“Happy Birthday Marc” MJF Mix
August 25, 2011 6 comments
August 25, 1987: the day JUICE was created, manliness was reinvented, and the the world started to make sense. It is the womb expulsion anniversary of Mr. Marcus aka Jamarcus fka “One Take” Jamarcus bka Marc. The founder of MJF and personal gigolo of Zoya turns 24. Hurts when breathe, I’m sure. We can all attest that this blog holds a certain place in our lives and in the subcockle regions of our hearts. For the writers, it gives us a creative outlet and a way to flex our love of music and pop culture. For music junkies, it allows them to keep abreast of new music worth listening to. And for all of us, it allows us the opportunity to engage with MJF/Marc on Twitter and Facebook, which, unless you are someone like this guy, usually leaves you with a smile on your face, a flutter in your heart and a half-chub. NO FUCKING HOMO THOUGH. We originally tried to get a Happy Birthday song written by Michael Jackson and have perfect-pitch contributor LoneXionc perform it, but then we learned MJ gone… our albino dead. So, The Black Kevin Arnold came up with the idea to pay homage to El Jefe by having each contributor pick a song that embodies Marc (Entire mix is downloadable at the bottom plus a bonus, unreleased “One Take Jamarcus” freestyle). We thought this would bring a happy note to the otherwise fact that his life is essentially over.
Raj: Kendrick Lamar – Michael Jordan
My birthday song for Marc would have to be “Michael Jordan” by Kendrick Lamar for a few reasons. First and foremost, JaMarcus was the first to tell me about Kendrick and he quickly became my favorite rapper. He still is to this day. Ever since, any time I ask him a question about the site or have any problems with it, most of the time he will reply back with an answer along with “DON’T WUWWY,” which used to be Kendricks’ signature until his new album released. It’s a constant reminder of our good taste in hip-hop. With that being said, Happy 24th Birthday Marc, and when life in the corporate world continually brings you down – always tell yourself ‘Don’t Wuwwy’ because the next quarter of your life is destined to be filled with success.
The Black Kevin Arnold: The Dream – Make Up Bag
Ever heard of the phrase “It aint trickin’ if you got it?” Well yeah, Marc invented that. $15 for Applebee’s? That’s my lane when it comes to the honey dips. Times are hard. But Marc’s a little more fancy with his women, which is why his year-round anthem is The Dream’s “Make Up Bag.” If you checked his iTunes, the play count for that song would read ∞. He’s always on Twitter randomly quoting the lyrics, waiting for a girl to say “Oooh I love that song” so he can flood her DMs. Sad really, but dat’s still my dog doe.
I dedicate this Birthday song to Marc because he’s really ‘bout that “Drop 5 stacks on the make up bag” life. There’s no limit to his trickin’. He might buy you Cris’, but that about it. He might light your wrist, but that about it. Shit, he might wife you and buy you nice whips. That’s how power players do. Here’s to your big day, Marc. Happy Birthday, playboy *Birdman hand rub*.
Bauce Sauce: T.I. – Stand Up ft. Trick Daddy and Lil Wayne
Bonus Pick: The Cool Kids – Swimsuits (MJF Rick Ross Roll Remix)
There I was… a neophyte “writer” coming off his first ever online blog post and making my next foray into “blogging” by writing an article about Childish Gambino (complete with an email exchange with Donald Glover that included a gay marriage proposal to him). Once posted, I kept checking back to see what the people thought. The Facebook Likes began to pile up and then after a day or so the first comment appeared. It was from a then-unknown-to-me “Marc Heilbrunn” with the comment:
Much like Jay-Z and RZA, Marc and I connect.
I don’t quite remember how we began conversing… but somehow I ended up writing a blurb for Wax’s “Scrublife” Mixtape and was granted an open invitation to help contribute or to post any further Rap Genius writings on MJF. We both loathed our corporate office jobs, which led to a lot of time trading obscure rap lyric references and Drake jokes via the G-est of chats. Without Marc’s encouragement, I never would have fathomed that I would enjoy writing about music as much as I do… and without MJF I certainly would not have learned how diverse my musical palette actually is, a sentiment I’m sure the majority out there would echo.
