A native from Seattle, Marcus D is a beatmaker and label owner based in Tokyo. He is half of Omega Music Library. Since 2010, he has been releasing boombap vinyl records, under the influence of his mentor, the late Japanese producer Nujabe. He has collaborated with American Mcs like Del the Funky Homosapien, Royce Da 5’9”, Saigon, Planet Asia, Skyzoo, Statik Selektah, IDK, Crooked I, Blu & Curren$y. And since 2010, with Mc Substantial, they have formed the jazz-hop duo Bop Alloy. They are coming back in 2026 with “Master of the Artistry” a third album - stream below - so we asked him a few questions.

Welcome, a glass of?

Water.
 
Where do you come from? 

Seattle, WA USA.
 
Your first approach to Djing and scratching?

About 2004, when I was 14-15. My parents had an old record player (you couldn’t really call it a turntable) and I used to play old rap records my brother had. (Boom by Royce & DJ Premier, Get Rich or Die Tryin’, College Dropout, Fishscale, Marshall Mathers LP etc.)

Your first approach to beat making? 

2005-2006. My friends in school were MCs and they needed beats. I learned piano from a young age, so I figured I could play the Dr. Dre/RZA role and be the designated beatmaker. I learned on a cracked version of Fruity Loops like a lot of my peers back then.

Could you define your sound and your artistic vision? 

I don’t think it’s my place to define my sound, but my artistic vision has always been honest expression. If it doesn’t move me, I can’t be passionate about it…and passionless art is pointless.

If I tell you Tokyo, what comes to your mind first?

Life.

March 29, 2026 will be your first show in Paris?

No, we performed there back in 2017 as Bop Alloy with Lex de Kahlex and Parental.

Your top 3 record labels?

I honestly don’t like record labels.

Your favorite hardware ?

Yamaha CS-60

Your maximum BPM?

180…if it’s double-timed.

If I tell you AI? 

Slop.

Your top 5 old releases?

in no particular order 

- Kanye West « College Dropout »

- De La Soul « The Grind Date »

- Nipsey Hussle « Victory Lap »

- Royce Da 5’9 « Death is Certain »

- Lupe Fiasco « Food and Liquor »

Your top 5 new releases?

- Kendrick Lamar « GNX »

- Freddie Gibbs  « You Only Die 1nce » 

- The Clipse « Let God Sort ‘em Out »

- Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist « Alfredo »

- Bop Alloy « Masters of the Artistry »

Are you still diggin’ vinyl? What kind of music are you obsessed with?

It’s all I really listen to these days. Japanese jazz/fusion and wamono.

12 or 7 inch?

12.

If you could teleport yourself…where would it be?

Back and forth between Tokyo and Seattle, my life would be perfect.

Your favorite audio and video link of your work?
Probably Soul a la Mode feat. Pismo, Substantial, Cise Star and ZANE. We filmed some really guerilla-type footage of each MC’s verse in different parts of the world  like Cali, DMV, Tokyo, Yokohama and my college friend who now does industry editing for a lot of mainstream artists - way above my pay-grade - did the editing. So, there’s just enough industry sheen on some really gritty hip-hop shit and I love how it turned out.

Mountain or sea?

Mount Rainier is always visible in the distance where I’m from, so I have to say mountain… I love being close to the sea and seafood, etc., but I’m also terrified of it.

What’s your favorite adage?

Not really an adage, but… “You only get honest expression when I spit in your ear, that means even when I’m dissing you I’m being sincere” - One Be Lo

What job would you like to do if you weren’t a DJ- beatmaker?

I would have loved to be a baseball player, but I still think I’d be doing something involving music. It’s just always been a part of me and will be until the day I’m gone.

Interviewed by cosh...