Black Cobain
Cobain in 2015
Cobain in 2015
Background information
Birth nameMarcus Vance Gloster
Born (1986-04-29) April 29, 1986
Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Rapper
Years active2009–present
Labels
Websitetheboardadministration.com

Marcus Vance Gloster[1] (born April 29, 1986), known professionally as Black Cobain, is an American rapper. He collaborated on the Wale track "4 AM" and was the opening act of Wale's 2011-2012 53-city "Ambition" tour.[2][3]

Background

Black Cobain was born in Alexandria, Virginia, and fell in love with hip hop at an early age. His MC moniker "Black Cobain" originated from his childhood nickname "Black" being combined with "Cobain", in homage to his uncle who introduced him to rock and roll and the world-renowned band Nirvana, with frontman Kurt Cobain.[3]

Black Cobain attended Virginia State University, graduated magna cum laude, and obtained employment at the Boys & Girls Club, uncertain he could make a viable living and income from his ambitions as an emcee. During this time, he linked with long-time friend and mentor, Le'Greg O. Harrison, and under his direction began to professionalize his sound and actively exploit his talent through local performances, collaborations, sets, and freestyles. In 2009, Black signed to The Board Administration as their first official signee and shortly thereafter left full-time employment to fully pursue emceeing as a career.[4][5]

Career

2008–2010

Black Cobain

Black Cobain performed the local circuit and various open mics within the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas to garner attention and heighten awareness of his brand.[3] Despite his affiliation with Wale and The Board Administration, he worked tirelessly to cultivate his own buzz and did not collaborate with Wale until years after signing with the label, because he put in his own groundwork and operates by his childhood reality and philosophy that nothing is ever given, more so earned.

After a solid run releasing freestyles and frequenting local performance venues, Black Cobain released his debut mixtape, Now or Never. Now or Never focused on his transition into adulthood and the perils of inner city life.[6] A year later, he released a second mixtape, Now, a demonstration of a more evolved emcee and better articulated and confident Black Cobain. Now had features from Wale, Raheem Devaughn, J. Holiday, and Wiz Khalifa.[6] Later the same year, he was featured as the spokesperson for the 2010 Rocksmith Tokyo fall/winter campaign alongside Wale.

2011–present

His 2011 mixtape, Young, Gifted & Black, hosted by Rocksmith Tokyo, possessed features from Wale, Stalley, and featured production from Tone P and 88-Keys. Young, Gifted, & Black is regarded by many as his most solid work to date and shows his full emergence from local act to national contender and someone to know.[7][8]

Black Cobain has the most carbon footprints of any emerging artist by touring 53+ markets worldwide as the official opener for Wale's Ambition Tour 2011-2012. He was recently placed under consideration by XXL magazine as a 2012 Freshman Class Candidate.[9] He recently completed the 2012 leg of the Ambition Tour with Wale.

May 2012, post-haircut

In April 2012 he toured the United Kingdom as the featured rap artist in the Mark Ronson Royal Ballet production "Carbon Life" alongside singers Boy George, Hero Fisher, Alison Mosshart, Jonathan Pierce and Mr. Wyatt.[10] Black Cobain released his fourth mixtape, Cheers, on April 30, 2012, executive produced by Le'Greg O. Harrison of The Board Administration.[11][12] Cheers is hosted by Orisue and Live Mixtapes and has features from Wale, Magazeen, J. Holiday, Jose Guapo, and Tre, and production from Tone P, Beat Billionaire, Hello Chi-City, Mark Henry, and Jay Amadeus.[13]

On April 25, 2012, Black Cobain cut his hair to signify professional growth and development into the next stage of his career as an artist. This transition took his fan base by surprise but was welcomed after he explained his reasoning for the departure from his long locks.[14]

In August 2012 Black Cobain toured as an official opener for the Meek Mill Dreams and Nightmares Tour.[15] He is also featured on Wale's track Bag of Money Remix alongside Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Yo Gotti, T-Pain, French Montana, and Omarion.[16]

He is a member of the national African American fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma (ΦΒΣ). He was initiated into the Alpha Alpha Alpha Chapter at Virginia State University. He is being considered for the 2014 XXL magazine freshman class.[17]

Discography

  • 2009: Now or Never[18]
  • 2010: Now[19]
  • 2011: Young, Gifted & Black[7]
  • 2012: Cheers[20]
  • 2013: Perfect Contradiction
  • 2015: No Buzz
  • 2017: Whole Time, Vol. 1
  • 2018: Whole Time, Vol. 2
  • 2022: Cobizzy

References

  1. ↑ "ALL THE LUV". ASCAP. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Black Cobain Profile". DMV Life. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Black Cobain Reps Rap And Rock And Roll In The DMV". MTV. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Black Cobain and a New Virginia". Fader. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Black Cobain on 'Now' and the hip-hop pedigree of Alexandria". TBD. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  6. 1 2 "Black Cobain Biography". Last FM. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "New Mixtape: Black Cobain Young Gifted & Black". Rap Radar. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Wale x Rocksmith x BOA Present Black Cobain: Young, Gifted, &... | www.959thefox.com". www.959thefox.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Vote for Your 2012 XXL Freshman". XXL. January 2, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  10. ↑ Macaulay, Alastair (April 6, 2012). "At Royal Ballet, Debuts by Liam Scarlett and Wayne McGregor". The New York Times.
  11. ↑ "WORLDSTARHIPHOP - Entertainment and News Media". Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Artwork: Black Cobain – 'Cheers'". April 25, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Black Cobain - Cheers - the Board Administration". Archived from the original on May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  14. ↑ "» Black Cobain – Cheers (Mixtape)". 2DOPEBOYZ. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  15. ↑ "AllHipHop » Meek Mill Announces Dates For "Dreamchasers" North America Tour; "Amen" Now On iTunes". AllHipHop. June 21, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  16. ↑ "RozayRaw.com News". RozayRaw.com Official Website. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Black Cobain". XXL. March 10, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Black Cobain "Now or Never" Available Now". Depth Charge Recording Group. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Black Cobain – Now". Advent Outpost. Archived from the original on July 3, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  20. ↑ "Black Cobain - Cheers". XXL. April 30, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
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