Marques Houston

Hey, what's up everybody? I'm Marcus Houston and I'm honored to be here with the one and only Sean Stockman on that note. Welcome everybody to another episode of On That Note. Of course, this is the place, as you know, but we speak a language we all understand and that is music. As a matter of fact, if you want to see more music, more content, more behind the scenes, footage, extra episodes, you can only find it on our On That Note Patreon. So make sure you guys join today. Now, my guest, he's actually a long time friend, known as DOO for a long time. Yeah. Very long time. Yeah. And guess what? And I always say this disclaimer, if any of this stuff that I'm about to say is wrong, just say Sean, you F'd up. That's not right. That's not right. I got you. Okay, cool. All right. Now my guest started his career when he was only eight years old. Am I good so far? Are you good so far? Yeah. One of his highlights of his young career was co-starring in a hit TV series that made him the darling of every household and whose character became synonymous with a well-known phrase that people still call him out on today. We're going to get into that. Absolutely. Later on. Okay. But I don't want to give it all away. Yeah. All right, cool. But he didn't stop there. His ambition and creative mind has no bounds as he is responsible for building cultural institutions, whether it's with his own music, be it solo or with his own group, or being a creative force behind one of the most iconic vocal groups ever assembled. His movement defined the sound of the early 2000s and he's actually part of an exclusive club of talented individuals who successfully transitioned from child star, teen idol, to adult R&B hitmaker, and film executive. Very few people. I don't know too many that really has done what you've done. And I ain't going to lie, man. I looked up a lot of your stuff because obviously you know, I had to do the research, bro. You low key. Yeah, we getting it. Yo. You know what I mean? Yeah. You low key did a lot of work. You put your work in, bro. Absolutely. Like straight up, bro. So we get flowers out here. Yeah, I appreciate it. Okay. So he's also a husband, a father, and a master of reinvention who's still making major moves today. Ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for Marquez Barrett Houston, aka Marquez Houston. Well, one wrong. Okay. It's Marquez. Marquez. That's the only thing. But people say Marquez. People say Marquise. Okay. I've had a lot. So Marquez. Yeah. Okay. Cool. The spelling kind of throws people off. Okay. So there you go. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Marquez. Rouse or I see him at Mr. Chow's. Yeah, you're the house. I do shop a house Why don't you shop at Rouse like what is the thing that shut up? Annie doesn't stick our you rich the car. Yeah, he rich rich No, it's the card. I can't lie. No, it's the card is like when it's late You know feel like going you really don't feel like very convenient very good me just dial in the The groceries, yeah, you know, you guys can pay me I go get your groceries How you been man good you good. How you been I'm great. I mean you're sitting here with you. Yeah, I don't tour You know doing you think man? Listen Marcus. Listen. I I I'm really When I mean this like I'm humbled. Yeah. Yeah by the fact that people still enjoy our old asses And well, y'all don't look old y'all look good. You know saying it's it's uh Won't name some people but it's a couple of people out there that you know, you'd be like Right right right y'all y'all not that not yet not yet. Yeah, we're still you know going yeah I'm getting over this groin injury. Yeah, I'm all good. Yeah. No, I appreciate it man And likewise brother, hey, we were just speaking off camera and how just How much you've done? Yeah for music. Yeah, like you somehow Kind of flew under the radar with a lot of that stuff even being in front of the camera. Yeah, yeah But the thing is I like being behind the camera. I've always enjoyed Putting together things and and creating different opportunities for people. Yeah, that's always been my thing I felt like you know guys giving me a opportunity to Create opportunities for other people. Yeah, and that's what I've always loved to do I've never been like a person that is weird to be in this industry, but I've never liked cameras I've never liked the attention. I've never like no Never really been too big on tension on myself, which is crazy. That's weird. Yeah Yeah, that's strange to me never like taking pictures never like doing photo shoots never like any of that No, never like being in front of the camera yet. You've been in front of the camera most of my life. Yeah Why do you think that like did you think that it was just you know, I don't know I think I've always loved to entertain as well though So like even when I was younger before I started I would like, you know, my family functions I'll be the one in the middle of the floor dancing and you know So I've always just loved to entertain people and I've always loved to bring joy to people and put a smile on people's face So naturally I've always liked to entertain so that I think that's where it comes from but I've also naturally loved To be able to give opportunities to other people as well, right, you know, yeah, and you've done that and since you're speaking of your childhood Let's go back. I like to do a segment. Okay, call we gonna go back. Let's go back back in the time Let's go to I always like to do the formative years like around 10 years old. Yeah, I think that was 91. Yep You might that yep, tell me as you're getting up in the morning and you know brushing your teeth Yeah, you know getting dressed. What was the music? That Was being played around your house. What was mom and dad so? bumping a Lot of the oldies I grew up in a musical household So mom and dad always played the oldies function at the junction smoky Robinson temptations Marvin Gaye just and you know, of course what caught my eye caught my attention was Michael Jackson and You know when I see Michael Jackson Just like the rest of the world seen the moonwalk. I was hooked, you know thriller like all that I was a big huge Michael Jackson fan when I was little little always would try to like, you know Put some grease on my hair and do the curly sure how'd that go? It didn't go too well You know, I would put too much Much grease You know get in front of the in front of the TV and you know do Michael Jackson You know, I was I was but I was the only one in my family My brother and sister will come like do the dance steps with me, but I was the only one that really really Took a real liking to it. I was singing around the house all the time Didn't really know what I was singing. I would just sing mm-hmm brothers and sisters will be like shut up You know, you sound horrible And I'll be like, you know, you know, what's that one day I'm gonna grow up on make some money I'm not gonna give you all done That's it I grew up made some money I gave it to him Yeah, you know, so I just really was into I was into you know, the boys came out I Love the boys down my heart so watch the new edition of course And ABC ABC is who I when I saw ABC come out That's when I knew I wanted to do it It became not just being a fan of music, but I saw them they were young they were my age And I'm like, oh, I could do that. It was an ambition. Yeah, so I was like, all right That's that makes sense. You know, that makes sense considering your trajectory. Yeah, we're gonna talk about this cuz That yes the correlation makes sense. Yeah, because how you were presented as an artist is very similar. Yeah That type of energy, but we don't we don't talk about that later. Okay, so what came first? As far as your ambitions acting dancing or singing cuz you do all three it so it's crazy because so I would I would watch these groups and I would mimic their