Roc Marciano: Marciology tour @ the Teragram Ballroom (5/15) - Los Angeles
Roc Marciano kicked off his latest international tour in support of his album Marciology in Los Angeles, featuring long-time collaborators The Alchemist and Animoss, with guest appearances from T.F., Jay Worthy, and Crimeapple. When Roc Marciano revealed the artwork for Marciology, it reminded me of the enigma he’s created over the years. Some listeners don't understand the allure and influence of his music, while others are fully immersed in the cinematic stories he crafts through his lyrics and production. Tours from Roc Marciano are rare, and his devoted fans filled the venue for this initial tour stop.
The Long Island native arrived on stage in grandiose fashion, with rose petals scattered before him by an hooded and eerie woman as he began rapping “Emeralds” from his classic sophomore album Reloaded. Following the song, the crowd erupted into a “MARCI, MARCI” chant, as if welcoming a gladiator into the arena. For Roc Marciano, the stage is his battlefield, where he proves he's the top dog.
Roc Marciano reminisced about his origin story from the early 2010s and how along with The Alchemist, his esteemed DJ for the night, they donned capes to save the rap game. There's truth to this claim. Roc Marciano carried over the essence of the 90s golden era while pioneering a style of production that often strips away drums. In a rap song, drums can provide “cover” for lesser-skilled lyricists, but with drumless or near-drumless production, an emcee must rely solely on their lyrical ability, flow, and emotional delivery. Roc Marciano consistently excels in all these areas, proving he's a cut above without the need for gimmicks.
A standout feature of his live performance is that Roc Marciano sounds exactly like his studio recordings, a quality that's become a lost art among newer acts. He performs without backtrack vocals, nailing every note and maintaining perfect rhythm, even on his more melodic tracks. If you’re a fan of underground rap, I strongly recommend catching a Roc Marciano show when he arrives in a city near you. Below were my five favorite tracks performed live that night.
Amethyst
Quantum Leap
Richard Gear
Goyard God
Fabio
A challenge was shooting this show in manual focus exclusively. I have not done this before and with the lighting always changing colors it was tough. I had no photo pit access either. I believe I had more success with my f/2 90mm lens over the f/2 35mm lens. I do enjoy the compact build of the M11 and hopefully will have more opportunity to practice with it in these type of environments.
Roc Marciano
