Los Angeles-based independent recording artist, songwriter, and producer Marcus Christ (also known as M.C.) is a creative force who refuses to be boxed in. As a U.S. Air Force veteran with a background in political science and conflict resolution, Christ seamlessly blends hip-hop, rock, punk, and cinematic storytelling to create music that challenges listeners to think whilst remaining emotionally authentic. Through his independent label, MtB Entertainment, he has spent years building a distinct catalogue focused on artistic freedom and meaningful storytelling rather than following fleeting industry trends.
His latest release, ‘You Hate Me, I Hate You’, marks a bold step into an emo-punk sound while maintaining his signature lyrical depth. Exploring themes of rejection, conflict, heartbreak, and emotional honesty, the track pairs aggressive guitars and melodic vocals with a music video that beautifully blends original performance footage with curated pop culture imagery. We caught up with Marcus to discuss his creative origins, the whirlwind writing process behind his new material, and the deeply personal inspirations driving his art.
Thanks for joining us, Marcus! We are thrilled to chat about your musical journey and recent releases. Music has been a part of your life since childhood, but when did you first start writing your songs, and what inspired you to take that step?
"Music has been a part of my life since I was a kid. In fifth and sixth grade, I played the trombone and sang in both my school choir and honours choir. Those experiences gave me my first real appreciation for music, rhythm, and performing in front of an audience. When I got to high school, I joined a rap group called 46th Lane with some friends. We spent countless hours rapping, freestyling, and pushing each other to get better. That's where I really began developing my voice as an artist and learned how to express myself through hip-hop.”
“I didn't write my first complete song until November 2004. Around that time, my stepfather was sent to prison, and that experience became the catalyst that pushed me from simply rapping to actually writing music. My first song was called ‘Mommy Got Some Problem’. I eventually finished it after a girl I had dated gave birth to a child. The third verse of that song was written for Destiny. Although I haven't been able to be part of her life because of the conflict between me and her mother and the fact that I don't have legal documentation establishing paternity through the courts, that verse remains deeply personal to me. It captures what I was feeling at that point in my life and serves as a reminder of why I began writing music in the first place.”
“Looking back, the single biggest force that motivated me to write songs and eventually become a performing artist was my stepfather's incarceration. Music became an outlet to process difficult emotions, tell my story, and transform painful experiences into something meaningful."
Your new tracks showcase different sides of your artistry. Can you tell us a bit about these latest releases and what they mean to you personally?
"My latest releases are ‘You Hate Me, I Hate You’ and ‘Stay Wit My Boys’, and they represent two very different sides of who I am as an artist. Stay Wit My Boys brings a lot of energy and confidence, while You Hate Me, I Hate You is much more personal and emotionally vulnerable. If I had to pick a favourite right now, it would definitely be ‘You Hate Me, I Hate You’ because of what it means to me personally.”
“Can I get personal for a moment? There is a place in my heart that belongs to only one person, and it isn't me. This song reminds me that while some things in life are completely outside of our control, our emotions and how we respond to them are ultimately our own responsibility. Every time I hear that song, I think about her. I wonder what she's doing, where life has taken her, whether she ever thinks about me, and whether what we shared was real or just a lesson I had to learn. Those are questions I may never have answers to, and that's okay. To anyone else, it's just another song. To me, it's a collection of memories that I can revisit every time I press play. Those memories are priceless. Point blank, period."
The music video for ‘You Hate Me, I Hate You’ has a unique cinematic flair. What musical, visual, or personal experiences influenced this release?
"The music video for ‘You Hate Me, I Hate You’ was influenced by several artists and videos that left a lasting impression on me over the years. Musically and emotionally, I drew inspiration from The All-American Rejects and Avril Lavigne because of the way they blended raw emotion with punk energy. Visually, I also looked to P. Diddy's ‘Bad Boys for Life’ and The Game & Travis Barker's ‘Dope Boys’. Those videos have a confident, cinematic style that helped shape the overall mood I wanted to create. Rather than trying to imitate any one artist, I wanted to take pieces of what I admired and blend them into something that still felt like Marcus Christ. The result is a music video that combines emotional storytelling with aggressive performance and a visual style that reflects the way I've always approached music through MtB Entertainment.”
“Lately, people who follow me on Facebook know I've spent a lot of time writing about intelligence, espionage, covert operations, overt operations, state actors, psychological warfare, and the way information influences society. Those topics have become a regular part of my public discussions, and I don't mind acknowledging that they also influence the lens through which I see the world with my covert and overt activities. Whether those conversations are viewed as political commentary, creative exploration, or simply subjects that interest me, they're part of my broader perspective.”
“Because of that, I think this video serves another purpose beyond the song itself. For a few minutes, I hope people can put aside all the discussions about my covert and overt activities, whether real, perceived, historical, or symbolic, I can't confirm or deny, I may or may not, but I want to just simply enjoy the music. I want the video to let people rock out, reconnect with the early-2000s alternative and hip-hop influences that inspired me, and experience a little nostalgia. Music has always been one of the few things that can pull us away from the noise of everyday life, even if it's only for four minutes.”
“At its core, ‘You Hate Me, I Hate You’ is still a deeply personal song. No matter what other conversations surround me, the emotion behind this record is genuine. I hope listeners hear that honesty, relate it to their own experiences, and maybe remember someone who changed their life the way this song reminds me of someone who changed mine."
How did the songs come together? Could you take us through your songwriting and recording process for this project?
"Believe it or not, the idea came to me while I was sitting on the toilet. Inspiration has a funny way of showing up when you least expect it. I happened to hear one of Jorja Smith's songs, and something about the mood and emotion sparked my creativity. It wasn't that I was trying to copy her style, her music simply put me in the right headspace to start writing. That moment led to ‘Stay Wit My Boys’. Once the idea hit, everything flowed naturally. I wrote the song in about an hour, and I knew I had something special. Interestingly, several people I know have told me it's one of their favourite songs that I've released, which was really encouraging because it confirmed that the energy I felt while writing it translated to the listener.”
“The momentum didn't stop there. The very next day I wrote three more songs, so in roughly 24 hours I had completed four records. When creativity is flowing, I try not to overthink it; I just keep writing until the ideas run out. I booked a studio session that evening around 8 p.m. and recorded all four songs in one session. After that, there wasn't much time to waste. Over the next two days, I edited the tracks and filmed the music videos for both ‘Stay Wit My Boys’ and ‘You Hate Me, I Hate You’. It was an intense creative sprint, but sometimes those are the projects that capture the most authentic emotion because you're creating everything while you're still inspired.”
“I think that's what makes these releases special to me. They weren't laboured over for months; they came together in a burst of creativity where the songwriting, recording, editing, and visuals all happened almost back-to-back. Everything felt connected from start to finish. I'd also like to thank Jorja Smith for unknowingly inspiring that creative moment. I don't know if she'll ever hear the song, but I hope she does. I have a lot of respect for her artistry, and I'd love the opportunity to collaborate with her someday in a professional capacity. As artists, you never know whose work is going to inspire your next idea, and in this case, she helped ignite a very productive chapter of my own creative journey."
By refusing to conform to industry standards, Marcus Christ continues to establish himself as a fiercely independent voice in the modern music landscape. Through a combination of rapid-fire creative bursts and deep emotional vulnerability, his latest projects prove that authentic storytelling is alive and well. As he navigates personal reflections and broader worldly perspectives, Christ's ultimate goal remains simple: to create music that cuts through the noise and truly connects.
Be sure to follow Marcus Christ on his socials via YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook to stay updated on his latest releases.