routines and do stuff like that So when I got into the industry It all kind of came at the same time. So met my manager Chris Chris Stokes we did immature and That's why I started and then He knew a casting agent her name was Eileen Knight good friends with her And got me my first audition like soon as like this was like months after I got in a group for Bay Bay's kids Okay, so that was that was my first audition and and I booked my first job as an actor It was voice actor for Bay Bay's kids the cartoon movie So I it simultaneously happened It just happened like, you know right away and then right like kind of right immature came out Big crazy hats and big crazy image and stuff like that and then right after that we did house party 3, right? So it just kind of like, you know, just happened at the same time So I developed a love and a passion for both because they both were away for me to entertain Okay, of course, I love to act because you know Eddie Murphy Was big in my household as well. So, you know, raw delirious everything. I was a kid watching that probably shouldn't have been watching But but you know, I was a huge Eddie Murphy fan Beverly Hills cop everything Liz goes on so Me I like to be funny as well. So I start I would you know Practice being Eddie Murphy, right? It's all his jokes. So I like to be funny. So everything kind of just happened for me at once so alright so back up because I'm Trying to get the timeline correct. So so immature you started at what age at at at 8 I think it was 8 or 9. Hey, you were really that young. Yeah. Yeah. So we started we started gotten a group We didn't come out till I was like about 9 or something like that. So Wow, we did the our first single was off the soundtrack to babies kids. Okay. So that's kind of how we broke into the industry we got our deal with virgin records and and Right after that was house party 3 Wow, I think I was like 11 when I did house party 3 insane and then right after that was sister sister. I was 12. Ah Okay, okay. See I thought Sister sister came first no, wow. So yeah immature house party sister sister. That's crazy Yeah, and it was it was crazy because we had a meeting the whole group had a meeting with ABC and I'd I'd also danced for Debbie Allen because Chris was also friends with Debbie Allen. Hmm. So I met Debbie Allen as a and we like It was crazy. It was it was I forgot it was an event one of the war shows or something like that She was waiting for her car. So my car didn't come so we gave her a ride to her house You know immature with kids how sweet. Yeah, so we gave her a ride to the house and we met Debbie Allen It was the greatest thing in the world. Yeah, she actually hired me to do the Oscars the year that it was Aladdin Okay, I met Tia and Tamara there because they're their their brother Taj was on the Oscars We so we performed on the Oscars is me, Brandon Adams Taj. We are performing the Oscars together We did the Aladdin thing with Debbie Allen. So I met Tia and Tamara there. Hmm and right after that ABC brought in the whole group for like a meeting for sister sister and they didn't end up working They wanted to put the group on the show it didn't work now. So I ended up doing the audition for Roger After that and I got I got the audition. Wow, that's crazy. Like I always thought because Why do you really started immature that young? Yeah, but we didn't immature didn't really break until until right after that, which was the never lie Got you so never lies what what broke us in because the first playtime is over album didn't really do well It was on virgin It was like we made some some noise, but it wasn't really like me and then we replaced a member and half pint the Asian guy Was in the group we replaced him and we put out never lie and then boom That's what immature that record was crazy to a lot. I reckon yeah such a clean Acoustic yeah, it was like one of the first acoustic R&B kind of records that you know, so it was like yeah We we didn't really expect it to do that. Well either I think what happened was once we once we left version Chris took his own money recorded a whole album on us Hmm and he took it to his friend Ernie Singleton that over at MCA. Yeah played the whole album done Chris got a lot of good friends Yeah, he was very connected, you know Yeah This episode is sponsored by better help May is mental health awareness month And it's a good reminder to check in with yourself Not just when things are falling apart, but when life starts to feel heavier than usual Sometimes you're carrying stress pressure decisions family stuff work stuff You don't even realize how much space is taken up in your mind until it starts keeping you up at night And the truth is nobody has all the answers by themselves Sometimes just having someone to talk to someone who can listen understand and help you sort through what you're feeling Can make a real difference better help connects you with a fully licensed therapist And they do the initial matching work for you based on your needs and preferences that match isn't right You can switch to a different therapist at any time better help has over 30,000 therapists and has served over 6 million people globally with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for live sessions based on over 1.7 million client reviews You don't have to be on this journey alone find support and have someone with you in therapy Sign up and get 10% off at better help dot com slash on that note. That's better H-e-l-p dot com slash on that note Well, let me just go back to never lie cuz yeah the engineer do you remember the gentleman that produced the record Claudia? Claudia was also engineered he was yeah, and He played this record before it came out. Yeah, she's like yo I'm working on this record But immature obviously we heard he on and he played it we was like Because Yeah, you were right. There wasn't a song out there that sounded like yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it was just clean just That's that snare We first played the track for Chris and and he got emotional. Yeah, no, he was all dead No real talk literally like just with the track Chris was like it brought tears to his eyes He was like this is special. Yeah, and he wrote it on the spot. That's crazy. Yeah, and so Chris wrote it. Yeah He wrote the whole thing Chris got friends and he got a pen. Yeah. Yeah, you know people a lot of people don't know Chris was actually a producer back He produced like records for like Bobby Brown and stuff like that. Yeah Yeah, he was also you know, I had a little drum machine with a whole but he was sample like, you know Yeah, go to the shorter list. What can't he do? Chris Chris around the way he was more known for the guy that discovers that yeah, he was yeah, so yeah So like yeah, a lot of people don't know that he produced, you know For records for the years like he did a remix for Bobby Brown. He did something for BBD. Yeah, shout out to Chris Stokes And he produced the album the playtime is over album Lowkey just killing the game. Yeah. Yeah, like that's the one that way. