Marco Polo (producer)
Encyclopedia
Marco "Polo" Bruno is a Canadian hip hop producer. Born in Toronto
, he moved to New York City
in the early 2000s to pursue a career in hip hop production
, and has since gone on to become one of the most sought-after underground producers on the US East Coast.
, Bruno used to work as a sound engineer in several recording studios. That is how he met up with legendary Brooklyn
MC Masta Ace
, who was looking for beats for his 2004 LP A Long Hot Summer
at this time. Even if he could not pay him at first time, Ace used one of the beats Polo gave him, for the "Do It Man" (featuring Big Noyd
). Sadat X
's Black October, and various Boot Camp Clik
projects. His debut album, Port Authority
, was released through Rawkus Records
and featured guest raps from Masta Ace
, Kool G Rap
, Buckshot
, Wordsworth, O.C., Kardinal Offishall
, Large Professor
and Sadat X
. On June 2, 2009, a collaboration album with Torae was released, titled Double Barrel.
On June 29, 2010, Marco Polo released The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo on Duck Down Records
. The album featured guest raps from an assortment of acts including the Large Professor
, Torae
, Royce Da 5'9" and others.
, and his style is somewhat comparable to that of Pete Rock
and DJ Premier
, the latter of which he names as his greatest influence. To give a more authentic effect to his production, he will individually sample drum sounds (such as a hihat) and arrange them to create his own "breaks". He often uses bass to enhance melodies he has sampled. He has been known to use outro beats to segue into the next song.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in the early 2000s to pursue a career in hip hop production
Hip hop production
Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music. Though the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music, it's most commonly used to refer to the instrumental, non-lyrical aspects of hip hop. This means that hip hop producers are the instrumentalists involved in a work...
, and has since gone on to become one of the most sought-after underground producers on the US East Coast.
Biography
When he came to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Bruno used to work as a sound engineer in several recording studios. That is how he met up with legendary Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
MC Masta Ace
Masta Ace
Duval Clear , known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is a rapper from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony"...
, who was looking for beats for his 2004 LP A Long Hot Summer
A Long Hot Summer
A Long Hot Summer is the fifth solo album from Hip Hop artist Masta Ace. The release is a highly acclaimed concept album, a follow-up to his 2001 concept album Disposable Arts. The story follows Ace, an underground rapper through his "Long Hot Summer" in Brooklyn, accompanied by buddy Fats Belvedere...
at this time. Even if he could not pay him at first time, Ace used one of the beats Polo gave him, for the "Do It Man" (featuring Big Noyd
Big Noyd
TaJuan Perry, better known as Big Noyd, is an American emcee from the Queensbridge projects in the New York City borough of Queens. He is closely affiliated with Mobb Deep, and he is featured on all of their albums...
). Sadat X
Sadat X
Sadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
's Black October, and various Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik
Boot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York, which is composed of Buckshot , Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz , Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C....
projects. His debut album, Port Authority
Port Authority (album)
Port Authority is the debut studio album of Canadian hip hop producer Marco Polo, released May 15, 2007 on Soulspazm/Rawkus Records.The album is entirely produced by Marco Polo, and features guest appearances from Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, Buckshot, Wordsworth, O.C., Kardinal Offishall, Large...
, was released through Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records
Rawkus Records is an American hip-hop record label known for jump-starting the careers of both Mos Def and Talib Kweli. Rawkus started in 1996 with initial releases ranging from hip-hop to drum and bass...
and featured guest raps from Masta Ace
Masta Ace
Duval Clear , known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is a rapper from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony"...
, Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson , better known by his stage names Kool G Rap , Kool G. Rap, and Giancana , is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew...
, Buckshot
Buckshot (rapper)
Buckshot is an underground rapper, famous as the leader of Hip Hop supergroup Boot Camp Clik, and the group Black Moon. He has released one solo album, two with producer 9th Wonder, four albums with Black Moon and four albums with the Boot Camp Clik.- Biography :Born and raised in Brooklyn...
, Wordsworth, O.C., Kardinal Offishall
Kardinal Offishall
Jason D. Harrow , better known by his stage name Kardinal Offishall , is a Canadian rapper and record producer. He is often credited as Canada's "hip-hop ambassador", and is best known for his distinctive reggae and dancehall-influenced style of hip-hop.-Life and career:Harrow was born in...
, Large Professor
Large Professor
Large Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
and Sadat X
Sadat X
Sadat X is an American rapper, most famed as a member of Alternative hip hop group Brand Nubian. Originally known as Derek X, Sadat takes his name from former Egyptian president Anwar Sadat....
. On June 2, 2009, a collaboration album with Torae was released, titled Double Barrel.
On June 29, 2010, Marco Polo released The Stupendous Adventures of Marco Polo on Duck Down Records
Duck Down Records
Duck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million...
. The album featured guest raps from an assortment of acts including the Large Professor
Large Professor
Large Professor , also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as a frequent collaborator with Nas...
, Torae
Torae
Torae is an American rapper from the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York.- Career :Torae gained recognition by collaborating with DJ Premier and Marco Polo. He and Polo went on to receive critical acclaim for their collaborative LP entitled Double Barrel. In 2007, Hip Hop DX featured him in...
, Royce Da 5'9" and others.
