Artist Name: Marcus Money (formerly Real Flow) Real Name: Marcus Wayne Simpson Date of Birth: September 2, 1986 Profession: American Rapper, Singer, Producer

Marcus Money, born Marcus Wayne Simpson in Houston, Texas, has had a passion for music and poetry since early childhood. At the age of seven, following his parents' divorce, he relocated with his mother to a challenging neighborhood. After her remarriage, he faced a turbulent home life marked by abuse. By junior high, Marcus, then known as "Real," began writing and performing remixes of popular hip-hop tracks that resonated with themes of struggle and adversity. During this period, he found himself entangled with street gangs and experimenting with drugs, which ultimately led to his arrest in 2004 for possession of ecstasy, marijuana, and cocaine.

Despite these challenges, Marcus dedicated his resources to establishing a home recording studio, continually enhancing it over the years. Lacking external support, he became self-taught in music production, mixing, and engineering, and took charge of the artwork for several of his projects, particularly his early works. The nickname "Real" was bestowed upon him by peers who admired his straightforward approach to achieving his ambitions and his genuine character both in and out of the studio.

In 2000, Marcus founded The Throwed Up Click, a collective that released four mixtapes in 2002, primarily distributed through street sales in Dickinson, Texas, and nearby areas. Although the initial releases had limited production quality, they helped generate buzz for his future official releases. He also co-founded Ghetto Raised Soldiers, contributing to and producing four singles, including "Ghetto Raised Soldiers" and "The Takeover," the latter of which gained considerable local attention following a notable performance in Texas City in 2007.

The same year marked the release of Marcus's solo debut album, "Wicked City Don," which garnered local interest due to its provocative content and self-aggrandizing title, selling 1,000 copies within the first month. His 2009 album, "Heart of the Hood," achieved international distribution, reaching audiences in the UK, Germany, and Australia. The album featured collaborations with notable Houston artists such as K-Rino and Klondike Kat of the South Park Coalition, with singles like "It’s Raining" and "She’s an Outkast" performing well in the digital market.

However, his turbulent lifestyle caught up with him while working on his third commercial release, "Twizted Dreamz." Incarcerated in 2010 on drug charges, he remained in custody until late 2011, when the album was finally released. Although it did reasonably well digitally, promotional efforts were curtailed as Marcus sought to shift his life and music towards a more positive direction.

In 2012, he rebranded himself as "Real Flow," in recognition of his freestyle skills. That year, he partnered with fellow Houston rapper Flo Bott (Jayvon Smith) to establish Why Not Get Paid Entertainment. Emphasizing a more polished image and a less aggressive lyrical style, Marcus focused on themes of resilience and financial ambition, as highlighted in the mixtape "Why Not Get Paid - Follow Us." This project received substantial local support and helped elevate his live performances, where he opened for prominent artists like 2 Chainz, Paul Wall, Scarface, and Bun B.

In 2014, after the release of the fan-funded mixtape "Follow Us," Marcus parted ways with Why Not Get Paid due to creative differences. He spent the subsequent years solidifying his music business endeavors, culminating in the establishment of Real Paid Records in 2018. In early 2019, he announced his name change to "Marcus Money," a nod to his desire to reconnect with his roots while embracing the motivation that money represents.

Marcus is set to release his highly anticipated fourth studio album titled "Who Am I," with the official release date yet to be announced. Currently, he is promoting two singles from the upcoming album, "No Days Off" and "Nothing to Lose ft. Sal Mex." In a recent interview, he reflected on his tumultuous past and promising future, stating, “It’s good to be sober and focused. It’s been a long road, but this is just the beginning. I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences through my music.” The music community is eager to see what Marcus Money will deliver next. - Brandon Forward Str8 Forward Entertainment