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that's what I saw him with Yeah, we're business partners now. We have a that's our company footage films. Yeah, we yeah Yeah, man. Like yeah, I'm telling you like they You guys had a movement such a movement. Yeah that was Important to the business. Yeah, because of the fact that Chris went in the angle of I'm gonna make these little girls go crazy. Yeah. Yeah, it was man And he knew how to do that and and he kept doing it. Yeah, exactly. You know, man You know, so so that's Chris. That's what he I guess he understood that was his lane. Yeah, and and He did that better than anybody. I agree. I definitely agree with that You know, it's crazy. You said that that Claudio played the song Yeah, you play it too. And it's I think you probably don't remember what we ran into you guys at Larry me at the studio. Okay, and y'all told you's like you was like, man We really love this song never lie. Yeah, the greatest moment of my life because I was a huge boys to me in fact Like you have no idea like anybody that knows me knows that I Give you credit for being the one of the greatest vocalists alive. Thank you. Thank you ever Bible for me. Thank you. You know, so talk me how to sing without knowing. Thank you. I literally practice Thank you boys to men every day. Thank you very much. I appreciate you. So yeah, that's a great compliment coming from you Thank you. So that you know, that was like our greatest thing because we were all boys to me as fans So yeah, it was like, you know, I was like, hey, they like our song I was like I because Claudio was working on Stuff for us. Yeah. Yeah, and he was engineering a lot of our music and He was like, yeah, I just want you to humble He played it on the big speakers and we was like yo play that again. Yeah. Yeah, he was like no play that one more time Yeah, like cuz it's You know we geeks. Yeah, so it's like we're not just listening to the vocals listening to everything The snare rim shot the guitar you can hear the slide I was even surprised that Claudio was that good. Yeah of a producer like, you know Cuz even when I first heard it like I was just like that's just a special track You know and then Chris put the vocals on top. He just he wrote it and was like I go in the booth Yeah, and then I'm like, all right, cool Okay, and everybody's like these 12 year olds like what I know about lying again It was just you know it worked it worked it and what's funny is is is back then Little kids could get away with singing adult content. Yes Because there were a lot of little kids Yeah, I mean what we were that little yeah high school. Yeah, what we were damn near college But boys to me and still doesn't matter. We're a lot high school or now you want her being promiscuous No, I wasn't being promiscuous Or the jets we had Moana remember they were like True, but but again back then It was it was just it was allowed it was and we sang Grown-up songs were grown up record because I mean you gotta think we were kids So we weren't I mean I wasn't writing my own music, right? You know I'm saying so we had to have you know these producers writers write for us And we just we sang it. Yeah, it's like we sang it like I was able to to relate somehow To the music that I was singing and I was able to put feeling it never lie like the Even like the beginning it was like people were clowning about the little cry love my voice no And I was like that like Chris was very adamant about the emotion behind that song. He was he made me Sing it over and over and over and over until I got it right. Yeah, and you know vocal production I don't think that even exists nowadays to where like it doesn't have to know is this you know, I can sing like this in the mic And then they just Sing it until it was right. Yeah, it's true shout out again to Chris because He's probably one of the last and the Mohicans. Yeah that Understood the importance of artists development. Yeah, you guys having the image and all the other stuff I've never seen an interview where y'all said some while y'all were always respectful You always knew how to roll how they you know who to greet how to greet them the whole night That was important. It was it was taught it was taught to us You know the the industry was taught to us and it was it was given to us and a lot of times, you know A lot of artists didn't last because they didn't they didn't really pay attention to how important that was how important it was to be humble How important it was to carry yourself and and and everything and Chris taught us all of those things like everything about About people how to just be nice to everybody. You know and that that was very very important Because he would always tell you you never know who a person is And you don't ever like, you know, not to be arrogant He would always tell us, you know arrogant people aren't aren't successful if you think of the most successful people They're all really humble. They're all really kind people kind heart of people. So we we really got that early, you know and We also were taught that Like anything else is a job at the end of the day, you know, don't get caught up in the hype Of the good or the bad there's people that are gonna praise you and tell you that you're great and just not and there's people that are gonna Dish you and tell you that you're not great and you know make up rumors talk about you It's important to not buy into anything. Yeah, it's easy to buy into people telling you great. Yeah all the time Oh, yeah, you can I'll just fill your head with all this But so we learned at an early age not to buy into anything. So I think that was one of the key elements I took with me throughout my entire life and career Was to always not really pay attention to the outside world and just continue to you know Do me be me Understand that this is my job entertainment is a job and then you go home you go home and you're in a Marcus at home Yeah, why do you think? That's changed like for example He said people might say good things about you. Yeah, some people might say bad things about you, but these days Like artists are so uber sensitive That I don't have tough skin. Yeah, it's it's it's so hard To make a critique Yeah about a certain right. I think because everything is is so different now as far as social media So social media so we come from an era where there wasn't any social media Yeah, so, you know what we put out to the public was that's all you got, you know, you don't really get climbing to artists Homes through social media like you do not everything is like, but here it is all my whole life is all on social media Media so I think it was different because you know You had to develop that thick skin because and it wasn't really bad back in the day people say something But you probably wouldn't know what they were saying right and nowadays somebody can comment on your post And you see it's right there, you know what I'm saying? So I think it's just it became so sensitive because it it became a lot more in the forefront So like everything that people are saying about you bad or good It's right there before you didn't know like somebody could say something about you You didn't know what they were saying about you so I was like you didn't really care I'm a kind of person. I don't care anyway because I'm the kind of person like I'm like if you don't know me You can't really say nothing about me because you don't know me right But you know a lot of people aren't like that a lot of people are very sensitive to what they see or read online And you know, I think I just never was like that because I just You know never really mattered to me because I'm like as long as I'm doing as long as I'm happy Yeah, and the people around me. I know are happy with me who I am I'm good. Yeah, because because that's all that should matter. I mean Do you guys think Sean that the demise of the celebrity was social media? Because think about like if you guys had social media in the era that we're speaking of Like how many followers or boys do men have in 95 eight trillion? Yeah, right, you know what I mean? Yeah, but do you think the access to the artists and celebrities kind of killed the mystique? And that's why the star power is not as big anymore. Mystique is an important word That was the one word Chris always taught us to Is to have that mystique that everybody can't get to you, you know I'm saying so we we were very big on having mystique even with b2k It was like the mystique was always there like it was a mystery like we say because michael jackson jenna jackson the big stars that was You know, right? They were mysterious. So and you know, that was really important as well And I think that that does that did go away with with social media for sure All right, let's go back though So you were doing double duty. Yeah with immature And eventually sister sister. Yeah, right. Yeah, let's talk about your character for a second. Let's let's have some fun Roger Evans Roger Evans. All right that that young cute but kind of stalkish little kid That Very stalkish very stalkish Yeah, a little creepy but in a cute way very but I was cute. Yeah, it was it was cute creepy Yeah, it was a cute creepy that that lived next door to the mari twins. Um First off, how'd you get that gig? so like we said, I I have met tia and samara and um the ABC brought in a group in matured to to um have a meeting and I actually ended up auditioning for roger And uh, I went to network and I the thing was so when roger the character came up I was a huge family matters fan. Okay. Obviously. Who wasn't sure jillil white urquil. Yeah, my favorite character urquil was like Shout out to jillil. Shout out to jillil funny as hell on ig by the way. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah I told chris. I was like, you know, I want a character that's like urquil Because urquil was a scene still he stole the show. I'm like, he stole the show I want to be able to do something like that. Mm-hmm. And he was like, well, you know one thing you got to do Is you got to be off book Right be off script when you go into the audition know all your lines. So he's like, I'm gonna help you Develop this character and know know all your lines. So he actually helped me develop the roger character Okay, so he was like you should do it like this and I was are you sure he's like, yeah, you don't want to be too goofy But you want to be just annoying enough and I'm like, all right cool So so so we developed a whole like high-pitched tone like hey, like all of that stuff and we and I went to the audition And I knew all my lines Boom and it was so they were very impressed with the fact that I was off book and I was so young and it was like, okay And I ran into darlene The twins mom on my way into the audition. So she was like, yeah, you know, I'm gonna put in a good word gave me a little wink So I don't know if you know darlene shout out to darlene as well. I don't know if she you know put in a good word You know I'm saying so she she probably because I knew like I'd known them before doing the Oscars Her and Taj and the girl so you know, and it was just it was just a perfect match Like, you know braided braided the hair up. Yes, you know, all right And and boy I watched that like that. I just watched like I think a 15 minute montage Don't go home rogers of go home Roger that many of them. Yo, yeah It became a thing and I mean they did in the first episode we did the party episode They were like go home Roger and it was like and I was I was like call me but then that became like my little catchphrase So, uh, you know, I did it was scripted the first time and then so, uh We seen it work Chris is like you should start you should start like working that call me thing and like, you know every time they say go home Roger's like shoot a little call me in there. So it just kind of became a Thing and the go home rogers just it just went and it just took off and it was like Boom and I and I was like mission accomplished like, you know when the show aired like Roger became um A standout character and we would we would get to the point where like, um It became so he became so popular they start writing Uh Entrances or an intro for me like to rock a pop out or walk in so the crowd could like scream and stuff like that So I was like, yes, Erkl time. You know Right, right, right? That's right. That's not like your Erkl moment, right? Yeah, like I had But I was 12 remember the did I do that with Erkl? Yeah You know that was they go home Steve, but it never really, you know Got to work like go home Roger became like that staple And I was like I was so young and I was into and I was it was like great for me and and then but then Immature started to become popular. Yeah at that same time. So You know for me It was nothing like Roger Right nothing like Roger at all. It was like a full different Act great look, you know, yeah, so I was like that but but then immature was who I was, you know, I was cool You know the ladies loved immature and then it started to become Few years down a line. I started to become like my Erkl moment I didn't really want as much because I was like, you know now I'm a teenager right that was your concern Yeah, it was like I was really really concerned about the fact that it was going to hurt What I was doing with immature which I like looking back I'm not gonna say it it hurt because sister sister was such an Enormous show and it was part of culture And it was it's historical and I'm so happy that I was able to be a part of something so, you know monumental And the show was crazy and the character with Roger was be Etched in the history of everybody's history. You know go home Roger last Way longer than me, right? But I felt like you know when when I was like 14 15 I kind of like was like I don't want to be a nerd no more You know I'm saying so, you know the talk to the producers and they were like, you know, maybe we can try to like Make the character a little cooler and stuff like that didn't really work So I ended up leaving the show because I felt like what I wanted was to be Boyce to me Yeah, and in my mind, I'm like, that's what I want. I want that global superstar or Michael Jackson Boyce to man Like that's what I want to be and I felt like Roger was kind of holding me back from being that because like we talked about mystique Yeah, I was losing the mystique because people could see me on tv being goofy I mean, you know I'm saying so all of the the things that we were working so hard for with immature You know, I was kind of I felt like I was just kind of throwing it out the window with being on television Even though it like if I was just doing tv It would have it would have worked both decision, you know, so yeah, I was like that was very brave Because that was a I mean you were doing well. It wasn't like it was a secondary gig You were it was great. We were killing it with that and I was like I had to quit because I didn't want to be 18 19 Like being Roger like where does he go? Yeah, you know saying it just I understand, you know, so I so I quit I don't think that Me walking away from the show was a good or a bad choice I felt like, you know, it was already the damage was already done I felt like I felt like immature could have been a lot bigger Had the the lead singer not been on television. You think about all these, you know successful artists You know If they had they been doing a television series like you think about usher usher was roger Would usher have had 87. Oh one we had confessions that I could what they had been so big And if he was you know being on television every week or you know, I'm saying so I would think about those those things Even when it became my solo career like when I was trying to break out And being a from a teen teen idol group, you know going solo becoming a man I still had you know people look at me as roger and it just was like, you know Back then I didn't really I was like, uh You know, I didn't really appreciate it until I got a lot older and I was like what that was actually A part of my career that I don't regret and I felt like it was amazing and great And it it taught me so much about the industry. It taught me so much about acting and everything that I could carry with me because I started as I got older I started to realize I do like being more behind the scenes I do like acting more and I started getting into the The the film and television industry and I started feeling like you know what? There's more money here and and People would always ask me interviews like what do you what's the difference between? You