Marcus Orelias

Marcus Orelias in 2023.

**Marcus Orelias** (born Marcus Ōrelias; pronounced: *ɔˈrɛliəz*, phonetically pronounced: *OH-re-LEE-ez*) is an American recording artist, former trained musician, game designer, content creator, graphic designer, songwriter, entrepreneur and American Conservatory Theatre trained actor from San Francisco, California.

Marcus Orelias's acting career began in 2008, studying and performing at the American Conservatory Theatre, his music career began formally in 2012 going on to release his first studio album, *Rebel Of The Underground* (2013) the following year. He released *20s A Difficult Age* (2017) his second studio album almost four years later and followed up with his third and self titled *Marcus Orelias* (2022) three years later.

## Early life

Marcus Orelias was born on December 13th in San

Francisco, California. Growing up Marcus could read musical scales and played Baritone horn, trumpet, alto saxophone and "a little bit" of the piano. In 2008, Marcus made an appearance in *Generation We* a directed by Stephen Marshall, the same year, Marcus would attend The American Conservatory Theater, where he studied and took classes for seven years throughout high school and adulthood performing in young conservatory plays such as *Copies* written by Brad Slaight, *Korczach's Children* and *Time on Fire* which would inspire him to pursue film and eventually land a small extra role on the short-lived NBC television show *Trauma* in 2010.

After transferring 9th grade from all-boys college preparatory Stuart Hall High School to co-educational public school Gateway Public School in San Francisco, Marcus started writing poetry in which he eventually began rapping and recording into a used twelve-inch Apple Powerbook G4 laptop given to him as a hand-me-down, eventually he "discovered" beats made by producer Jay B Beats. During his junior year, he sold marijuana for a week but quit because it "wasn't him". Hesitant to continue rapping, Orelias continued to pursue his music career, after the passing of a high school friend, Katie, who would inspire the song *Katie's Requiem*. April 2, 2012 during a radio interview, Marcus announced he was working on his debut album *Rebel of the Underground*.

## Career

### **2012-14: Career Beginnings and *Rebel Of The Underground* era**

On March 26, 2012 while still attending Gateway High School, Marcus released the one verse version of "We On (Must Be)" simply titled "We On" produced by Seattle producer Jay B Beats, featuring Motown singer BJ The Chicago Kid and on May 24, 2012, perform it at his high school's assembly. Shortly after graduating, Marcus would release *Since 1993*, a single produced by Digi + Phonics, the music video was released in the same year to accommodate the song and promote his upcoming studio debut. While recording his studio debut, on March 4, 2013 Marcus's grandmother died, this affected the recording process of the project. On May 20, 2013 via Twitter, Orelias announced his album title via social media as *Rebel Of The Underground*, the album cover was revealed on the released date, June 21, 2013. The album's title as well is a reference to the 1991 song of the same name *Rebel of the Underground* by fellow rapper Tupac Shakur and interpolates the song on the album's title track. Once released, the album spawned six singles but only the song *Exercise Control* received an official video. After the formation of imprint ROTU World, Orelias signed Vallejo, California, house music producer and musician, Antlionnn, who made a brief cameo in the music video for *Since 1993* and also had lent production to his album.

 In 2014, Marcus Orelias would appear on bhangra artist and classical violinist, Raginder's second studio album *Beach Chair* and make a short cameo in his music video for *Bonfire/Coastin'* as well as make a guest verse appearance on *Madd Ill* a song by Oakland, California rapper, Young Dnalkao. Later that year on July 26, 2014 he would perform at the historical Buriel Clay Theater in San Francisco's Fillmore district with label mate and signee Antlionnn and fellow emcee Kaly Jay. The show was billed as *Live From Buriel Clay Theater.*

### **2015-2018: *20s A Difficult Age* era**

On January 16, 2015 the first single from *20s a Difficult Age* was released titled *Aset* produced by West Chester, Pennsylvania music producer AdoTheGod. In the following two months, Marcus Orelias revealed the album title would be called *20s a Difficult Age*. On April 6, 2016 via his website the album's cover was revealed, featuring a fresco painting of the Capitoline Wolf with graffiti written around it, along with the design credits in Latin. Marcus stated he designed over 100 drafts for the cover in photoshop. Two-time Grammy-nominated music producer Lee Major was also announced as the main producer for *20s a Difficult Age*. On September 9, 2016 via Twitter the album credits for Antlionnn's debut were posted, Marcus was listed as executive producer and credited with designing the album's cover. In 2016 he executive produced R.O.T.U. Records then signee Antlionnn's first studio album *M4RS*.

### **2019-2022: Music "hiatus", *The Blue Madjai* and *Marcus Orelias* era**

On November 15, 2019 via R.O.T.U. World's official Instagram account, a "viewing" was announced for *The Blue Madjai*, graphic novel seriestied into the album, *20s A Difficult Age,* and featuring line and panel work from Nigerian comic book industry veterans, Stanley Obende and Mohammed Agbadi*.* This was reinforced by Marcus Orelias via Twitter. The viewing would be held on January 18, 2020 at the Beckford Suite in Oakland, California. On September 7th, 2020 - the track listing for *Marcus Orelias* was revealed. It was edited through the next two years until September 7, 2022 when a final track list was revealed. On December 13, 2022 - the same day as Orelias's birthday his junior *self-titled* album was released.

## Business

Marcus is the founder and creator of R.O.T.U. World, a content creation company, according to its official site that focuses on "representation" through different mediums. R.O.T.U. also houses various departments, RedRoc Interactive for video games, ROTU Books for literary print, R.O.T.U. Worldwide for music and R.O.T.U. Originals.

## Artistry

### **Name**

The last name "Orelias" is of African origin but has been used throughout Latin America and Europe. It could translate from the word "golden" and could also be derived from the Latinized spelling "Orelia" which translates as "golden or glided". Various spellings include Orelius, Orelia, Orelious, and Orelia.

If so the first name combined with the last name, the etymology means "Marcus the Golden". "Marcus" in certain translations meaning "Warrior" and "Orelias" meaning "Golden", combined meaning "Golden Warrior".

In Yoruba, his name translates to *Makosi Orelias, Makosi* (Mah-Koh-See) translates to *Marcus* but also refers to a leader of a community, typically visionary and nurturing individuals who naturally gravitate toward leadership. A "Golden Leader".

### **Nicknames**

The historic Arizona Informant newspaper affectionately called Marcus, "Multitalented Orelias". Other nicknames that are used include Marcus O.

### **Musical influences and Sound**

 In an interview, Marcus states "greatness" as what influences him most: "I’m influenced by greatness and that’s such a vague answer. Anybody who’s great, I’m influenced by you and I appreciate you cause you’re contributing to culture, you’re contributing to the music. I feed off that energy but I definitely give credit where credit is due." he also stated about his musical sound "It was really developed over time. I don’t make any of my music with the intention to be different, it’s just who I am. A lot of people tell me I sound like I’m from the East Coast." Ancient history and stoicism are also a huge influence on Marcus as it is present in much of his work. Designing the album cover for *20s a Difficult Age*, the frescoes at Pompeii were sighted as a source of inspiration for the artist.

Some of Orelias's sonic influences include *Ryan Leslie*, *Nas*, *Michael Jackson*, *Kanye West*, and *Janelle Monae*.

### **Literary Influences**

Growing up in the 90s and 00s, Orelias was inspired by Japanese manga artist such as *Akira Toriyama*, *Masashi Kishimoto* and *Yoshihiro Togashi.* In the West he was influenced from the works of *Karen Lord*, *George Lucas*, *J.R.R. Tolkien*, *J.K. Rowling*, Black folklore and culture. And centrally, across Africa - mythology and linguistics of different African cultures.

### **Gaming Influences**

Orelias's gaming influences include *Jerry Lawson*, *Mike Pondsmith*, *Hideo Kojima*, and *Fumita Uaeda*.

### **Kitabu**

Orelias created "Kitabu", a genre of graphic novels that houses African/Black inspired and themed science fiction.

## Personal Life

Marcus Orelias is of Black, Nigerian, Somali, Irish, Mestizos (Southern American) and Scandinavian ancestry. He is also a fanatic reader. Having read over 98 documented literary titles. Orelias is a descendant of Shango, former King of the Oyo Empire.

## Discography

**Studio Albums**

* *Rebel of the Underground* (2013)
* *20s a Difficult Age* (2017)
* *Marcus Orelias* (2022)
* *Maybe It's Somethin'...* (2024)

**Extended Plays**

* *20s A Difficult Age (The A-Sides)* (2018)

## Bibliography

**Books & Novels**

* *The Album Booklet: 20s A Difficult Age* (2021)
* *A Peplum Origin: Energy Manual by Gods, for Taurari* (2023)
* *Samsara Imago* (2023)
* *A Peplum Epic: Thunderbolt 12 Legion* (TBA)
* *A Peplum Epic: 20s A Difficult Age* (TBA)
* *A Peplum Epic: Quarter Past 3* (TBA)
* *#3 - 20s A Difficult Age: The Blue Madjai (Novelization)* (Cancelled)

**Kitabu (as main-writer)**

* *20s A Difficult Age: The Blue Madjai* (2020)
* *20s A Difficult Age: The Blue Madjai - Vol. 2* (Cancelled)
* *Unreleased Kitabu series*

## Music Singles

As Featured Artist
 2014
 2022

## Videography

Music Videos
 "Exercise Control"
 "MARCUSORELIAS"
 "Big Dreams in the City"
 "Aset" (Feat. Michael Levy)
 "Blackouts" (Feat. Stephan Marcellus)
 "Pompeiii"
 **"Portraits"**
 **"The Impending War**
**and Epilogue"**
 "A Peplum Epic and The Message"

Music Video Guest Appearance

## Filmography

Television Roles

Movie Roles
 2018

## Theatre

**American Conservatory Theatre (A.C.T.)**

 2012
 2014 | *Time On Fire* | George

## References

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31. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMarcusOrelias/photos/a.302530766487476/7889190177821459/
32. ↑ https://music.apple.com/us/album/marcus-orelias/1660696208
33. ↑ https://www.rotuworld.com/new-page-1
34. ↑ https://www.rotuworldcompany.com/about
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37. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orelia
38. ↑ https://philosophy-question.com/library/lecture/read/377126-does-marcus-mean-warrior#0
39. ↑ https://twitter.com/MARCUSORELIAS/status/1299376430174748672
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43. ↑ https://twitter.com/MARCUSORELIAS/status/1301903077318955010?s=20
44. ↑ https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/120904862-marcus-orelias?shelf=read
45. ↑ https://genius.com/Young-dnalkao-madd-ill-lyrics
46. ↑ https://twitter.com/MARCUSORELIAS/status/1299375829500059650
47. ↑ https://www.allmusic.com/artist/marcus-orelias-mn0003735473
48. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl\_yT1zJisM/
49. ↑ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11885796/?ref\_=nm\_knf\_t\_1