User:Concreteshaman/sandbox
Merc Versus | |
---|---|
Birth name | Jonathon Bennett |
Also known as | Merkabah, Raafiq Alim, Cheating Death |
Born | Muncie, Indiana, U.S. | February 21, 1977
Origin | Muncie, Indiana, U.S. |
Genres | Hip hop |
Occupation(s) | Rapper Producer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1996–present |
Labels | Dark Ages Music Group |
Website | www |
Jonathon Bennett, better known as Merc Versus, is an American rapper and record producer from Muncie, Indiana.[1] He gained notoriety in online underground hip hop circles in the 2000s by extensively touring in the midwestern US (sharing the stage with artists like Artifacts, Sadat X of Brand Nubian, Killah Priest, Vast Aire of Cannibal Ox, Bronze Nazareth & Wisemen, Devin the Dude, Canibus, Adeem, Obie Trice, Doodlebug of Digable Planets, Del the Funky Homosapien, and more), releasing multiple independent albums, and appearing as a guest feature on releases from artists like C-Rayz Walz, Chief Kamachi (formerly of Army of the Pharaohs and JuJu Mob), and the late Kevlaar 7 (of Wisemen).[2] He is a founding member of the groups Mystery School, Bedlam Brethren[3], and Planet Boom Bap (a live hip hop band),[4] as well as a former chapter leader of Universal Zulu Nation.[5]
Between 2012 and 2020, Merc Versus released a trilogy of projects with record producer Falling Down, who has worked with Inspectah Deck of Wu-Tang Clan, Sheek Louch of The Lox, Kidd Kidd, Killarmy, Uncle Murda, Lil Flip, and more.[6] Between 2014-2015, he hosted an underground hip hop radio show called P.O.W.z Radio on WECI 91.5 FM at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana which featured interviews and music from both local and national talent; one episode featuring an interview with Cappadonna of Wu-Tang Clan.
In 2015, Merc Versus organized a series of youth workshops at the Masonic Temple (Muncie, Indiana), which had been converted into a community center. These workshops, entitled The Seeds of Life Urban Arts Workshop Series, taught the fundamentals of the artistic elements of hip hop culture (deejaying, emceeing, breaking, and graffiti).[7]
Discography
[edit]Solo albums
- 2007: The Word
- 2011: C-Rayz Walz presents Rise of the Sleeping Giant
- 2012: The Suffering Soul EP (with Falling Down)
- 2015: Entering Heaven Alive (with Falling Down)
- 2020: Furious Euphoria (with Falling Down)
Collaborations
- 2000: Dark Gospel (with Mystery School)
- 2004: The Grasshopper EP (with Mystery School)
- 2009: Behind the Iron Curtain (with Ironworkers Guild)[8]
- 2010: Kevlaar 7 presents Class Envy (with Mystery School)
- 2012: Bedlam Bullets (with Bedlam Brethren)
- 2012: Black Feather Messengers (with Bedlam Brethren)[9]
- 2016: Parallel Universe (with Planet Boom Bap)
Mixtapes
- 2008: March of the Martyrs (with Ironworkers Guild)
- 2015: Magnetic
- 2020: Payphones
Guest Appearances
- Kevlaar 7 - Unbutton Your Holsters (Studio album released July 20, 2009)
- Suicide Watch (featuring Merc Versus & Illah Dayz)
- Gripz & Iron Fingaz - Blocks of Gold (Studio album released May 11, 2010)
- Street Oasis (featuring Merc Versus & Kevlaar 7)
- Bonus Disc: The Foundational Bricks - Merc Versus Speaks (featuring Merc Versus)
- Kevlaar 7 - Who Got the Camera (Studio album released February 1, 2011)[10]
- Black Heroin (featuring Mystery School & Iron Braydz)
- Chief Kamachi - Rise and Rhyme Vol. 1 (Studio album released January 31, 2012)[11]
- Swift Angels (featuring Merc Versus)
- Lone Ninja - Rogue Agent (Studio album released November 27, 2012)[12]
- Zero Hour (featuring Bedlam Brethren)
- C-Rayz Walz - Almighty: The Solar Facts (Studio album released December 25, 2013)
- Epicopolis (featuring Shaz ILLyork, SkrewTape, Merc Versus, & various others)
- Everlasting Scars (featuring Leeroy Destroy, Labal-S Murdoc, Merc Versus, & various others)
- My Baby (featuring Q-Unique, Wordsworth, Merc Versus, & various others)
- Jus-P - Hand of Judgment (Studio album released April 15, 2014)
- Hazel Eyes of Heaven (featuring G.S. Advance & Merc Versus)
- C-Rayz Walz - Almighty: The 12 Jewels (Studio album released January 20, 2015)
- Freedom (featuring Merc Versus & Oxilla Born Allah)
- Knightstalker - Built 4 Eternity (featuring Dark Skinned Assassin, Ackurate, & Merc Versus) (Single released November 30, 2015)
- No Catch - Focus (Studio album released August 12, 2016)
- Kiss the Sky (featuring Merc Versus)
- Jus-P - Supafriendz 2 (Studio album released May 19, 2017)
- Concrete Survival (featuring Hell Razah, Merc Versus, & Anthai da Protagonist)
- White Lotus - Royal Reserve (Studio album released July 24, 2012)
- Chief Leaf (featuring Bronze Nazareth, Sleep Sinatra, & Bedlam Brethren)
- New Blade (featuring Willy Cold & Bedlam Brethren)
References
[edit]- ^ Discogs. "Merc Versus - Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ AllMusic. "Merc Versus - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
{{cite web}}
:|author=
has generic name (help) - ^ Discogs. "Bedlam Brethren - Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Discogs. "Planet Boom Bap - Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Kyle Long. "Raafiq Alim Zulu interview - Nuvo magazine". Nuvo (newspaper). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Discogs. "Falling Down - Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ MuncieEvents. "Seeds of Life Urban Arts - MuncieEvents". MuncieEvents. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ TJ Reynolds. "Behind the Iron Curtain review - Nuvo magazine". Nuvo (newspaper). Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Copper Tony. "Black Feather Messengers review - HipHopSpeakeasy". HipHopSpeakeasy. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Peter Quadrino. "Who Got the Camera review - Slant magazine". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Kevin Beacham. "Rise and Rhyme Vol. 1 review - Rhymesayers". Rhymesayers Entertainment. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ MonkeyBoxing. "Rogue Agent review - MonkeyBoxing". MonkeyBoxing. Retrieved 26 September 2020.