Bizzle facts for kids

Mark Julian Felder (born July 21, 1983), more commonly known as Bizzle, is an American Christian hip hop recording artist and entrepreneur.

In January 2010, Bizzle released "You Got Some Explaining to Do". The song criticizes rapper Jay-Z for negative references towards Jesus and Christianity in his music. Bizzle released his first mixtape, The Messenger, in March 2010. Shortly after the release, he founded God Over Money Records in Houston, Texas. Bizzle released his debut album, Tough Love & Parables, on June 21, 2011. It debuted at No. 15 on the Billboard Gospel Albums chart. The Good Fight was released on May 7, 2013 and debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Gospel Albums chart, No. 7 on Christian Albums, and No. 11 on Top Rap Albums. In 2013, Bizzle won Kingdom Choice Awards for Rap Single of The Year, Hip Hop Album of The Year, and Music Video of The Year.

Bizzle received media attention in 2014 when he released "Same Love (A Response)" in reaction to the pro-gay rights single "Same Love" by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. The song was controversial because it expressed opposition to homosexuality.

Life and career

Early life

Mark Felder was raised mostly by his mother in Los Angeles, California. His father stayed in Compton, California. As a child growing up, his family was quite poor living in Section 8 housing.

Mark was around thirteen the first time he stepped in a music studio. Listening to Tupac, he began to establish a talent for writing rhymes but noticed that his content usually mimicked those he listened to, whether it was his uncle or other rappers. Topics like shooting or packing pistols.

After graduating, Mark put out five mixtapes and began circulating them in malls, clubs, radio stations and anywhere else he could. He eventually got an opportunity to open up for Lil Wayne & Juelz Santana during their I Can't Feel My Face tour. He also opened up for Lil Boosie.

While trying to move his music, his financial situation got worse. As he stated in an interview, his "financial situation got so bad he was sleeping on a friend's floor and his car was a closet for his clothes." .....

2004–08 L.A.V. Mixtapes

Between the years 2004–2008 Bizzle released L.A.V. Mixtapes Volumes 1–5 in Southern California. He then released Dirty West Mixtapes 1 and 2 with J. Sin and 360 Records in Houston, Texas, and returned to California to release, Certified Mixtape'.

In 2005 he was offered a deal by 360 Records out of Houston and declined. Two years later, Bizzle had been offered a deal by Barry Hankerson to sign with Blackground/Universal, but he also declined that offer.

Bizzle spent three years preparing his debut album Grind Pays. Multiple singles where spread causing his Myspace plays to increase over 500,000.

2008–11 The Jay-Z diss, The Messenger trilogy & Tough Love & Parables

The influence of his Christianity and Mark's exposure to the dark side of hip hop ultimately prompted his questioning of the dark imagery that appears to be promoted through the music of rappers like Kanye West, Rick Ross, and Jay-Z. On January 17, 2010 he released the track "You Got Some Explaining to Do", a song directed towards Jay-Z, exposing him for his negative references towards Jesus in his lyrics. The result of the diss song led Bizzle to being called the "Christian Rapper that dissed Jay Z". Overwhelmed by the positive response and media attention he received, Mark decided to set out making music that both proclaimed the Gospel of the Bible as truth and exposes the evil working within the music industry.

He released his first Christian mixtape, The Messenger, on March 30, 2010 on DatPiff. The mixtape received much success and has been downloaded over 1 million times since its release. The Messenger 2: Delivered & The Messenger 3: Truth Music followed in 2010 & 2011 respectively.

On June 21, 2011, Felder released his first full-length studio album titled Tough Love & Parables.

2012–14 BoBW, The Good Fight and working with Boi-1da

On February 7, 2012 Felder and Willie Moore, Jr. released Best of Both Worlds: The Album. They hit No. 5 spot on the iTunes Hip Hop/Rap Chart on their debut.

On May 7, 2013, Bizzle released his second studio album The Good Fight. The album features production-works from Grammy-winning producer Boi-1da. Originally set for an April 26, 2013 release, it was pushed-back to a later date. Its first single, "Soldier" was released January 26, 2013 and features No Malice and included a music video. Later singles were "Dear Hip-Hop" and "My Confession" (featuring Sevin). The album debuted on the Billboard Top Rap Albums at No. 11. His previous works with Boi-1da include "Forgive Me" released on March 16, 2011 which features rapper MC Jin and "Lost and Found" on his collaborative mixtape Martyrs in the Making with Bumps INF.

Bizzle stated that Boi-1da reached out to him on YouTube stating his personal beliefs in Christianity and respect for Bizzle's work and worked free of charge. The collaborative work between the two was highlighted in the 2012 September edition of XXL.

Personal life

Bizzle became a Christian in 2008.

After 18 years of recording in Los Angeles, Bizzle relocated to Houston, Texas. As of 2014, he resided with his wife and two children in Houston.

Discography

Albums

• 2011: Tough Love & Parables
• 2012: Best of Both Worlds: The Album (with Willie 'P-Dub' Moore Jr.)
• 2013: The Good Fight
• 2014: Well Wishes
• 2015: Surrender
• 2016: Crowns and Crosses
• 2018: Light Work (EP)
• 2019: Light Work 2: Bars & Melodies
• 2020: The Messenger 4
• 2021: Soul Therapy (EP)
• 2023: Light Work 3

Mixtapes

• 2010: The Messenger
• 2010: The Messenger 2: Delivered
• 2010: Best of Both Worlds: The Mixtape
• 2011: The Messenger 3: Truth Music
• 2012: Martyrs In the Making (Bizzle and Bumps INF)
• 2013: Martyrs In the Making 2 (Bizzle, Bumps INF, Flo and Selah the Corner)

Additional label releases

• 2010: Who is Mark James? (Bumps INF mixtape project)
• 2011: Who is Mark James 2? (Bumps INF re-release)
• 2012: Pain in Paragraphs (Bumps INF debut album)

See also

• Andy Mineo