejected my message because it was put into the form of rap,” said Parker. “When people hear the word rap, the art form, the expectation changes to wanting to hear a certain type of thing and get into a certain type of mind frame…a mind frame that’s geared to be more hardcore, detached, and egotistical, rather than positive messages of ‘what we need to do to get better’ type of mind frame.”
Parker, an independent artist and producer, recently dropped a new positive single that’s available on digital platforms, entitled “Queen.” He said the positive rap song was recorded to elevate and praise the high worth of black women who have stood behind, with, and for their black men.
“If I never do another song in my life, I wanted to do something for the African female,” Parker said. “Throughout my life and career, it was always that ‘queen’ that showed me support and kept me going. So I wanted to do something that would bring honor to the African American female. I want other brothers to recognize and honor their queens, instead of dogging them or calling them the “b” word. The queens could be teachers, principals, mothers, girlfriends, wives, grandmothers, or daughters; these people have really never been honored for their strong roles.”
“The song ‘Queen’ is beautiful and celebrates women in a fashion that is neither degrading nor sexual in nature,” said Lisa R, a longtime fan of Parker’s music. “I really love that a true artist has taken the time to genuinely appreciate all of the good women in the world.”
For Parker, 40, the road to positivity began more than a decade ago, after he penned a riveting book entitled “The Product.” The book chronicled his life growing up in Port Arthur, Texas and the challenges that he faced as a youth, many of which were negative, and many that mirrors the plight of young blacks who continue to grow up in the inner-cities of America.
Based on his book, which became a best-seller in Texas, Parker began talking to young people at schools, churches, and youth and community organizations about his journey, and how they could stay positive and be successful in respective endeavors. He saw, however, that his positive message wasn’t truly resonating with young black people, which prompted him to create and use rap and hip hop to hit home with his core audience. He called his style: “motivational rap.”
“I basically figured out that if I gave my message to young black youth in the form of a rap song, in a mode of communication that they were accustomed to listening to, they would be able to receive it,” recalled Parker. “They were able to grow from it.”
Always evolving, Parker also created the Motivational Rap Network, which he launched to help independent hip hop and rap artists who were looking for a musical platform that caters to positive hip hop and rap. The network features rap, spoken word, poetry, and positive songs.
“It’s your portal to positive entertainment, a place where people can go who are fans of positive and good music,” said Parker. “It’s for people who like to be entertained, but don’t like all the cursing and negativity and downgrading of women and stuff that they hear in today’s mainstream rap music.”
Parker feels that many people are starting to gravitate to positive rap, more so than yesteryear.
“I’m starting to witness society sort of sway to the direction of positivity, because of so much negativity in the news and all what’s going on with young African Americans and police brutality and racism,” said Parker. “People are wising up and realizing that those subconscious messages are negatively impacting lives and that we need to be looking at more positive vibes, if we want to stay alive.”
While it’s possible that mainstream radio will one day play Parker’s music, he’s not waiting around. He is a pioneer who is innovatively providing music on digital platforms in ways that few artists of any genre can match.
“I’ve never seen mainstream success,” said Parker. “I’m positioned to be like the Master P of the digital era.”
To purchase the song “Queen,” go to iTunes, CD Baby, and other digital music platforms. To submit a video to the Motivational Rap Network, or to browse its selection of positive entertainment, log on to iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/queen-single/id999087348. To learn more about Marcus “M-Positive” Parker, Google him.
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