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{{Infobox musical artist
|name = Mars Ill
|image=
|background = group_or_band
|origin = [[Atlanta, Georgia]], U.S.
|genre = [[Underground hip-hop]], [[Christian hip-hop]]
|label = [[Gotee Records|Gotee]], Uprok, [[Deepspace5 Records|Deepspace5]]
|years_active = 1998–present
|associated_acts = [[Deepspace5]], deadpoetsociety
}}
'''Mars Ill''' is an [[emcee]]/[[DJ]] [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] duo from [[Atlanta, Georgia]]. The duo consists of Gregory Owens ([[Manchild (rapper)|Manchild]]) and Nathan Corrona ([[DJ Dust]]). They are also part of the [[Musical collective|hip-hop collective]] and [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[Deepspace5]].
Coming together in 1998, Mars Ill has released several albums and EPs through [[indie music|independent]] [[record labels]] and two albums on [[Gotee Records]]. Their success in the [[Underground hip hop|underground hip-hop]] movement in the early 2000s led to their performing at [[Scribble Jam]] in 2003 and 2004 and, ultimately, their signing to [[Gotee Records|Gotee]].
==History==
===Beginnings===
Before Nate and Greg met, Nate was the [[DJ]] for '''deadpoetsociety''', a hip hop group based out of [[Indianapolis]]. The group consisted of three members, Nate Corrona (DJ Dust), Michael Porter (Rahlo),  and Joel Wilson (Thin King), and performed at various venues in and around Indianapolis and the [[Mid-West]] from 1995 to 1999. In 1998, Nate attended a hip hop conference in Florida<ref name="aphire :: interviews :: mars ill">[http://www.aphire.com/interviews/marsill.html aphire :: interviews :: mars ill<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209160125/http://www.aphire.com/interviews/marsill.html |date=2012-02-09 }}</ref> and met Greg Owens, who was at the time an [[MC]] for The Pride, living in Atlanta. Greg was then asked to be a part of deadpoetsociety and subsequently toured with the group until around the end of 1999.<ref name="aphire :: interviews :: mars ill"/> At that point, Joel had left the group to return to his home in [[England]], and the three current members all decided to change the group name because, as Greg mentioned in an interview, "there [are] a lot of Dead Poets Society's around.".<ref>[http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/interviews/MarsIll2006.asp Jesusfreakhideout.com: Mars Ill Interview, 2006<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Nate then decided to move to Atlanta, feeling that the group would have better opportunities in that city, musically and [[Religious ministry (Christian)|ministry]]-wise. Michael chose to stay in Indianapolis and soon afterward began his own group, '''The BlackSoil Project'''.
===Origins of Group Name===
The name "Mars Ill" is a shortened version of [[Areopagus|Mars Hill]], mentioned in [[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] in the [[Bible]], (Acts 17:19<ref>[http://bible.cc/acts/17-19.htm Acts 17:19 And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>).<ref name="aphire :: interviews :: mars ill"/><ref>[http://georgiamusicdirectory.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A13000 Creative Loafing Atlanta | Music | Word up (from up high)<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> "ILL" is capitalized for clarity, as it is often mistaken for the [[Roman number]] 3, or "iii".
===Raw Material===
The group's first album was called [[Raw Material (album)|Raw Material]], released on Sphere of Hip Hop Records, in early 2000. It was considered a success in the underground hip-hop movement, garnering rave reviews from both [[secular]] and [[Christians|Christian]] critics alike.<ref>[http://www.ukhh.com/reviews/nonuk/438.html ukhh.com | reviews | nonuk | Mars Ill - Raw Material<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109111846/http://www.ukhh.com/reviews/nonuk/438.html |date=2006-11-09 }}</ref><ref>[http://jesusfreakhideout.com/cdreviews/RawMaterial.asp Jesusfreakhideout.com: Mars Ill, "Raw Material" Review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2002_02_rawmaterial.html Mars Ill :: Raw Material :: Uprok Records<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In 2002, Uprok Records (a child label of [[Tooth & Nail Records]]) offered to re-release the album. With this release, a few track changes were made: ''Under the Sun'' and ''The End'' from the Sphere of Hip Hop release were replaced with ''Sphere of Hip Hop (original)'', ''Fade to Black'', and ''The Abolition of Manchild''.
===ProPain delays===
Following the 2003 release of ''Backbreakanomics'', Dust and Manchild began work on a new album titled ''ProPain'' with a 2004 release date. As excitement built for the new album, [[EMI]] executives began to get involved in the project which they planned to release as a major [[Gotee Records]] release. However, on review of the track line-up, they discovered that certain tracks had uncleared [[Sampling (music)|samples]], and they put the project on hold until further notice. As Dust worked to clear the samples on some tracks and modify others, the release date was continually pushed back. To ease fans' disappointment and frustration, the group released ''Pirate Radio'', showing their resilience through this trial. ''ProPain'''s legal issues continued, however, and anticipation mounted through a premature release and recall, and several re-releases of previous albums. The waiting finally paid off in May 2006 when the CD finally came out shy a few tracks of the original, but with new songs to help complete the project. Lead singles included: "More" featuring Ahmad of [[4th Avenue Jones]] and Anthony David, and the revolution-minded "Sound Off".
==Discography==
===Albums===
*''[[Raw Material (album)|Raw Material.]]'' (Sphere of Hip Hop Records, 2000)
*''The Blue Collar Sessions'' (EP, Ill Boogie Records 2002)
*''Sound Methods'' (2002)
*''[[Backbreakanomics]]'' ([[Gotee Records]], 2003)
*''Sound Methods 2.0'' (re-release, 2004)
*''[[ProPain]]'' ([[Gotee Records]], 2004)
*''Pirate Radio'' (2004)
*''The Blue Collar Sessions'' (EP, re-released 2005)
*''Pirate Radio +Plus'' (2005) (instrumentals from ''Pirate Radio'')
*''Backbreaks'' (2005) (instrumentals from ''Backbreakanomics'')
*''Backwaterprophets'' (2005) (remix album of ''Backbreakanomics'')
*''Pro*Pain'' ([[Gotee Records]], 2006)
*''ProPain (Instrumentals)'' ([[Gotee Records]], 2006)
*''Raw Material – 5 Year Anniversary Edition'' (2006) (instrumentals from ''Raw Material'')
*''Old Ironsides'' (2006)
*''Slow Flame'' (2007) (remix album of ''Pro*Pain'')
*''Black Listed Sessions'' (2008) (remix album of ''Blue Collar Sessions'')
===Singles===
*"Mona Lisa" (2001)
*"Redefine"  (2002)
*"Breathe Slow" (2003)
*"Pro Pain" (2005)
*"Win When" (2020)
===DVD===
* ''Mars Ill'' (2006)
===DJ Dust albums===
* ''No Fame'' (2006)
* ''Dust Collecting Volume One'' (2007) (instrumentals from Mars Ill, Deepspace5, and Sintax.the.Terrific)
* ''[[Back to Dust]]'' (2008) Collaboration with [[Sev Statik]] of [[Deepspace5]]
=== Compilation contributions ===
* ''Full Plates: Mixtape Vol. 2'' ([[Gotee Records|Gotee]], 2001)
* ''BK & Associates'' (Uprok, 2002)
* ''Open Mic Volume 2: Live at Crossover'' (2002)
* ''It's Time'' (2003)
* ''Hip Hope'' 2004 (2003)
* ''Phatmass: Massmatics'' (2003)
* ''Uprok Mixtape Vol. 2'' (Uprok, 2003)
* ''Fashion Expo - Round One: Tru Hip-Hop'' (Syntax, 2004)
* ''Hip Hope 2005'' (2004)
* ''Hip Hope 2006'' (2005)
* ''Hip Hope 2007'' (2006)
* ''The Genesis Project'' (2006)
* ''Heavy Rotation'' (HipHop Is Music, 2006)
* ''Sphere of Hip Hop Vinyl Mix Vol 1'' (2006)
* ''To the Ends of the Earth Volume 1'' (re-release) (End of Earth, 2007)
* ''Hip Hope 2008'' (2007)
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* {{Tumblr|marsill|Official page}}
{{Mars Ill}}
{{Deepspace5}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:American hip hop duos]]
[[Category:Christian hip hop groups]]
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1998]]
[[Category:Gotee Records artists]]
[[Category:Performers of Christian hip hop music]]
[[Category:Musical duos from Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Deepspace5 members]]