know, what do you love more and you love singing or you love acting? And I you know singing was always part of me is what I grew up doing is what I love to do is more part of me But then I was like acting It's a very high paying job Yeah, you know singing you you can put so much into a project And it go nowhere. Yeah, it flop. Yeah, it's like You know, I just did all of this work. I worked so hard And it's just like no, but like, you know, I felt like as a business my mind started switching To the business. Yeah, you know, I'm like as a business acting television music Directing producing behind the scenes started to become more beneficiary Because beneficial because it's like you do your work and you get paid to do it I'm not gonna lie. I'm and we're gonna go through it But there are a lot of things that I did not know that you were a part of that that I want to discuss But but first let's talk about your acting. Yeah, I mean One of your your standout roles was you you being in the movie. You got served. You got served. Yeah Um with amari. Yeah, um you played elgin barrett eugene smith the third Yes And um, it's funny because I just rewatched that movie the other day and Man, let me tell you shout out to amarian and and uh, you know as david he played david. Um It's a lot of dancing. Yeah, it was it's a lot of dancing. I think I I saw Well, shout out also to making good. Um, steve harvey. Yeah, I want to say columbus short made a little he made a little quick Little cameo in that and practically every choreographer of every video at that time Every choreographer every dancer like everyone we brought out the big guns. Yeah. Yeah, how was that with that experience and was that part of you I guess Having that understanding that this is more of my speed the acting the film So there's you know for for me, there's always a backstory to everything. So seven years prior to the movie coming out Uh, chris wrote a script called dance And it was for originally for dav scott. Um, aliyah and genuine who's real name is elgin. That's why my name was elgin the movie so, uh So dav scott was a marys character Aliyah was jennifer freeman lias character and genuine was my character and we had of course wade robeson and and um, I think I was in it as like riko or something like that So it didn't you know the script didn't do anything cut to seven years later um b2k is out. Yeah, and um, they got their deal with sony and chris is going to do the movie independently and um One of the executives over at sony was like, you know, sony records You should take it over to sony like the you know, real sony the film company Tri-star and take it over to them, you know and try to get it like maybe you don't have to spend your own money to do it Maybe it can be made there So he took it to uh, sony and they they gave it to screen gems Okay, actually released the movie. So chris sat in the uh meeting with screen gems I wasn't really even I was like, I don't know if I'm being the movie or what kind of place I had in the movie Oh, so you weren't even planning to be in the not planning to be in the movie or I was planning to be in it But somewhere somewhere in it. Okay, you know b2k was like their project and and he sat with the executive at At uh screen gems and he played in my my video that girl As a as a reference of kind of like like all the dancers and how you wanted to like he was giving him his vision He's like, well, who's the guy? Um singing the song. He was all that's my artist mark. He was like, that's who I want to start the movie Wow, so that's how I got the star in role. So you were in plant It wasn't planned for you to be in the movie at first not not in the movie I was gonna be in it in some form because naturally Yeah, not as a lead role at all. So who was gonna play your character? Yeah They were just gonna I don't I probably what it was it was more of a b2k project So it was kind of like maybe one of them or I don't know if maybe maybe a marion bug would have I don't know Yeah, the dynamic would have been a lot different But yeah, so when he I was like, okay, I'll for sure. Yeah, I was like, I'll do it And you did the damn thing now now let's go back though because there's You can clarify for me. Um your role In the careers of b2k. Yeah, like What specific role did you play? I mean, we know that chris was involved. Yeah, but there was always Rumblings of well, it was chris and marcus. Yeah, like yeah, what was the so I was I was um instrumental in producing I was there their vocal producer. So I produced all their vocals got it on on all the albums Um, and we just kind of helped them help put them together like chris put them together. There was a group um of our choreographers dave and and kisha um, they were doing like this group called melodic and um, it ended up not working out or something like that You know the sizes of the boys like one of them was too tall. So, you know, it they kept the three of them which was bug razz and fizz and then um chris knew amari from his wife at the time her sister It was her son less than his her sister. So that's how they they kind of like Got brought to the table and then like amari was like doing his solo thing and chris was like I feel like he would be dope to lead the group. Yeah, so we put amari with the other three members Actually j book is my cousin. We're blood cousins. Okay grew up together raised together everything So I was just very instrumental in with the artist development like okay in rehearsals with dance rehearsals just being there from from like teaching them what I knew about you know the game like trying to you know be like A big brother to all of them and let them know like, you know, it's gonna be hard when you got there You know this and that and so, you know, but like I said producing like in the studio every day with them like, you know Creating a whole b2k sound like I sung a lot of the backgrounds and stuff like that. Yes Yeah, so okay, so all right now that we got that clarified the guys coming out they're Exploding yeah all over the freaking place. Um, you got served great platform for them to Show off even more of their their skills and and just their faces in general um, how much of the dancing did Everybody happy. I mean because it was again. It was a lot of heavy. Yeah, heavy choreography and things that nature like I'm trying to figure out How do you edit the footage? to such a extent It was so much so we we rehearsed for four weeks straight Okay, we would all the pretty much the movie. Okay all like we had to like Chris had to do a lot of auditioning for sony because they didn't get his vision. So he his whole thing. He saw eight mile and he was very very like, um Inspired by that movie the the the intense battle of eight mile how it was like, you know, like the battle in the rap He was like, that's what I want to do when you got serve I want to do what we do as our dancing In the music videos with b2k you like all that stuff all that dance but put it in a battle And I want to feel the energy of like how eight mile when you when you watch eight mile you felt it He was like, I want to put The camera like in the middle of the band dance battles and I want to be inside of the battle I don't want it to just be staged. Right. So that was his whole idea So sony didn't really understand what what he meant. So they was like, well show us what you mean So we had to like do this audition where we like got all the dancers together and we kind of like showed and we had to film it Stuff like that. Dave had to you know, Dave didn't even have the job at first. He had to like, you know He had the audition and you know, chris was like, trust me. This is who is is can make my vision come alive you know, he's he's You know Choreographer b2k. I'm x immature or Marcus like, you know, I'm saying this is who he did my that girl video He's like, this is who I want to choreograph it. So we did this whole audition But we got all the dancers together and did this like battle and stuff like that and we shot it and everything like that I don't even know what that footage is. It's probably wow crazy. But yeah, so then we showed him and it was like, okay Now we get it. Yeah. Now that we understand, you know, let's let's do it. So we rehearsal four weeks straight Doing all the the battles and everything like that. We all danced Like Man, I mean I was like 19. So I was fresh nothing. Yeah, you know, we was we was all like Let's go. I watched some of that My back hurt Just just watching but yeah, like we was we was like in it So we it was just like we we we went in as dancers with the mindset of like we're gonna be dancers You know, we didn't go in with the artist mindset of okay, you know, we're artists. So we got we learned with everybody We yeah, we was in the trenches with everybody So, you know, when we got to All the footage like the end of them because we shot kind of in order But we shot the end in battle at the end. That was the last thing we did. Okay So, uh, the dope part about the end of battle. It was more real. So We we did like chris had like four or five cameras And we get to the community like the community center or whatever get to the battle or whatever So we all know that we are we good. Let's let's do so we shot it. We shot the end of the battle And what it was like a six to ten minute like sequence where we just Going So the cameras cut chris comes everybody and he's like that was horrible I hate it. What? Yeah, he was like Dave Jane Roro all y'all get together and that that's not what that we have so much greatness in this film You can't end with that So he was like y'all get together Huddled up robert because robert was one of the choreographers choreographers too. Yeah y'all huddle up do something better than that Because that that doesn't work for me So we ended up having to kind of like take some things so dave is like All right, okay, so we take some things and yeah, it's like we're gonna pull some stuff from this battle We're gonna put this in in this this way and all the dancers came together and like even the slow motion part at the end That was freestyle. That's the guy. He was like, all right. He was like, I got this moved. I've been wanting to try out Yeah, he was doing on his head. I'm gonna do it. So he was like when I get on my head everybody just start Whatever you do just do it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that was like, okay. That's dope. So we all just like boom So then so then it became this epic. No, that was the end of battle was like real That was it. It was it was yeah, my on kind of he was obviously a friend of the show. Yeah He actually told us about That scene and how it was just yeah, it was just it was all raw It was it was raw just just emotional everybody and then we really wanted to win It was like not not the descriptive for us to win, but we really was trying to like, you know, no y'all killed him So there was a lot of there was he a Because they you know, they got us when they did get us in the movie when you know, middle of the movie where they beat us Well, thanks to sunny exactly. I was I was uh hoping that sunny at least got his ass with Yeah, sonny by by one of y'all, you know It's just he he he betrayed us all and you know, you had to go down that path Yeah, he should have he should have got you But you know, it was it was cool. So so that like a lot of that was real too like the in the beginning battle They let the cameras roll after the battle was over and they let omari and columbus Kind of like go at it. So when the marty the flip right job was That was on the spot right in front of them. Oh just flipped like boom. Yeah, get out of here Yeah, right. That's so you can kind of see the natural reaction Right. Oh my gosh. That really just happened. That was a few little moments that that you know that were in the movie That were real. Yeah real moments. So that that movie is another classic It's it was straight classic. You know my question is You know, I'm I'm inserting myself You know, don't you think don't you think it's time for another dance movie? I think it is. I think it's time for you guys to We got to bring little saint back somehow Well, it's dead. I know what I'm saying, but is he the most beloved dead person? Thing to come as a ghost You don't have to know the movie that somebody says little saint they know you got Yeah, absolutely. I mean He's got to come out reincarnated or something. How about this in the beginning of the movie? Big see what we'll do. We'll do it. We'll do it. Well, they'll walk by mural. Yeah, a little saint of a little saint All right people. You know what I'm saying? But I'm just saying Because I was watching the movie and I was like man How was that movie? Yeah, I was like this was the What was it three? I was the last I could be wrong I mean outside of stomp the yard came out a couple years later. Okay, but okay But you guys served was the catalyst. Yeah. Yeah, so you guys served started the whole Dance craze every dance show after that. I mean like literally always tell chris. I'm like you changed the world man Yeah, yeah, like the world the dance came out of that world. Listen became dancers. Listen everybody was just a dancer after that I think chris Amen, give me a ring Because I think it's time I'm not a choreographer in hell. No, but no, right. I said, oh, yeah, but because In this moment and I was just again watching the movie and and Telling my wife. I was like, yo, they're dope But the way these kids are dancing now. Yeah Like it's like Yeah, it's like stuff now that they're doing. I don't like there's no way bro the stuff that they're doing now Yeah, it literally looks like they're walking on we actually can air Yeah, I mean really just globally. I can't really talk about it, but we have some Some things in the works bro We'll see I still think chris brown needs a leading dance role Absolutely. 100% like we got to do it before he gets 100% But my point is there's so many young Dudes and chicks out here That are doing amazing shit online. Yeah, where you see them just you know, I I Uh, shout out to to the two french brothers. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah That that I forget that the twins. Yeah, the twins dope. I love you too, but yeah, but yeah, and and so dope What about the three the three sisters at the three sister? I mean, I would forget their names, but they're like french or something Or something Shout out to y'all too. I'm sorry. My old head is just not getting the names out But the point is is that there's so many great dancers that deserve That type of shine and that type of frame with the movie. I think it'll I think it'll happen Well, you better hurry up because I already started writing Like I'm just saying because it is there's a script done. Okay. Okay. So there it is There's a you got serves to script done Wasn't there a two but it was like Like a blue light to beat the world We we worked we'd had a there was no part of it. No, you all didn't have a part in that. Okay So there was never like that was Sony trying to do trying to money grab trying to you know They did stomp the yard stomp the yard was good and actually was was um It's crazy. I was offered to roll the stomp the stomp. The yard was sick too though. Dope stomp. The yard was great Yeah, Columbus did the same. Yeah Columbus killed it. Columbus killed it. So shout out to Columbus short But um, yeah, you know, just watching that movie like man, it's been like almost two decades Yeah, and and dance and movement has changed so much Oh dramatically. Yeah, so that it's it's time for a new yeah It's time for it's time for the new generation of of I agree that are doing all of these things and having these dance composition competitions and and I And again, it's no diss to The dance shows and stuff like that. It's let me just say that you know, I mean like Absolutely, but they're not capturing The rawness. No, no nobody captured the the raw the raw element of of The passion and the aggression and the the feel of dance like you guys served to this no I don't feel like it's been done not at all like because everything was still even after all of that the movies But were more staged like even all the step-ups, which is dope, you know the step-ups were dope But they were more staged. They were like, you know, here's the camera Showcase the talent right here in front of you stage like it wasn't like that just like, you know You've where you felt like you were in it and involved and I think you know, I think it's definitely time to do I didn't like the step-ups. I mean I might be the only person but I was like, I went through half the movie and was kind of I Did the same way because one I'm sorry man and take it how you want it but It's something about Us Yeah, yeah, absolutely when we go in It's different. We go to fuck in like like it you can feel the energy like it's just different as you put it say like it is such a a level of creativity, yeah athleticism, yep Putting all of that together With the the clothes It's just everything. It's a whole thing This whole thing it's a movie. It's a total pack. Yeah, but I was like the step-ups Well step-ups did what they did because off the success that you guys served and people really still love the dance So it was still good to to see, you know, an element of the dance. It just wasn't captured. I feel I believe like I really enjoyed was um, the kid that's kind of like a dorky kid. Yeah step up. He can really dance. So yeah, yeah, adam savannah No, they were crazy dudes on it like adam savani Is the brother of uh, we had a we had another boys group called um, nlt white boys group and his brother was uh Adam's brother was in the group as well. So that's how we kind of like but adam's pretty respected in the dance Adam was like, yeah, yeah, he was like he was this little corny kid that like dancing in the corner We was putting the group together buck a boogie and we was like He could boogie. Yeah. Yeah, you know, that's my brother. I'm like, you know what? Let's let's let's go back to the I guess you could say the the team that Chris Stokes had at one point. It wasn't just p2k. It wasn't just immature slash imx Run down some of these artists that some of us some we know some names that we know that went off to do solo records and Stuff like that. Yeah, I mean, there's there's so many. I mean, uh You have jane. I you know Who discovered? Yeah Uh, yeah, man, he did you have tg4 tg4 who seven street seven street. Yes nlt which kevin mccaill who did went on a du glee He came from uh, you know so so many, you know, um It was It was cool to be able to watch Him develop all these people in him, you know, some of them go, you know, chris. He discovered brandy We haven't even gotten to your solo stuff yet, but because i'm enjoying this conversation. Yeah, I mean, you know, it's just You know, i'm saying But you've you've done your thing outside of Immature, yeah, which what hold on. Let me go back Batman back Okay, batman why batman were you a batman fan? A huge batman fan, but that had nothing to do with the actual okay, please break down the name so it's crazy. Um And i've told this story, you know back in the day back in the day day Um We were like i said the crazy image immature had the crazy image or whatever so we had a deal with um This beanie company because i wore beanies that was like my thing we first came out and it was called draws d r a w l s I remember those Draws the beanies so as a joke We were going it was remember br e conference right a long time ago. Nobody remembers br e but we did yeah Yeah, so br e conference in new orleans as a joke because the beanie company said draws I put a pair of batman draws like the superman the super the superhero draws on the beanie On top of the beanie. And it was a batman pair of draws I don't know why because like I felt like it was a funny thing. So we went out And you know did the br e conference with the draws on my head, right? I'm joking with the boys like this is gonna be funny It's nine years old. Right. So every time somebody were asking my name. I would just flip the beanie up and be like batman. So that's As a joke and it it's stuck and it's stuck. So it was batman Romeo and ldb. Yes a little drummer boy who could actually drum play the drum So ldb was in the band the immature band because immature had this which was tie dollar Brandy was a background singer rej was Wait, wait, don't skip that part. Yeah, he just said tie dollar was in yeah in a band tie dollar was in was in our band Just tie dollar sign was in the back Bro, I just I just actually did a show with with time. He did a show in la and brought me out Amazing one that black eyed peas did too. Yep. Yep like right around the ground. Yeah. Yeah. It was black eyed peas AJ from back to boys. Yep. Yeah, people don't understand how like yeah, I'm a talented tie dollar is Amazing bass player boy. Yes Sick with it play can play his dad. Yeah, his dad was on the lakeside, right? Yes, but his dad was our music director Okay, so we did like our senior hall and we did like all these these uh shows as immature back in the day Ty's dad big time. He was he was our music director. So he music directed all of that He was part of lakeside. I believe so tie if I'm wrong. I apologize, but I want to say he was a part of a big Yeah, a big band. I think it was like yeah, so pops did so that's you know, so pops did our stuff So tie was was our bass player. Damn That's crazy. So, okay, so your solo projects You had a couple of uh couple good records again. I'm joking Jesus couple of like you had a couple, you know Nice diddies. Yeah, you know, I mean when you broke away from the group And you did that obviously I'm assuming that was understood. Yeah, it was amongst the group members. Yeah, they gave you the blessings and also okay, and um You know a lot a lot of great records that I loved, you know, some stuff you did with the homie joe budden. Yeah, um You know just just great great songs. Um, thank you Your Your approach was always Like when I think of your music I and I I said in the intro. I think 2000s. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, like yeah, your sound encapsulates. Yep. What? A track sounded like In the early 2000s for sure and Next to the 90s probably some of my favorite music came from that era because it was a little blend of what it was What was then it was going into going into what it was what it was come becoming right? Yeah Did you do a lot of did you write a lot of the records or yeah, so I started um, I started writing a lot with b2k Okay, so on b2k and we put together b2k. I started writing a lot of their stuff and we start producing Um immature we became platinum status and we started, you know, doing productions. We did production for destiny child We did production for b2k and like genuine other groups and stuff like that. So That's when I kind of started writing. Yeah a little bit more and we we released, uh So I was It was right around Right around the time after imx It was right after ushers The my way album 97 Jermaine, um wanted me to do a solo album Okay, he uh, he reached out to chris and was like, I want I feel like You know boys getting older and I feel like mark should be solo. Sure, you know, I'm doing all the stuff He had just did I should be huge. I'm didn't all the stuff. He was like I wanted I want to do his album and Me being the loyal guy that I am I said no because I was still in the group. Yeah and uh Which you know, I probably At that point probably should have said yeah, but you know, I was I was like, you know Still in the group still doing our thing right and right after that like I think a year later