Marcus Alland of Frederick, MD on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Marcus Alland shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Marcus, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Community with my home church The Well Church! They’re my family and it’s been my home since the day the church launched. I want to thank both my pastors and spiritual leaders Dr. Victor Ehiemere and Pastor Amby Ehiemere for always giving so much love, wisdom, and encouragement to me and my family all these years. The Well Church truly has a special place in my heart.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Marcus Alland, and I’m a Grammy-considered Christian hip-hop artist, producer, and songwriter. I’m also an official voting member of the Recording Academy. Born in Queens, NY, I spent my early childhood there before moving to Prince George’s County, MD, where I established my home and community.

I was also raised in the church where my faith and love in God was discovered. I started making beats at the age of 14 and also became a drummer. Then combined the beats and lyrics at the age of 16. So you could say my teenage years was when I truly discovered the love and passion for music I have today.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship with my parents is one of the most important ones I cherish. Before my father passed, he was always in my life and teaching me what it is to be a black man not only in this country but in the world. Always telling me to keep God first in my life and to always to stand on your word. My father was truly one of the most influential people in my life and I thank God for giving me the biological dad I always needed.

My mother is also someone I hold very dear to my heart. She always showed me the things I needed to know about people and the world we live in today. Most importantly she was the one that helped me learn about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Any questions I had for her always came with an answer right after. And if she didn’t know the answer then, she’d know the answer later. Including my father, she was also the one that taught me how to treat a woman. How to be a gentleman and to speak clearly with grace and love.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
ABSOLUTELY! There have been many of days when I questioned if I should be pursuing a career in music. It came a time when I was truly serious about leaving the craft alone for good. But God, family, and friends said otherwise. For how long I’ve been at this and for how far I’ve come, my folks thought I was out of my mind for thinking that I was going to quit. I then remembered that my pops always taught us that if you start something, you better finish it.

Plus how I can I stop and quit something I truly love to do and it’s a gift that God has given me to use to minister to the world. It was at that moment I chose to not only be more intentional but to put this music to God’s use.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They would say my faith in God, my wife, family, and my craft. Material things in this world is nice and all but that don’t define who I am at all. I could go on living the rest of my life with just those things and the people in my life and be truly content. I was always taught to be humble and show humility. As Psalms 147:6 NIV states, “The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.”

We can be great and be blessed with so much but we must never forget to humble ourselves throughout our lives.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What will you regret not doing? 
I’m honestly not a person of regret because we should be able to learn from the things we go through in our lives. But if I had to choose, it would be not trusting God earlier in my life. There’s been things God has told to me to sincerely trust Him with and I’ve been ignorant and hard-headed in those moments. Even today there’s been times when my faith and trust has been tested but I can truthfully and boldly say that I’ve changed that up.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Jeffrey Perkins

Marcus Johnson

Jelani Lopez

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than