Marvin O'Neal, professionally known by his
stage name
A stage name is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers—such as actors, comedians, singers, and musicians. Such professional aliases are adopted for a wide variety of reasons and they may be similar, or nearly identical, to an individu ...
Marv Won,
is an American rapper and record producer from east side
Detroit,
Michigan. He is a member of
underground hip hop group the Fat Killahz (with
Fatt Father,
Bang Belushi and
King Gordy) and rap duo Twin Towers (with Fatt Father). In 2021, he received a Detroit Music Award nomination for Outstanding Rap MC at the 30th
Detroit Music Awards.
Career
Worlds's Largest Group
O'Neal and
Shabazz Ford had started The Fat Killahz along with
Shim-E-Bango and
King Gordy in 2001. The rap group performed at Detroit spots like the Lush Lounge, the Blind Pig, Motor,
St. Andrew's Hall,
the Shelter, the State Theater, and rapidly gained respect in the streets and a devoted following. In 2002 the quartet decided it was time to hit the studio, and they released the ''2 Fat, 2 Furious'' mixtape to positive reactions throughout Detroit city. Making an appearance on King Gordy's debut solo album ''
The Entity, ''they followed up a successful run supporting Gordy as the opening act on
D12's US tour in 2004 with the release of their ''WFKR 31.3 FKM: FK Radio The Mixtape''. On March 15, 2005, the World's Largest Group dropped their debut studio album ''"Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?"'' via No Tyze Entertainment, featuring production by notable
Mr. Porter
Denaun Porter (born December 7, 1974), also known by the stage names Mr. Porter, Kon Artis, and more recently simply Denaun, is an American rapper and music producer. He was a member of Detroit hip hop group D12 until its disbandment in 2018.
...
and
B.R. Gunna
Curtis Eugene Cross (born August 14, 1983), better known by his stage name Black Milk, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
Career
In addition to Slum Village, Black Milk has worked with J Dilla, Elzhi, Phat Kat, Frank-N-D ...
among others and Marv also co-produced one track off the record.
''Way of the Won'' and ''Wayne Fontes Music''
Due to Fat Killahz hiatus until 2011, the band members still participated in their individual projects and Marv has featured on many fellow rappers projects. That was the material for the debut solo release, and in December 2009 has been released he eleven track album named ''Way of the Won'' featured audio production from
Kon Artis and
Black Milk
Curtis Eugene Cross (born August 14, 1983), better known by his stage name Black Milk, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer.
Career
In addition to Slum Village, Black Milk has worked with J Dilla, Elzhi, Phat Kat, Frank-N-Dan ...
(with whom Marv worked during F.K.'s first project) among others, and featured guest appearances by
Danny Brown,
Bilal, Fatt Father & Shim-E-Bango. Marv was signed to
Kon Artis and Kuniva's record label Runyon Ave Records and released his next project ''
Wayne Fontes Music
''Wayne Fontes Music'' is a studio album by American underground rapper and producer Marv Won, released January 1, 2010, a month after his previous work ''Way Of The Won''. The album was named after Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a profe ...
'' a month after his previous album, on January 1, 2010. The fourteen track LP featured the likes of
Dwele, Riodata, Fatt Father & Shim-E-Bango.
''Heavy Is the Head'' and Twin Towers
In 2011, Marv and The Fat Killahz teamed up once again to drop their extended play ''The E.P.'', and to be featured on Shim-E-Bango's ''
The Bridgecard'' and Gordy's ''Jesus Christ's Mistress'' projects before the band's second hiatus.
Porter resigned O'Neil on his brand new My Own Planet imprint and they began to work on the new project. The nine-track EP
''Heavy Is the Head...'' was released on October 16, 2012. It featured guest appearances from
Royce da 5'9"
Ryan Daniel Montgomery, known professionally as Royce da 5'9" (or simply Royce 5'9"), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Montgomery is currently one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, and ...
, Young R.O.C. and The Fat Killahz, among with audio production notably handled by both Denaun and Marv who also served as executive producers.
In 2012, Marv appeared in the intro track on
Slaughterhouse
A slaughterhouse, also called abattoir (), is a facility where animals are slaughtered to provide food. Slaughterhouses supply meat, which then becomes the responsibility of a packaging facility.
Slaughterhouses that produce meat that is no ...
album ''
Welcome to: Our House''.
In 2013, fresh off the success of their latest solo efforts, ''Heavy Is the Head...'' and ''FatherHood'', Marv & Fatts teamed up as the Twin Towers and recorded several songs.
Marv released non-album track "Field Nigga" produced by Big Tone on June 20, 2014 via My Own Planet, and co-produced
D12's track "Bane" on ''
Shady XV''.
