We caught up with Mr. Mark from Hip-Hop's basement for a short interview. You can catch Mr. Mark's contributor, Mark Pagan, with Washington Improv Theater's group, "Caveat".
You have been in the DC area for how long, past and present? Like, I grew up around here and all. But I was away for about 9 years. That's sounds all mysterious and shit. I didn't get locked up or nothing. I almost got caught for putting a C&C Music Factory single in my jansport back in the day at Sam Goody. But, there is a real problem with incarceration in this country. We tend to think of our society as holistic, but it's all a facade and shit. I'm jonesin' to meet Howard Zinn one of these days to talk about Eldridge Cleaver's Primeval Mitosis theory. Could you like hook a brother up with like a way to do some sort of roundtable discussion?
Other than all that, I been back in DC for three years, son.
Word. You know, I'm sort out of the Howard Zinn-Noam Chomsky loop, but I think I could possibly get you a talk with Ward Churchill, he's dying for someone to listen to him these days. If you could hold another sort of round-table right now? What might be the topic and who would you have at the table? Right now, my mom. I need some intervention. She like found condoms in my room and she doesn't believe that i was holding them for my friend Charlie. Now, I can't use the car and she won't let me hang out with Charlie. She thinks he's a bad influence. The same thing argument happened at my 30th birthday party. She left Buca de Beppo in a huff, man. Besides her, I'd like to talk with Lord Jamar of Brand Nubian to see what he's up to. Oh, and Robert McNamara over the state of military occupation in foreign territories. And shit.
Man, you are heavy into the world scene and bring the knowledge--for someone that is living with their mother? Which is all good, hey we all have to make sacrifices right now, especially artists, but your mom is giving you the business for finding condoms in your room? Your 30 years old, why you letting her play you like that? I don't know. Maybe, I just feel bad because her cooking gives a lot of people indigestion. We go out a lot to eat and all. It's tough on her psyche. Moms have a hard time with that stuff....cooking being good and all. I tell her how good her food is, but she doesn't believe it. She can hook up some mac and cheese.
Word, word, word, that clears up some things. So whats this current project all about? What was the impetus? Is this just a solo operation? What would you like to see possibly come from it?
Mr. Mark, I have had the privilege of having some solid conversations with you in the past, could you tell the people about some of the wild buys and steals that you have brought back from your travels? Any other stories you would like to share? I don't want to incriminate myself, dog. Look, I'm not trying to condone criminality in any form. But, I can't lie...I've walked the line. See, I been going down to South America quite often to bring back merchandise. Know what I'm sayin'? Tired of hidin' it. Whenever I'm in Lima I hit up some "markets" in Miraflores. Fresh stuff, man. Really hot. I hooked up 2 seasons of Charles in Charge, the best of El Chavo del 8, the complete Father Dowling Mysteries, and all ten parts of Krzysztof Kieslowski's religious parable, The Decalogue, for $15! All on DVD. Well, one disc accidentally has a few episodes of Nightline on it for some reason. But that's when you hit up your distributor. I have a number and all but my mom won't let me make long distance phone calls here. But I don't mind the Nightline too much. It's pretty informative and balanced.
If Mr. Mark could collaborate on any sort of artistic project, who would you collaborate with past or present? What would it be? And what would be the title of the collaboration? That's really tough to say. I wouldn't want to bring anybody back from the dead because they might be all comfortable up there. I can't really afford the kind of amenities that the afterlife provides. What if you can have all you can eat grapes there? I mean, that's a huge catering expense, dog. Especially if they were already celebrities down here. Yo, they gonna come back to earth super spoiled.
If I had to do it, I'd get John Ritter, he seemed pretty nice and he did die a little too early. Um, some old Memphis horn players, like one's who were studio musicians for Stax Records 'cause they were probably underpaid and need some credit. MC Trouble because she died too early too and she had a nice smile. Uhh, Franz Kafka 'cause he probably has a lot to say. John Cassavetes because we need a visual alcoholic. And Julia Child to hook up catering. Wait, Bob Ross too...album cover or art for the performance. Oh yeah, Cesar Chavez and Angela Davis as promotion. I guess it would be a soulful musical about the industrial revolution. Something called "Aren't We There Yet?" Wait, can I come up with a few more ideas? This has got me thinking. Would Gene Wilder be ok as security?
Answered beautifully...well, this about closes things up for us, as always a pleasure Mr. Mark. Anything you would like to leave our readers with? Any plugs or upcoming events? Just thanks and all. Take a look at the site, hiphopmomsbasement.com and keep it close 'cause there's gonna be lots of stuff going on real soon. Oh yeah, artomatic. I'll be there this year. Again, sorry about talking about stealing. I don't want that promoted.
