| "Marco Polo" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Song by Styles Of Beyond | |
| from the album 2000 Fold | |
| Recorded: | 1997-1998 |
| Released: | August 18, 1998 (Original) August 24, 1999 (Re-release) |
| Format: | Digital, CD, Vinyl |
| Length: | 4:04 |
| Samples: | Depeche Mode - Little 15 |
| Writer: | Takbir Bashir, Ryan Maginn, Jason Rabinowitz, Chris Barnett |
| Producer: | Vin Skully |
| Label: | Bilawn, SpyTech, Mammoth, Ideal |
| 2000 Fold tracklist | |
| |
"Marco Polo" is the nineteenth track on 2000 Fold, the debut album by Styles Of Beyond. After the original 1998 release, two tracks were omitted from reissues because of copyright problems, making "Marco Polo" the seventeenth track. Because the instrumental samples "Little 15" by Depeche Mode, Martin Gore is credited as songwriter in reissues. The song is produced by Vin Skully and features vocals by Emcee 007, who later became the group's manager.[1]
Background
In an article published by PulseTC in early 2006, Mike Shinoda revealed he had produced one track for Styles Of Beyond's 1998 debut 2000 Fold, but his beat didn't make it on the album:
"Are you asking if I have any history in rap? Not really. I wasn’t ready to get out there. Before Linkin Park got going we were in the studio all the time. We played maybe one show a month. I guess the one thing is I made the original beat for “Marco Polo” by Styles of Beyond. But they ended up having a different producer do the one for the record."[2]
"Marco Polo" was originally produced by Mike for Emcee 007 as he explained himself, "Originally, "Marco Polo" was my song, and RYU was the feature. That's why I'm first on the track. Coming from New York, I was a hardcore Polo fan, and "Marco Polo" was more like a call and response concept in my head initially. SOB was working on 2000 Fold and asked if I wanted to add it to the album. I was hyped they even asked. Tak jumped on it and murdered his verse. I think he did it in one take. It was their track from then on."[3]
Ryu said of the original version: "The other song I can remember is the original version of "Marco Polo." We recorded that song in Mike's bedroom on a 4 track recorder. We wanted to include the song on 2000 Fold, so we took it to Vin Scully to clean up the beat and re-recorded the vocals. We also did a couple songs and beats that were left on the cutting room floor."[3]
Vin Skully added, "To be honest, I got kind of jealous when I heard they did that song. RYU was like "hey man, we want you to remake this track we worked on with Mike," and at first I didn't want to remake something. I was like I'll just make something new for it. But then RYU played me the track, and I was like wait a minute, that shit's dope! To be even more honest, I think RYU went to Mike first, because he knew I wouldn't want to sample Depeche Mode. I'm wondering if 007 still may have a copy, but I sure don't."[3]
The kids voices heard at the beginning and interlude of the demo were reused by Mike on the bridge of the demo version of "Figure.09" from LP Underground 9: Demos. The sample is longer and played backwards on the "Figure.09" demo.
Besides working on the track, Mike also designed the original "S.O.B." logo for the group[1] and did art direction and design for their debut album.
Versions
Note: Only the date of the very first release of each version is listed.
| Title | Album | Length | Recorded | Released | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Polo | 2000 Fold | 4:04 | 1997-1998 | August 18, 1998 |
|
| Marco Polo (Original) | 2:54 | 1997-1998 |
|
Personnel
- Written by T. Bashir, R. Maginn, J. Rabinowitz, C. Barnett
- Produced by Vin Skully for Pressbox Productions
- Mixed by: Vin Skully
- Executive Producers: Bilal Bashir & Shawn Berman
- Art Direction and Design: Mike Shinoda
- Cover Art: Divine Styler
- Photos by: Joseph Hahn
- Mastered by: Tim Hoogenakker
- Album Sequenced at Palette
- "Marco Polo" embodies portions of "Little 15" written by Martin Gore published by EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), performed by Depeche Mode, Produced Under License from Sire/Mute Records, By Arrangement With Warner Special Products, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Use By Permission.
Lyrics
I supersede MC's with these rhymes I fell upon
Holding Koran, the self appointed Teflon Don
My golden arms strong no frail
Chew letters spit nails
As the world turns and burns I got dizzy and fell
I felt the Earth move dude then the sky turned red
Touch mine and I get live the world wide web
Who said, "Declare war"?
