Money Mark
Emperor Norton
Boundary-hopping keyboardist Money Mark (born Mark Ramos Nishita) first came to fame as the so-called "fourth Beastie Boy," playing keyboards on Check Your Head and Ill Communication (before he got the job, he was their handyman at their house in L.A.). When he joined James Lavelle's Mo' Wax crew in the mid '90s and began recording solo records, he made it immediately clear to the world that he was far more than a session musician on those Beastie Boys albums, but in fact a key collaborator whose open-minded style-shuffling approach to pop music played a pivotal role in defining the Beasties' revamped '90s aesthetic. Money Mark's solo records lack the frenetic punk- and hip hop-informed energy of those great Beastie Boys records, opting mostly for laid-back grooves and a subtle and intelligent treatment of a wide array of genre influences. Employing an impressive stockpile of vintage keyboards and recording gear, Money Mark creates incredibly fly little lo-fi pop songs marked by an allegiance the soul-jazz of the '70s, a dedication to bringing the funk, and a love for the flavor of hip hop.
Money Mark's first solo outing, titled Mark's Keyboard Repair (1995), was solely focused on ambience and groove. The follow-up, Push the Button, was no different, though Mark added a few new flavors to his funky lo-fi keyboard shuffles, even opting to sing on a few tracks. 2001's Change Is Coming saw the triumphant return of the master of the keyboard boogie. The record keeps the smooth, laidback feel of the previous two records (as the featured "Information Contraband" will attest), while dabbling in Afro-beat and Brazilian sounds. Money Mark isn't out to reinvent the wheel, only to make your backyard parties the best ones in town.
Jesse Ashlock
last updated:
10/03/01
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