Detroit was once an industrial giant. The Motor City lived up to its namesake, housing an auto industry that draped a city in concrete to match its image. Growing up in the D meant you earned your accolades. You built your reputation on your back and shoulders. Detroit never frowned on success. It only asked that you work for it. With over 10 years in the game and his fair share of bodies strewn across North America, no battler has worn Detroit’s navy blue collar better than Marvwon.

Marv first got involved with battling at the age of 14, in an attempt to prove himself to the older kids in his inner circle. The tough skin he took from his city would combine with his natural personality and sense of humour to make Marv a natural in the battle scene. He grew up competing against the D’s finest, such as Young Miles and X-Factor, before finding his big break in an unlikely place. Winning a competition that included every prominent MC in the Detroit underground in 2001, Marv was given the chance to battle Eminem for the bonus features of the movie 8 Mile. While Marv ended up taking a loss to Slim, the experience was one that few battlers in the modern era can claim.

Two years later, Marv found himself back in the limelight of the battling world, as he fought his way to the MTV MC Battle finals in New York. He eventually bowed out of the tournament after losing a hotly contested battle to Locksmith, but there was no questioning the buzz that Marv had begun to build. The next few years would see him capitalize on that reputation as he battled in various competitions across the nation, including Fight Klub and a legendary showdown with Nems on the D12 hosted Who Wanna Battle? DVD, an all-out slugfest that many still believe to be Marv’s finest performance.

In 2007, Marv became a household name in battling after partnering with Quest McCody to compete in JumpOffTV’s World Rap Championships. The two dominated the Detroit division without taking a single loss, clowning on every opponent with their unique mixture of grimy bars and irreverent hilarity. It was only after running into Thesaurus and Illmaculate in the competition’s semifinals that the pair would be taken out in what is considered one of the best 2 vs. 2 battles ever to go down. Following the WRC’s, Marv took his talents across the modern battling circuit, facing heavy hitters such as Aye Verb, Cortez and Pat Stay, and showing his incredible versatility and ability to appeal to any audience.

Although he has recently made music his primary focus, Marv will never be one to turn down a battle if it makes sense to him. Marvwon wasn’t given his spot amongst the legends of battle rap. He earned it, through blood, sweat and tears. The mark of quality craftsmanship just seems to fit best on a Detroit native.