Marz (artist)
Encyclopedia
Marz, born Zlatko Hukic, is an American
rap
artist from Chicago
, Illinois
. He spent several years with Ministry
before forming his own rap-metal band, also called Marz. After touring with Insane Clown Posse
and contributing to the band Dark Lotus
, he set up his own record label, Billion Dollar Ballers.
, but grew up in Chicago and started in music working as a tech in a Chicago recording studio (Chicago Trax), where he worked for various acts, including Peter Gabriel
and Ministry
. Hukic met Ministry's Al Jourgensen
in 1994 at the Chicago Trax recording studio where Hukic was interning while working on solo material, and Jourgensen recruited him to work on Ministry's record, Filth Pig
, playing guitar and also acting as engineer. He went on to become a full-time member, touring the world with the band. He stayed until Ministry's 1999 album, Dark Side of the Spoon
, but left the band soon after it was recorded. He was later persuaded back to play on one last tour with the band.
Marz produced a demo which won him a contract with E-Magine Records
, with whom he released the album Lung Fu Mo She. The album was described by Drowned in Sound
as a "toxic blend of industrial drumming and guitars mixed with his own bullet proof rhyming flow". According to Jukic, "The majority of the record is about self-empowerment." Tracks from this album were featured in a TV ad for the movie Catwoman, in MTV
’s The Real World, and included on MTV & WWE’s Tough Enough 2 Soundtrack.
In 2000-2001, Marz, with his band, also called Marz, comprising Hukic, Rey Washam (drums, programming, formerly of Ministry), Troy Gourley (bass guitar), Louis Svitek (guitar, also formerly of Ministry) and Pat De La Garza (guitar)) performed two nationwide tours with Insane Clown Posse
on the “Bizaar Bizzar Tour” and appears on Dark Lotus
' debut album, Tales from the Lotus Pod
. Marz was later forced to sever ties with this group after he was thrown off the ICP tour. Hukic and Jourgensen remained on good terms, with Jourgensen even joining Marz on stage at a few performances.
Marz toured with Korn
in 2002 after joining their record label, Elementree, to begin work on his second album, and performed on Korn's "Pop Sux" Tour. During this time, Marz recorded collaborations with Jonathan Davis
and Swizz Beatz
. Marz had a song on "Gorilla Pimpin" thanking the Juggalos. Jonathan Davis from Korn and ICP have been at odds since Violent J made statements to Davis about his childhood. Davis informed Marz he would have to cut the word juggalo from the album. Marz refused and self-released the album, "Gorilla Pimpin'", which includes a song titled "Cut Throat" that featured Jonathan Davis. Even after the argument Davis and Marz have stayed civil. Davis allowed him to release the track for the album.
In 2004, Marz started his own record label Billion Dollar Ballers Entertainment. He released TGZ Nation The Mixtape under this label.
In 2005, Marz performed at Power 92 Chicago’s Summer Fest.
Hukic has had Marz tracks included in several films including Life and Lyrics
(2006 - "Whut It Do" and "Video Tape It") and It's a Boy Girl Thing
(2006 - "Red Carpet Pimpin'"). He also appears in the Ministry performance film Sphinctour
.
In 2006, Marz teamed up with Fearless Radio to launch his own radio show with B.D.B. labelmates Pack and DJ E.L.I.—The Billion Dollar Baller Show
In 2007, Marz released his 4th album, Marz Presents: Grind Music The Movement. This album contains collaborations with artists like Pack, Redbone & Chrissy Feliciano; Rope 30, Big EZ & Epidemik; Sawbuc; Chi-ILL; John Blu; Heata; and Trinity.
The first single on the album, "Nawww", features "Block CEOs", a Chicago group which Marz put together. Group members are Rope 30, Big EZ and Sonny Black of 108 Records, Chi-ILL and Henny B of Torture Chamber Records, and Marz and Pack of Billion Dollar Ballers. Block CEOs did a video for the song "Nawww".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rap
Rap
Rap may refer to:*Rapping, performance in which rhyming lyrics are used, with or without musical accompaniment ; while an MC performs spoken verses in time to a beat/ melody**Hip hop subculture**Hip hop music...
artist from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. He spent several years with Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
before forming his own rap-metal band, also called Marz. After touring with Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
and contributing to the band Dark Lotus
Dark Lotus
Dark Lotus is an American hip hop supergroup based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1998, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler of Insane Clown Posse, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric of Twiztid, and Chris Rouleau.-History:Dark Lotus made its...