I seen your crew before
At a glance, you even make it how to advance
Ayo I make you dance with a frenzy of slugs no doubt
Eternal beef will end with your crew rubbed out
My clout is elevated by the man I've become
Forever won son, my rhymes long term like mutual funds
Stun massage your eardrum, I'm wild my style vary
Exists amidst the gist is I ain't ordinary
My personalities split identity
Remember me blaze, I make moves like Kaiser Soze
Marc' Polo
Kamikaze missions
Skill bomb drills
Nine milli' mils tucked in the bubble jacket
With Tak and Ryu you'll get served with the racket
Michael Chang type slang, verb Viet Cong
South Cali saigon, Don Juan Dimarco
Polo, hip hop rejects world trade embargo
It's Tiger Chan the San Fernando Valley Rambo
In camo
Flage dodge the ammo I'm Commando
With Vandon I'll verbally bust shots at random
With rhyme repercussions that kill like Charles Manson
Funk phantom with words observe my lingui-
-stics and stones will break beats, break bones
Polo
Marco
Feeling like the Prince of Demarco
Follow, rock it/rocket like the 13th Apollo
Polo, I grab mics and go for dolo
Love lines, angles and rhymes project my thought
I start writing with this psychopath, mad vex vision
King Tut, mummy rap, idiotic feeling
Tea spoon of rhymes is enough to combust
Spontaneous or not I'm sharp like elephant tusks
You can fantasize but this ain't no scene like the Bahamas
It's more like a last minute notice from stealth bombers
Power from the moon, skill like combat platoons
Snap shot, picture frame, quick photo lens zoom
Tossing bodies like a javelin, 60 yard mark
And it made a metal face side bark aardvark
Ayo so crack the window some cause I'm collapsing your lung
Necktie wiseguy straight off the boat from Un Cung
I drop a plate of [?] feel the rays of the sun
Use the light like photosynthesis generating my tongue
It's guerrilla warfare cause I'm the capital like Cairo
The world could never comprehend the wicked things that I know
The [?] beat percussion slamming like a mosh pit
Too much exposure to the wack this always makes me nauseous
So I avoid to be exposed and stay equipped with battle drill
Suck their pride like banana cupcake cream filled
Backspin to windmill
Nylons cover linoleum
Dancing with a mic causing verbal pandemonium
Marco
(Polo)
Marco
(Polo)
Fish outta water?
(Yo, why you peeking man?)
I'm rushing, smashing MC's up like pumpkins
For fronting, my function is phat make no assumption
Clothes steady clumping, junk joined at the hip hop hooray
Mayday melee runs off the lip then dips
Down way, way low below the surface
Fuck what you heard I can see you getting nervous
40 love serve us, Ryu is up to volley
Mop that bitch full of shit without the folly
Muhammad Ali butterfly rhymes that stick and move
I shall exceed indeed to proceed I presume
All aboard yo as we reach the end merge
Switching gears don't fuck with mine Depeche Mode
I got that soul glow, double O flow beyond point
I remember school dazed off the Spike Lee Joint
I'm twisted, ain't no use for no resistance
Ease back, give me my room I need some clearance
Appearance, interference between the foes
The schizophrenic bandit, Marco Polo
I supersede MC's with these rhymes I fell upon
Holding Koran, the self appointed Teflon Don
My golden arms strong no frail
Chew letters spit nails
As the world turns and burns I got dizzy and fell
I felt the Earth move dude then the sky turned red
Touch mine and I get live the world wide web
Who said, "Declare war"?
I seen your crew before
At a glance, you even make it how to advance
Ayo I make you dance with a frenzy of slugs no doubt
Eternal beef will end with your crew rubbed out
My clout is elevated by the man I've become
Forever won son, my rhymes long term like mutual funds
Stun massage your eardrum, I'm wild my style vary
Exists amidst the gist is I ain't ordinary
My personalities split identity
Remember me blaze, I make moves like Kaiser Soze
Marc' Polo
Kamikaze missions
Skill bomb drills
Nine milli' mils tucked in the bubble jacket
Fuck with Tak and Ryu you'll get served with the racket
Michael Chang type slang, verb Viet Cong
South Cali saigon, Don Juan Dimarco
Polo, hip hop rejects world trade embargo
It's Tiger Chan the San Fernando Valley Rambo
In camo
Flage dodge the ammo I'm Commando
With Vandon I'll verbally bust shots at random
With rhyme repercussions that kill like Charles Manson
Funk phantom with words observe my lingui-
-stics and stones will break beats, break bones
Polo
Marco
Feeling like the Prince of Demarco
Follow, rocket like the 13th Apollo
Polo, I grab mics and go for dolo
Love lines, angles and rhymes project my thought
Marco
(Polo)
Marco
(Polo)
Fish outta water?
(Yo, why you peeking man?)
I'm rushing, smashing MC's up like pumpkins
For fronting, my function is phat make no assumption
Clothes steady clumping, junk joined at the hip hop hooray
Mayday melee runs off the lip then dips
Down way, way low below the surface
Fuck what you heard I can see you getting nervous
40 love serve us, Ryu is up to volley
Mop that bitch full of shit without the folly
Muhammad Ali butterfly rhymes that stick and move
I shall exceed indeed to proceed I presume
All aboard yo as we reach the end merge
Switching gears don't fuck with mine Depeche Mode
I got that soul glow, double O flow beyond point
I remember school dazed off the Spike Lee Joint
I'm twisted, ain't no use for no resistance
Ease back, give me my room I need some clearance
Appearance, interference between the foes
The schizophrenic bandit, Marco Polo
Marco
Feeling like the Prince of Demarco
Follow, rocket like the 13th Apollo
Polo, I grab mics and go for dolo
Love lines, angles and rhymes project my thought
Marco
Feeling like the Prince of Demarco
Follow, rocket like the 13th Apollo
Polo, I grab mics and go for dolo
Love lines, angles and rhymes project my thought
Gallery
-
2000 Fold
-
S.O.B. logo by Mike Shinoda
1998 Version
-
Front
-
Back
-
CD
-
Inner
-
Inner
Reissue
-
Front
-
Back
-
CD
-
Inner
-
Inner
-
Inner
-
Inner
External Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ryu Of Styles Of Beyond Explains Long Delays Of "Reseda Beach," Mike Shinoda's Involvement | HipHopDX, November 25, 2012
- ↑ PulseTC Fort Minor Article - Mike Shinoda Clan, January 2006
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Hybrid Origins: A Look Back At The Early Days - Linkin Park Live, December 23, 2021