We broke up a lot of people don't know that we actually kind of broke up it was not really like a big thing but We were on the Scream tour right would be to okay. Mm-hmm and um We're all in the back of the bus trying to tour was over. We're in miami. It was the last show We're kind of trying to like uh our Um agent comes in bus. He's like there's an opportunity for immature to do another tour or imx to do their own tour And I'm like, yeah, I'm with it. Let's let's go. So we sit and talk about it in the back of the bus Me and the guys and chris like, okay. What do we want to do the other two members? Like we don't really want to do the group no more Ldb was like I just kind of want to be regular. I don't really like, you know, I don't want to be interesting tour anymore I just kind of want to be a regular guy. I don't like all attention. I just I go just do whatever big and ron was like, you know, yeah I'm really not really into the group thing no more. I'm you know, he was hip-hop was Right, you know starting to emerge right and he was like, you know, I'd rather you know do some some more rapping And I was like So I just passed on a Wow, a career changing solo opportunity would you made me pre right but y'all to now tell me y'all I hit the roof right we had a big argument I just I just left the bus and I was just like I just I was overwhelmed with that but hey fate. Yeah still made his way. Yeah, and I was like, you know, okay So after that I went I went solo. I was like, you know, all right You know, it's too late for me now to do with your main, but I'm going solo So then we ended up talking about it because we were friend We always made sure that we were friends first before before before the before the work. Yeah So, you know, that's when I I did my solo album and B2K was was real hot at that time. So, you know, they were they were getting a lot of records Um from their their team max goose was an R and Chris's an R and their stuff And so max was like a friend of mine as well. So he would you know Some of the records that didn't really fit them. Yeah He slid to me because he knew I was doing my solo album, which was one of the records was that girl Yeah, and yeah, which neo wrote and And I recently ran into neo. I saw our interview where he was like that was supposed to be a single and I was like, I never knew that Wow. So he was I didn't know neo wrote. Yeah, he wrote that wrote wrote wrote it and sang it the demos and so so max Uh, was like this record doesn't fit B2K. Right. We were working on their second album the uh, pandemonium He's like, I don't really fit the guys. It's more of a you know, do you think you he was like, Chris? I want to play for mark. Do you think he like it? I don't know. He's so I'm like played and he's like, I was like, okay That's dope super dope recorded this single and ended up being my single And then B2K was also working with kales. Yeah, and he did bump of course bump bump bump And it was another record, uh clubbing Right So so so kales said he wrote that for me Oh, wow, because we did the that girl he did a remix of that girl And I was like, you know, like, you know, lace me with some, you know, bless me with some kales, right? so he he sent he sent over, uh clubbing and It was crazy because we uh, we were like deep into my project and we spent all the money up the budget We had no more budget to buy the record. Yeah, and the label was like, well, we can't buy the record. It was like upwards of like 300,000 or so 350 or something. Yeah, Chris is like, I just pay for it was By the record because it's a hit. So he was like, I'll pay for the record Put your button on it. There you go. And boom Yeah, that became and there we have Gentlemen so so so many things we're going to have to do a part two of mark Because it's too much to cover Over 30 years of this. No, we're going to definitely do a part two Because there's still a few things I need to touch on with your solo album and your solo efforts and all of that stuff Sure, just songs that you created and and and further getting into What you're doing behind the scenes. Yeah, but let's have some fun. All right. Um You're top five. Okay favorite Performers singers like, you know people that just don't sing but give it up both like top five Of all time and again, let me say this disclaimer folks if he doesn't Say your favorite It's okay. It's my really okay. It's his favorite. All right. So yeah, let's go. Um, michael jackson Usher boom Chris brown He's a marvel comic book random myself There you go. Yeah Here you go. And boys to me. Okay. You know what? I'm in a giving mood. Give me one more for a bonus point Okay, give me a bonus. I would say Hmm performer singer JT Justin Timberlake. Okay You don't hear that name a lot around here. Yeah, I love but we give it up for JT Love JT. I saw him at the form seven eight years ago. He has a great show. He knows how to entertain. Absolutely He comes from I mean in sync was He's cut from the cloth. Yeah, for sure. He's cut from the cloth. His stage went across the entire venue back around Yeah, absolutely treatments everywhere. It felt like a Broadway show slash concert. Yeah, you did a great job Jason gives it up. He does shout out to mr. Timberlake. Yeah, well done. He don't get enough credit for he doesn't He doesn't it's great. He's also very talented. Yeah Well, let me say this He's done quite well for himself. Yeah as a solo artist So he does give credit in one respect the other. I just don't think he puts himself out there like that which I respect Yeah, I don't think he's not trying. Yeah, he's not trying to yo. I'm that I'm that guy I'm that guy like he just does him which is which makes him that guy Yeah, so shout out to jt. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, he's definitely it. So one of them one of the real ones. Okay last question What's your favorite restaurant marcus? Give me one You can't say chow's because we just hobby ears the enchiladas and the margaritas margaritas. I love nastros It's hard. It's hard to pick because chow is literally my favorite, but you said I can't say yeah Yeah, yeah, I mean, but you know, I was I was trying to veer because he always clown because That beats mr. Chow. Yeah, but you know hobby ears. Okay a lot of nastros. Okay. Mastros good But let's let's let's stick with a hobby airs since it's a brian's favorite. Yeah So you're sitting in hobby ears, you know, you having a you know, enchilada with a margarita. Uh-huh and uh You're looking at the entryway and in walks A younger marcus, okay The young one. Yeah He was looking for you. Okay. He was trying to glean some some insight Yeah on his future. Yeah And he needs to know what to expect and what he needs In order for him to make it to where you are right now. So he sits down next to you He doesn't drink his the the margarita. No, he doesn't drink the margarita. He can't go and drink the margarita You can't do that. It's too young or he might have well. No. Nope. You slap his hand. Okay. Don't don't drink the margarita Don't don't drink the margarita But he takes some chips and salsa. Yeah, okay. We give him the chips and salsa. All right, cool. And he's looking for you What would the older marcus? Tell The younger marcus Give him some insight. I wouldn't give him insight. I will tell him to do everything in the same exact way That I did. How about that? Because I I have no regrets That's the best answer we've heard I like that answer Because what people don't understand is that you wouldn't be you if you didn't do what you did. Yep That's a beautiful answer. If not for everything that's brought me here. How about that? And on that note ladies and gentlemen, please give it up for my friend marcus. Yes, sir Hey y'all, thank you so very much. Make sure you guys like comment and subscribe, right? My patreon page is up and if you like this video, we got a couple more of you to watch too