What sticks out to me most about Marc is his truly “I have nary a fuck to give” attitude. From beefing with Zoya and Hype Machine, dissing bloggers that step out of line, speaking the truth to MJF hopefuls and encouraging us writers to “POST THAT SHIT! FUCK YOU THINK I MADE MOSTLY JUNK FOOD FOR? TO WEAR A SUIT AND MAKE GOOD DECISIONS?” when we ask “Is it okay to post this leaked song/album?” Marc, though young, has been in the blog game for years and has the jaded attitude of an old grizzled book publisher. For me, no song sums up Marc’s IDGAF-ness than “Stand Up” by TI. ft. Trick Daddy and Lil Wayne. Also, because I also don’t give a kcuf I have also included the MJF Rick Ross Remix of The Cool Kids’ “Swimsuits” as everyone out there should #NeverForget Marc Rick Ross Rolled the Internet.
Nah_Rez: Jay-Z – Can I Live
The brains of this operation has a gift–he is essentially the Rain Man of rap lyric memorization, no autism. He throws lyrics into regular conversations and I can keep up sometimes but I wasn’t born with the gift so I get thrown off on occasion. Out of pretty much every rapper, I have always considered myself to be a big Jay-Z fan…until I got to “know” Marc. After failing to catch on to his quoting of Iceberg lyrics multiple times he recommended that I listen to Reasonable Doubt more. Although I was a LITTLE offended at the time, I have since gotten over it and followed his orders. In the wake of Watch the Throne’s release I think everyone should listen to Marc and devote some headphone time to Reasonable Doubt.
“Can I Live” is a track from Reasonable Doubt and I chose it because everyone has their, and I quote, “See me stressed out, can I live” moments and running a website is three million times harder than I ever imagined. However Marc still devotes his time whenever possible and puts out more posts per day than even us *unemployed* contributors. The core focus of “Can I Live” is a relentless pursuit of success and although starting MJF might not have been done with the goal of getting you places, I know it will continue to open doors and land you that dream job.
So here’s to you Marc, thanks for the snarky advice, for continuously coming to my rescue when HTML treats me bad, and most of all thank you for starting this site and getting it to where it’s at today. PS If you’re Jay-Z I’m Beyonce, HAPPY BIRTHDAY yeeeee!!
Nadav: Ghostface ft. Action Bronson & Termanology – Meteor Hammer
I’m gonna go with “Meteor Hammer” by Ghostface Killah featuring Action Bronson and Termanology for a number of reasons. Namely, it was Marc’s post that introduced me to this song, and I can’t stop listening to it, and Action Bronson might be his go-to artist at this point in the game. Seriously, dude can’t get enough! There have literally been 9 Action Bronson posts in the last 30 days, 8 of them by Marc. It’s almost out of hand. But it’s a fitting song though. I dunno if Marc is Halal (doubt it) or if I’d call him the Puerto Rican version of Scarface, but I know my man smokes tons of keef. Just like Ghost himself, Marc is pretty fuckin swagged out, nahmean? And, like Ghost, Marc is not afraid to call out the soft rappers in the game.
But on the real, this track has a little bit for everyone. It’s got that old-school thug mixed with new-age lyricism and enthusiasm. I feel like that’s what Marc’s brainchild brings to the game. There’s something at MJF for everyone… I read the blog for the same reasons yall do. There’s no way in hell I can keep up with every track that drops every day, so I let my homies at MJF enlighten me while I try to throw some flavor back their way. Marc is a trendsetter in the game, and an all-around great guy. I’ve usually got a question or two about how to improve a post, and my man is always quick to respond with a “saul good… swag juice.” 100% serious, Marc, happy birthday to you. I wish you nothing but the best, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such a badass team as you have assembled at MJF. Much love and O.G. Kush.