, he set up his own record label, Billion Dollar Ballers.
Early history
Marz was born in CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, but grew up in Chicago and started in music working as a tech in a Chicago recording studio (Chicago Trax), where he worked for various acts, including Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel
Peter Brian Gabriel is an English singer, musician, and songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist and flautist of the progressive rock group Genesis. After leaving Genesis, Gabriel went on to a successful solo career...
and Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
. Hukic met Ministry's Al Jourgensen
Al Jourgensen
Alain David Jourgensen , is a Cuban-American musician best known as the founder and frontman of the industrial metal band Ministry. He is sometimes credited as Alain Jourgensen, Alien Jourgensen, Hypo Luxa , Dog, Alien Dog Star and Buck Satan...
in 1994 at the Chicago Trax recording studio where Hukic was interning while working on solo material, and Jourgensen recruited him to work on Ministry's record, Filth Pig
Filth Pig
Filth Pig is the sixth studio album by industrial metal band Ministry, released in 1996 on Warner Bros. Records. The title was allegedly derived from a statement made in the British Houses of Parliament, where bandleader Jourgensen was described as a filthy pig by MP Teddy Taylor...
, playing guitar and also acting as engineer. He went on to become a full-time member, touring the world with the band. He stayed until Ministry's 1999 album, Dark Side of the Spoon
Dark Side of the Spoon
Dark Side of the Spoon is the seventh studio album by industrial metal band Ministry, released in 1999 through Warner Bros. Records. "Bad Blood" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2000....
, but left the band soon after it was recorded. He was later persuaded back to play on one last tour with the band.
Marz produced a demo which won him a contract with E-Magine Records
E-Magine Records
E-Magine Records is an independent record label specializing in electronica, pop music, and dance music. It has been in existence since early 2000. It is owned by Christoph Rücker....
, with whom he released the album Lung Fu Mo She. The album was described by Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
as a "toxic blend of industrial drumming and guitars mixed with his own bullet proof rhyming flow". According to Jukic, "The majority of the record is about self-empowerment." Tracks from this album were featured in a TV ad for the movie Catwoman, in MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
’s The Real World, and included on MTV & WWE’s Tough Enough 2 Soundtrack.
In 2000-2001, Marz, with his band, also called Marz, comprising Hukic, Rey Washam (drums, programming, formerly of Ministry), Troy Gourley (bass guitar), Louis Svitek (guitar, also formerly of Ministry) and Pat De La Garza (guitar)) performed two nationwide tours with Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
on the “Bizaar Bizzar Tour” and appears on Dark Lotus
Dark Lotus
Dark Lotus is an American hip hop supergroup based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1998, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler of Insane Clown Posse, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric of Twiztid, and Chris Rouleau.-History:Dark Lotus made its...
' debut album, Tales from the Lotus Pod
Tales From The Lotus Pod
Tales from the Lotus Pod is the first album by American hip hop group Dark Lotus. Released in 2001, the album featured the first and only appearance of former member Marz, who was soon dismissed from the group. Mike E. Clark was brought in to produce the album, but left the project after producing...
. Marz was later forced to sever ties with this group after he was thrown off the ICP tour. Hukic and Jourgensen remained on good terms, with Jourgensen even joining Marz on stage at a few performances.
Marz toured with Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
in 2002 after joining their record label, Elementree, to begin work on his second album, and performed on Korn's "Pop Sux" Tour. During this time, Marz recorded collaborations with Jonathan Davis
Jonathan Davis
Jonathan Houseman Davis is the lead vocalist and frontman for the nu metal band Korn. Davis was ranked 16th on Hit Parader 's list of "Heavy Metal's All-Time Top 100 Vocalists".-Early life:...
and Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
. Marz had a song on "Gorilla Pimpin" thanking the Juggalos. Jonathan Davis from Korn and ICP have been at odds since Violent J made statements to Davis about his childhood. Davis informed Marz he would have to cut the word juggalo from the album. Marz refused and self-released the album, "Gorilla Pimpin'", which includes a song titled "Cut Throat" that featured Jonathan Davis. Even after the argument Davis and Marz have stayed civil. Davis allowed him to release the track for the album.
In 2004, Marz started his own record label Billion Dollar Ballers Entertainment. He released TGZ Nation The Mixtape under this label.
In 2005, Marz performed at Power 92 Chicago’s Summer Fest.