Technique
Marco Polo's production revolves around his use of samplesSampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
, and his style is somewhat comparable to that of Pete Rock
Pete Rock
Peter Phillips , better known by his stage name Pete Rock, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. He rose to prominence in the early 1990s as one half of the critically acclaimed group Pete Rock & CL Smooth...
and DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
, the latter of which he names as his greatest influence. To give a more authentic effect to his production, he will individually sample drum sounds (such as a hihat) and arrange them to create his own "breaks". He often uses bass to enhance melodies he has sampled. He has been known to use outro beats to segue into the next song.
Albums
- 2005: Canned Goods (Pockets Linted Entertainment)
- 2006: Orange Moon Over Brooklyn(Soulspazm), with PumpkinHead
- 2007: Port AuthorityPort Authority (album)Port Authority is the debut studio album of Canadian hip hop producer Marco Polo, released May 15, 2007 on Soulspazm/Rawkus Records.The album is entirely produced by Marco Polo, and features guest appearances from Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, Buckshot, Wordsworth, O.C., Kardinal Offishall, Large...
- 2009: Double Barrel (Duck Down RecordsDuck Down RecordsDuck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million...
), with ToraeToraeTorae is an American rapper from the Coney Island section of Brooklyn, New York.- Career :Torae gained recognition by collaborating with DJ Premier and Marco Polo. He and Polo went on to receive critical acclaim for their collaborative LP entitled Double Barrel. In 2007, Hip Hop DX featured him in... - 2010: The eXXecution (Duck Down RecordsDuck Down RecordsDuck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million...
), with Ruste Juxx - 2010: The Stupendous Adventures Of Marco Polo (Duck Down RecordsDuck Down RecordsDuck Down Music Inc is a New York City based record label, talent management, music-marketing, and consulting company founded by Drew "Dru-Ha" Friedman and Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake in 1995. In Duck Down's 16 year existence, the Company has released over 40 Albums and sold more than 3 million...
) - 2011: TBA with Hannibal Stax
- 2011: Port Authority 2
Production
- 2004: A Long Hot SummerA Long Hot SummerA Long Hot Summer is the fifth solo album from Hip Hop artist Masta Ace. The release is a highly acclaimed concept album, a follow-up to his 2001 concept album Disposable Arts. The story follows Ace, an underground rapper through his "Long Hot Summer" in Brooklyn, accompanied by buddy Fats Belvedere...
- Masta AceMasta AceDuval Clear , known better by his stage name Masta Ace, is a rapper from Brownsville, Brooklyn. He appeared on the classic 1988 Juice Crew posse cut "The Symphony"... - 2007: Casualties of WarCasualties of War (album)Casualties of War is the fourth album by Hip Hop supergroup Boot Camp Clik, released on August 14, 2007 through Duck Down Records. The album is compiled of leftover tracks recorded for the group's 2006 album The Last Stand...
- Boot Camp ClikBoot Camp ClikBoot Camp Clik is an American hip hop supergroup from Brooklyn, New York, which is composed of Buckshot , Smif-N-Wessun, also known as Cocoa Brovaz , Heltah Skeltah and O.G.C.... - 2007: StereotypezStereotypezStereotypez is the debut album by Hip Hop group Special Teamz, released September 25, 2007 on Duck Down Records. It features productions from Hip Hop legends DJ Premier and Pete Rock, as well as Marco Polo, Jake One, MoSS, Ill Bill, Xplicit and Italian producer DJ Shocca...
- Special TeamzSpecial TeamzSpecial Teamz is a hiphop group made of Boston rappers Edo G , Jaysaun and Slaine .... - 2008: A Vicious CycleA Vicious CycleA Vicious Cycle is the fourth solo studio album from Philadelphia underground hip hop artist Reef the Lost Cauze released on November 10, 2008, by Well Done Entertainment. The album was re-released on February 10, 2009, with two new remixes of the tracks "Listen to Me" and "Get It? Got It? Good" by...
- Reef the Lost CauzeReef the Lost CauzeSharif Talib Lacey, better known as Reef The Lost Cauze, is a prominent underground hip hop artist based in Philadelphia. Aside from being a solo artist, Reef is a member of the hip hop group The JuJu Mob as well as the hip-hop collective, Army of the Pharaohs.-Career:Reef started battling other... - 2008: D.I.R.T.D.I.R.T.D.I.R.T. is the third album by the hip hop group Heltah Skeltah, made up of Sean Price and Rock. It is their first album since 1998, when they released Magnum Force, which did not receive anywhere near as much critical acclaim and underground success as their 1996 record Nocturnal...
- Heltah SkeltahHeltah SkeltahHeltah Skeltah is a hip hop duo consisting of members Rock and Ruck . The two are members of New York supergroup Boot Camp Clik, along with Buckshot, Smif-N-Wessun and O.G.C.... - 2009: Survival SkillsSurvival SkillsSurvival Skills is the collaborative album from MC KRS-One and Buckshot. The album was released on September 15, 2009 on Duck Down Records. It is the 18th album for KRS-One, and the fourth for Buckshot.The first single, ROBOT, was released on May 5, 2009...
- KRS-OneKRS-OneLawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
& Buckshot - 2011: Save Yourself- Verbal Kent
- 2011: W.A.R. (We Are Renegades)' - Pharoahe MonchPharoahe MonchPharoahe Monch is an American hip hop artist. He is known for his complex lyrics, complex delivery, and internal and multisyllabic rhyme schemes.-Biography:...