Birthday Boys and ''Soundtrack of Autumn''
Marv One collaborated with another
KingOfTheDot battle rap winner, Illmaculate. The duo dropped their self-titled 7-track extended play ''Birthday Boys'', on their birthday on the fourth of February.
In the Fatt Father's interview made on March 15, 2016 to ''Extraordinary Nobodies'' blog, Fatts stated about the Twin Towers that their new material "hopefully it will be released after we both drop our solo projects"
On November 18, 2016, a week after Fatt Father's ''Veterans Day'' record release, Marv dropped his fourth solo project, ''Soundtrack Of Autumn'', via Rappers I Know, produced entirely by himself. The ten track album features
Boldy James, Nolan The Ninja, Gwenation, The Fat Killahz and a bonus track "Suicide Squad" featured
Royce Da 5'9"
Ryan Daniel Montgomery, known professionally as Royce da 5'9" (or simply Royce 5'9"), is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Montgomery is currently one half of the rap duo Bad Meets Evil with fellow Detroit rapper Eminem, and ...
, which was previously released on November 14.
A limited edition vinyl release for ''Soundtrack of Autumn'' was released on April 27, 2018 through The What of Whom. For this release, real autumn leaves were pressed inside clear vinyl and also included the two bonus tracks with The Fat Killahz and Royce da 5'9".
Battle rap
O'Neal rose back around 2000 at Lush's Wednesday open mic nights in
Hamtramck, where he learned the ropes with
Proof
Proof most often refers to:
* Proof (truth), argument or sufficient evidence for the truth of a proposition
* Alcohol proof, a measure of an alcoholic drink's strength
Proof may also refer to:
Mathematics and formal logic
* Formal proof, a con ...
,
Obie Trice
Obie Trice III (born November 14, 1977) is an American rapper. He was signed to fellow Detroit rapper Eminem's Shady Records in 2002, where he released the albums ''Cheers'' (2003) and ''Second Round's on Me'' (2006). Trice formed his own record ...
,
D12 and
Slum Village. Ever since he's become a staple of freestyle battles.
Marv has been prominent on the battle rap scene for more than a decade, gaining international attention since as early as the World Rap Championships. He continues to participate in the rap battles, sometimes as a double team with Kimani Graham (known as Quest Mcody).
Filmography
Marv was one of many Detroit rappers who appeared as an extra in "
8 Mile", He rapped against
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
in a battling scene, but that scene was left out of the movie. Marv explained, when the
DVD was released, "It was really huge for me because that was one of the main scenes they sold the DVD on. That was the footage they sent to 'Entertainment Tonight,' 'Extra' and 'Access Hollywood'..."
Director and writer
Dionciel Armstrong
Dionciel (Donny) Armstrong (born December 29, 1973) is an American writer, director, and producer in the film industry. He is currently the president and CEO of Mind Vision Productions. The youngest of five siblings, Armstrong was born and rais ...
, known for having a hand in the ''Street Life'' DVD that introduced the world to Trick-Trick has announced a new independent feature film, ''Five K One,'' starring rappers
Yukmouth,
Big Herk
Big Herk (born Amery Dennard on August 30, 1969) is an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan.
He started with the Detroit-based rap group Rock Bottom. He left in 2003 and released his debut ''Guilty As Charged''. He was later featured in the m ...
, Quest M.C.O.D.Y., Forty Da Great, Marvwon,
Clifton Powell and Melvin Jackson Jr. of ''
The Wire
''The Wire'' is an American crime drama television series created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon. The series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States. ''The Wire'' premiered on June 2, ...
''. The film’s score was arranged and mixed by
Steve King
Steven Arnold King (born May 28, 1949) is an American far-right politician and businessman who served as a U.S. representative from Iowa from 2003 to 2021. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Iowa's 5th congressional district un ...
, who’s long been Eminem’s go-to mixer.
Discography
Studio albums
* ''Way of the Won'' (2005)
* ''
Wayne Fontes Music
''Wayne Fontes Music'' is a studio album by American underground rapper and producer Marv Won, released January 1, 2010, a month after his previous work ''Way Of The Won''. The album was named after Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a profe ...
'' (2010)
* ''Soundtrack of Autumn'' (2016)
* ''Sooner than Later'' (2020)
Extended plays
* ''
Heavy Is the Head…'' (2012)
* ''Birthday Boys''
(with Illmaculate) (2016)
* ''Until…'' (2020)
* ''Rabbits Can't Shoot'' (2021)
* ''Hagler'' (2021)
Guest appearances
Awards and nominations
!
, -
, align=center, 2021
, Himself
, Detroit Music Award for Outstanding Rap MC
,
,
, -
References
External links
TwitterMySpaceBandCampInstagram
{{DEFAULTSORT:MarvWon
1981 births
Living people
Underground rappers
Rappers from Detroit
American male rappers
Midwest hip hop musicians
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians