by Samantha Sumler
Renowned French Romantic author Victor Hugo is credited with saying, “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.”
It makes us wonder about the unspoken and the unsayable, encouraging reflection on the deeper aspects of our experiences. Music is the magic of the soul, the rhythm of our hearts, and the beat in which humans connect beyond the mortal realm.
For Marcus B. Green Sr., also known as Same Ol G, the multi-award-winning Gospel Rap artist from Quincy, making music is his life’s passion. With a plethora of accomplished artists, Green will be performing at the Caribbean Heritage Music Festival, a lively celebration of Caribbean music, culture, and community happening on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 15 and 16.
With the festival on the horizon, Green can’t help but reflect on some of his earliest memories of music. One of those is him at his father’s church, Quincy and Community Deliverance COGIC. “Sitting on the front pew… listening to the choir swell with voices and that old Hammond organ shaking the walls,” Green reminisces. “I remember beating on the drums in rhythm with the choir before I could even write my name.”
A few of the songs he remembers — “Jesus is Real” and “I Won’t Complain” — even brought the whole church to tears. “Music had a power I felt before I understood it, and now I carry that same power in the booth.”
That power Green references lies in his ability to create music. His style? “It’s Gospel Hip Hop with an unapologetic Southern swag,” he says. “It’s real, raw, anointed, and relevant.” Furthermore, Green’s music highlights a contrast between real-life struggles and the hope of redemption. “It’s a bridge between the streets and sanctuary.”
That bridge revolves around themes he wants to share, especially the idea that redemption is real.
Green explains that his personal struggles fueled his connection to music, which served as his outlet during dark times. “Gospel rap became my lane – not just entertainment, but transformation.” Growing up as a preacher’s kid, he faced immense pressure, but music helped him transform and express what he couldn’t say from the pulpit. It also kept him connected to God amid feeling lost “in the streets.”
Continuing, Green emphasizes that one’s past does not disqualify them from fulfilling God’s purpose. “I speak a lot about identity, mental battles, overcoming addiction, fatherhood, and God’s grace,” he says. “I talk about things that some churches are still afraid to address – because there’s somebody out there who won’t step foot in a sanctuary but will hear me on a track.”
Read more on the Tallahassee Democrat.
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