Jessie: Radical Something – California
When I first found music blogs, my perception was that they were the place where frat rap came to die. And then I found MJF. Adopting me when I was just another funemployed girl wandering the world of UberTwitter, Marc took me in, created my wordpress, and fed me rap lyrics so that I could grow up big and strong. At first, I couldn’t even embed a song and now – look Mom! – I can put an animated hamburger in the hands of Reptar. From the artists I never knew to a new-found appreciation for Alison Brie, Mostly Junk Food has given me everything – including helping my days of caffeinated consciousness (aka employment) go by faster, concert tickets, and opportunities to meet artists. It’s Marc I have to thank for always being there to fix a mediocre post anytime my technologically challenged self needs some help. His ability to call me on crap, typo or otherwise, is unrivaled and greatly appreciated. He is also the one who wrangled this group together that brings you a myriad of tunes and endless entertainment each day. While the blog speaks for itself, the fact that the entire MJF team responded to the question of a birthday post for Marc with emphatic drake hand movements should tell you more about the guy behind the blog.
From me and your entire funky bunch, happy birthday Marcy Marc! You’re good like Sunkist. And remember when the HYPEMan gets you down:
-Ancient Google Proverb
*Song choice is because Marc loves California ALMOST as much as when I post Radical Something, don’t ya brotha? *Desmond Hume accent*
Green: Soulja Boy – Zan With That Lean
From what I know, I am the newest member of MJF besides Tiffany and I think the youngest. So I don’t know Marc as well as the others. Marc did not show me my favorite artist nor do I know what lyrics he tweets 80% of the time. I do know he has nightmares of me posting for his blog and still wonders how I got onto this team. I’ve only learned a few things about the MJF honcho. His love for quoting lyrics in the middle of conversations (word to Nah), playing Waka Flocka in turntableFM, and Zan With That Lean. I’m sure there are plenty of others good things about him, but that’s not the point. I didn’t see any other blogger tweet “Zan With That Lean” more than Marc. Hell, I didn’t really see anyone tweet or talk about it as much as him. I know this doesn’t describe Marc, explain his struggle of running a blog, or have anything meaningful but it’s what reminds me of him. Isn’t that why we are doing this appreciation post? I’m sure he is not thrilled about it, but it is what it is JUICE. I believe he was responsible for at least a couple hundred thousand of the millions of views it got on youtube. When Marc said, “Zan With That Lean is a schedule 1 narcotic.” I lost it. Marc is keeping Soulja Boy’s name alive with his breakdown of “Zan With That Lean.” I have found a new exception for my birth year brother S.B JUICE.
I was trying to keep this short because my horrible grammar will soon takeover. On that note, Happy Born Day to the Bawse of all Blogs, The Birdman of MJF, and the Diddy to our site. I hope he ends up like Neil Patrick Harris from Harold & Kumar tonight and starts asking for fur burgers. I will leave you with a inspirational quote for the kids from Marcus, “And remember kids: strictly the Irene shit.”
Tiffany: Trick Daddy – I’m A Thug
I’m pretty new to MJF but from what I’ve known of Marc so far, my pick for birthday song seems pretty appropriate. I don’t know about y’all but I listen to this whenever I wanna channel the “bause” in me. Marc, I hope you listen with some lean, some biddies, and perhaps even a bit of celebratory smoke while vibing out to this and channeling the inner thug you let out every once in a while. Embrace him in all his glory today. Enjoy.
Erika: Kanye – Celebration
Happy birthday Marc. Grab lots of dranks, asses and maybe even an oz of dro. It’s a celebration, bitches! Thanks for being cooler than a polar bear’s toenails and Freddie Jackson sippin’ a milkshake combined. I wish you another fulfilling year blessed bountifully with honeydips!
LoneXionc: Common Sense – Chapter 13 (Rich Man vs. Poor Man)
As one of the OG editors at Rap Genius, I’d known about the MJF/RG collabo for a little while. I’d never taken the time to actually get involved with the site, but I’m glad that I have. Some top notch people contribute to the site, and my days have not been without mirth since.
