Album Notes

Since the age of 11 the MC/Producer known as Bellicose dreamed of becoming a rap star. Beatboxing, breakdancing and rapping was the new culture that was sweeping through the hoods of Detroit in the 80's. Hip Hop music became the soundtrack to the lives of those born in Generation X. Bellicose (known as Kareem back then) stayed with a boombox and always had the latest Run DMC, KRS-One, Rakim, Just-Ice, Stetsasonic, Steady B and Kool Moe Dee cassette tapes. He became more than a fan when he was asked to perform in a Junior High talent show with fellow hip hop fiends. In the song "1241", Bellicose describes best how his love for rapping ignited, "Walking through schoolhouse doors, Hearing my name echoing off them parquet floors, When I stepped onstage, In eighth grade, All the people got hype at the rhymes I made, I love this sh....".

It wasn't until he entered college that he became serious about pursuing a rap career. He teamed up with a fellow student/rapper from Dallas and formed the group The Nati. They did shows on campus and at various clubs in Chicago performing on the same stages as Twista, Do or Die, Too Short, Crucial Conflict and the Infamous Syndicate (Shawnna--DTP & Teefa--WGCI DJ). They even drove out to New York and went to the offices of major labels to push their demo to no avail. After his sophomore year he was "ready to pull a Kanye but Moms wasn't hearing it". 3 years later he graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering and his partner had been drafed by the Carolina Panthers. They decided to start their own label and put out their own project. Shortly thereafter they landed a distribution deal with the Atlanta-based label Ichiban and released their first album B.S. Factor nationwide the summer of '98. They were poised to blow up when his partner and longtime friend decided he no longer needed the rest of the crew. Needless to say the album wasn't a success despite it being considered "Hip Hop at its finest" by those who heard it. It was a bitter split but it was for the best.

While reading a book about the life of Marcus Garvey, Kareem came across a word he couldn't define. That word was bellicose which means "favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars." From then on the rapper known as Mood Swing was to be referred to as Bellicose. With the taste of betrayal in their mouths, Bellicose and 4 other members of the crew decided to start their own group. This led to the incorporation of their company 1241inc.

After 4 years of trials and tribulations Bellicose kept the faith and stay focused and constructed The Bite Marx album, which will be the first release from their Independent label. "This album reflects the good, bad, funny, weird, sad and downright ugly sides of Kareem and his alter egos", he states. "You will enjoy this album from top to bottom whether you like commercial rap or you're a true Hip Hop fan." Fans of Jay-Z, Lil Wayne and T.I. will be able to relate to the hustling themes of songs like "Trying To Make It" and "What Dem Hustlers Do". Tupac fans will enjoy songs like "The More Things Change", "1241"and "Record This" which are laced with personal struggles and social commentary. Strip club aficionados will love watching the dancers making it pop to "The Riddle". This album has over 18 tracks of quality music that will make it to the top of your CD rotation. This LP also includes some bonus tracks of songs recorded in 2002 and a mixtape joint entitled "State of the Union" which will surely put Bellicose on President Bush's Black List! "I'm taking a bite out of the game on this one, hence the title "Bite Marx". "Noone is exempt!"