Mad Marlon

Local mix-tape don DJ Fresh claims that next to Tech N9ne, Mad Marlon of Kansas City, Kansas, has the best live show in town. That’s a bold claim, but Marlon’s latest, Mixtape Gods, gives it credence. Like a tornado siren blowing across the border, Marlon’s big, full voice and undeniable cadence ought to wake up the Missouri side to the madman and his “Crime-dotte” fam. After all, it’s a well-known fact that the KCMO hip-hop community shows little love to KCK artists. On songs like “Ride With Me,” Marlon overlooks geographical prejudices, calling out crews on both sides of State Line Road. Marlon even takes a shot at area MCs whose live shows aren’t up to par: I rock like Nirvana/You rock like Hoobastank. While Marlon keeps grinding in the 913, folks in the 816 will have to keep waiting for his next show on our side of the tracks.