Our first meeting was through the unfortunately-short-lived fun of Turntable.fm, where we played each other tracks. After ironically bouncing along to Big Sean’s “A$$” (in TBKA’s case, non-ironically), I remember putting on an old Common joint. When you said that Resurrection was the album that got you into hip-hop, I knew I’d fit into the mold just fine. In honor of that, I present to you my favorite track from that album: “Chapter 13 (Rich Man vs. Poor Man)”. GET SOME.
David: Lil B The Based God – Paris Hilton
My birthday song for Marc would have to be ‘Paris Hilton’ by Lil B the Based God One of the worst songs I’ve ever downloaded but a sentimental guilty pleasure. We’ll get to the reason why later.
Marc is like a little brother to me as my old ass has about 5 years on him, which is depressing. As soon as we met we bonded over music and that’s been our common thread throughout our friendship, that was nearly seven years ago. I remember him having mostlyjunkfood around that time and it being something he had pretty much given up on soon after starting. It amazes me to see what it’s become at this point, and I see it just getting bigger and bigger. I admire his tireless effort and determination to get it to be what it is today. Although I rarely post I was one of the first few that Marc brought in to mostlyjunkfood and I’m forever grateful for that, as I continually tell myself I will start posting on a regular basis. Being 29 years old, I feel like the weird old guy out of the MJF family but Marc has always done everything to make me feel like a part of the group.
Having watched Marc go from that A&F wearing spiky haired high school kid that someone else mentioned to the twentysomething (freshly 24 to be exact) dude he is today has made me proud to call myself a close friend. This past spring Marc and I set out to make the cross country drive from Indy to LA so he could relocate and further the expansion of the MJF empire. You learn a lot about a person by driving across the damn country with them, along the entire trip and the week I stayed in LA with Marc, we listened to a ton of music, slept in some shady hotels and lost the VW a few times along the way. Somewhere along the way I got my first taste of Lil B and his terrible yet fantastic Paris HIilton song. I went from total shock and disbelief to falling in love with it mindlessly chanting “Marc looks like Paris Hilton” everywhere we went. Anyway, I am old and lazy and supposed to be working my corporate soul-sucking job so I’ll cut my little sentimental story short right here. Happy Birthday Mr. MostlyJunkFood President! May Skylar Grey jump out of your birthday cake with more pizazz and sluttiness than you ever thought possible.
Stuart aka stuartbentley: Cody ChesnuTT – Boylife in America
I decided to include the gem, “Boylife in America,” by the severely underrated (and seemingly absent?) Cody Chesnutt for a variety of reasons.
The first is the connection between Chesnutt and The Roots. Besides my oldest brother, Marc is one of the biggest Roots fans I know. Y’all remember Cody from “the seed 2.0.” I can remember taking illicit substances and jamming out to the Roots in Marc’s McNutt dorm room freshman year.
The other (real) reason I included this song is because it’s about growing up (or not growing up) as a boy in America. Marc and I are both proud Mama’s boys. We grew up miles from each other. Our moms worked together. Marc’s mom is an awesome (read: amazing) artist and my mom was a grant writer at the gallery. Growing up, I always heard about Bella’s son and how he was SO! much like me. Sure enough, we were both obsessed with music, tv, and film. We both wanted to work for Rolling Stone. And come Senior year of high school, we were both Editors-in-Chief (we both definitely took part in the chief).
The craziest thing was when we got to IU, we both lived at McNutt. The best dorm to live in. Marc and I truly bonded that year over parties, women, substances, but most of all, over music. To this day, music trumps all.
So here’s to you, oh fearless leader, you truly created something special with MJF. I think I speak for everyone when I say, Happy Birthday, Marc. This shit is ill.
Collin: Kanye West ft. Cam’ron and Consequence – Gone
When I first met Marc, I thought he was a huge douchebag.
I don’t know what made me think that: the shell necklace, the spiky hair and corresponding gallon of gel or the Abercrombie shirt. We were at a mutual friend’s house and experienced that awkward moment where two strangers are chillin’ with a mutual friend, telling inside jokes that mean nothing to one-third of the room. A few games of NBA Street later, I guess I figured he was alright.