Hukic has had Marz tracks included in several films including Life and Lyrics
Life and Lyrics
Life and Lyrics is a 2006 British film directed by Richard Laxton and starring Ashley Walters, a former member of the garage band So Solid Crew....
(2006 - "Whut It Do" and "Video Tape It") and It's a Boy Girl Thing
It's a Boy Girl Thing
It's A Boy Girl Thing is a 2006 romantic comedy film directed by Nick Hurran and written by Geoff Deane, starring Samaire Armstrong and Kevin Zegers and set in the United States but produced in the United Kingdom. The producers of the film are David Furnish, Steve Hamilton Shaw of Rocket Pictures...
(2006 - "Red Carpet Pimpin'"). He also appears in the Ministry performance film Sphinctour
Sphinctour
Sphinctour is a live CD/DVD/VHS release by the industrial band Ministry released in 2002. It contains various tracks recorded on their 1996 world tour in support of the album Filth Pig.-Track listing:*Track 5 and 13 not included on CD releases...
.
The Billion Dollar Baller Show
In 2006, Marz teamed up with Fearless Radio to launch his own radio show with B.D.B. labelmates Pack and DJ E.L.I.—The Billion Dollar Baller Show
Marz Presents: Grind Music The Movement
In 2007, Marz released his 4th album, Marz Presents: Grind Music The Movement. This album contains collaborations with artists like Pack, Redbone & Chrissy Feliciano; Rope 30, Big EZ & Epidemik; Sawbuc; Chi-ILL; John Blu; Heata; and Trinity.
The first single on the album, "Nawww", features "Block CEOs", a Chicago group which Marz put together. Group members are Rope 30, Big EZ and Sonny Black of 108 Records, Chi-ILL and Henny B of Torture Chamber Records, and Marz and Pack of Billion Dollar Ballers. Block CEOs did a video for the song "Nawww".
Discography
- Lung Fu Mo She LP (2000) E-Magine/Disco Kills
- Gorilla Pimpin LP (2003)
- TGZ Nation: The Mixtape(2004)
- Against All Odds LP (2005)
- Marz Presents Grind Music The Movement (2007)
- Grind Music 2.0 (2008)
- Marz Presents 99 Riches feat The Block Ceos (2008)
- Marz Presents Billion Dollar Ballers-Candy Days(2010)
Featured In
- MinistryMinistry (band)Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
- Filth PigFilth PigFilth Pig is the sixth studio album by industrial metal band Ministry, released in 1996 on Warner Bros. Records. The title was allegedly derived from a statement made in the British Houses of Parliament, where bandleader Jourgensen was described as a filthy pig by MP Teddy Taylor...
(engineer, 1996) - MinistryMinistry (band)Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
- Dark Side of the SpoonDark Side of the SpoonDark Side of the Spoon is the seventh studio album by industrial metal band Ministry, released in 1999 through Warner Bros. Records. "Bad Blood" was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2000....
(electronics & guitar, 1999) - Various Artists - Psychopathic Records 2001 Sampler (vocals, 2001)
- Dark LotusDark LotusDark Lotus is an American hip hop supergroup based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1998, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler of Insane Clown Posse, Jamie Spaniolo and Paul Methric of Twiztid, and Chris Rouleau.-History:Dark Lotus made its...
- Tales From The Lotus PodTales From The Lotus PodTales from the Lotus Pod is the first album by American hip hop group Dark Lotus. Released in 2001, the album featured the first and only appearance of former member Marz, who was soon dismissed from the group. Mike E. Clark was brought in to produce the album, but left the project after producing...
(vocals, 2001) - Various Artists - WWE Tough Enough, Vol. 2 (vocals, 2002)
- MinistryMinistry (band)Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
- SphinctourSphinctourSphinctour is a live CD/DVD/VHS release by the industrial band Ministry released in 2002. It contains various tracks recorded on their 1996 world tour in support of the album Filth Pig.-Track listing:*Track 5 and 13 not included on CD releases...
(guitar, 2002) - Various Artists - Heavy Hittaz Mixtape (vocals in "Driven", 2004)
- Enhancer - Electrochoc (vocals in "La Pression", "Electrochoc" & "West Side De Paname", 2006)
- Freaks - Cadillacs & Battle Raps (vocals in "Lil Mama", 2009)
- Song (Do What You Do) featured in Kia SoulKia SoulThe Kia Soul is a compact car designed at Kia's design center in California, unveiled at the 2008 Paris Motor Show, manufactured in South Korea and marketed globally beginning with model year 2010....
ad with hamsters