Mars Black

Named after Mars Blackman, a character in Spike Lee's Nike Air Jordan campaign from the '80s, rapper Mars Black got his start in Omaha, NE, before moving to N.Y.C. to concentrate on his hip-hop career. Instead of signing a deal with Bad Boy or Def Jam, he made a surprise move to Conor Oberst's Team Love label, becoming the sole rapper on a roster of primarily indie rock, indie electro, and folk artists. After spending a year in the studio, his first album, Folks Music, was released in 2005, with D.J.E.Babbs on the turntables. Stay Black followed in 2008. ~ Jason Lymangrover, Rovi