I guess I’ve probably known Marc the longest of anyone on this site. That’s why my ass still gets carried when I don’t post for four months at a time…SENIORITY, bitches! When Marc and I first started hanging out, probably around freshman year of high school, my taste in music was — to put it nicely — unsophisticated. I listened to a lot of Eminem. Too much Eminem. A lot of Cash Money, Big Tymers, Ludacris and 50 Cent too. Nothing that could be considered remotely eclectic…if, in fact, 14-year-olds possess any ability to be defined as such, in those desperate attempts to just stay generically cool enough to let a semi-attractive girl contemplate brushing up against your boner at some shitty, caffeine-free diet basement party parents so joylessly permit. Because no chick is trying to grind on a Juggalo. Let’s face it. Not for all the Faygo in the world.
Within a year of meeting Marc, I was listening to Modest Mouse, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Immortal Technique, Common, Guster and Ben Kweller. Yeah, okay, a lot of these names are pretty obvious in retrospect, but at the time, nobody was listening to that shit. Except Marc, apparently. I’ll never forget listening to “Dance with the Devil” for the first time — despite my current apathy toward Immortal Technique — and just being amazed that hip-hop could serve as such a profound storytelling medium. I’ll never forget listening to “Teeth Like God’s Shoeshine” and thinking goddamn, this is loud and obnoxious and weird but this is really, really fucking good! I’ll never forget trying to pay the musical palette forward by making the most mismatched mix CDs of Crooked I and Pharoahe Monch and then pawning them off as birthday presents (because my broke ass wasn’t buying anything more expensive than a CD-R!)
I only own six CDs today: the Dangerous Minds OST (late-90s birthday present exclusively for the Coolio single), Space Jam OST (another childhood birthday present…maybe one of the better ones), Men in Black OST (Will Smith aw yea), Stunt by Barenaked Ladies, E. 1999 Eternal by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony (borrowed, and never returned to, aforementioned mutual friend) and a Gangstarr mix Marc gave me when he took pity on my musically-maligned soul.
So how am I honestly going to choose one song? If I’m going for an inside joke, I could say White Girls by Mighty Casey. If I’m going for nostalgia, I could say Needle in the Hay by Elliott Smith”, simply because we used to just re-phrase the lyrics to say (someone we dislike) is gaaaaaay. For purely riding-around-suburbia-doing-nothing purposes, could go with Dipset by Juelz Santana (a whole selection of my ho collection!) For the butchering lyrics business, Oh No by Nate Dogg and Pharaohe Monch (Christina Ricci?) BeN?
In the end, though, I went with something I think we would just both agree is a damn good song. Last track we listened to, actually, rolling up on some 3 a.m. McDonalds, before Marc moved out to LA to slyly strategize the MJF revolution. The most underrated effort, I would argue, by the most overrated artist today. Seems like the simplest solution to the song-selecting dilemma.
I’m really proud of what my bro has accomplished with MJF. I hope he reflects a bit on that today. I remember when he started this blog up as a dot wordpress dotcom freshman at IU, when we were actually beefing, and being blown away by the music selection then. The blog went AWOL for a while before we got to talking after I had launched a similar effort (Mos Defferson) and decided to bring it back as co-authors. I’m really proud to have had a small part in that. Look at what has been accomplished since…no joke, MJF has launched careers. I don’t think some artists/groups would be where they are now without MJF, and that’s not meant as a means of stroking the e-ego, but rather just as a testament to how powerful the execution and idea MJF is and how artists hold the opinions of the MJF collective — Marc at the helm, of course — in such high esteem. This started off as a weekend blog, a hobby! A means of sharing music on a dorm floor. And now look. Really think about that, and look. Hip-hop, indie rock, electronic, mash-ups, electro-pop. MJF heard it first and wrote it best, all thanks to Marc’s vision and ability to identify talent, both in terms of content and contribution.
Not bad for a douchebag.
Also, we found this wonderfully awesome freestyle by Marc in the MJF Media Libary. Don’t leave yo audioz around us or they gon get posted up: One Take Jamarcus – Super High (Indica Remix)
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