Review Summary: Marky Mark's debut record shockingly escapes the "terrible" bug that celebrities earn with their music, with fun and adrenaline-pumping beats but also shows Mark's average lyricial skills.
Mark Wahlberg will always be remembered for being the actor who starred in numerous movies, like the comedy "Ted" and "Pain & Gain", as well as being the executive producer of hit HBO shows like "Boardwalk Empire" and "Entourage". He wasn't an actor to start however, he actually was a model for Calvin Klein underwear to start and believe it or not, was also the rapper for his band "Marky Mark And The Funky Bunch". Wahlberg originally was supposed to be one of the members of his brother Donnie's group "New Kids On The Block", but he bailed and created his own band with help from his brother. In a time where celebrities like Eddie Murphy and Shaquille O'Neal were putting out records, a future celebrity was about to make his own mark. On July 23rd, 1991 Wahlberg and his newly formed band released their debut album "Music For The People" to massive success that bested Shaquille and Eddie's material by a long shot. As you would expect, Marky Mark's rapping was mediocre at best but with tight beats and some help from his group members, "Music For The People" turns out to be a pretty solid record.
The musical style in the debut record is mostly '90s club music, with a mixture of Eurodance along with some hip-hop incorporated as well as sample-reliant. The formula undoubtedly works, as highlighted in the insanely popular dance track "Good Vibrations". The Donnie Wahlberg-produced track used a vocal sample from singer Loleatta Holloway in the hook, in which the track is famous for as well as an adrenaline-pumping beat that was certainly built for the club. Marky Mark throws in pretty solid lines and rhymes, talking about how manly he is and the fact that he's no longer on drugs, all while pumping up the crowd. No kidding, before he even got into the music business Mark was all over them, getting addicted to drugs like heroin for one. You can certainly feel the vibrant energy coming from Wahlberg, which comes out best in this track along with his fantastic charisma. It was pretty clear that Wahlberg prided himself on rapping without cussing or anything explicit, like what Shaquille O'Neal did and it works to an extent in this record. The opener "Marky Mark Is Here" showcases a pretty solid buildup intro, which leads to a explosive vocal section by DJ-T. Another fantastic showing from Wahlberg in this track, with solid rhymes and lines with his raw, rough rapping vocals which is one of the only times where Wahlberg shines vocally.
"Music For The People" has plenty of energy-filled, adrenaline-pumping tracks that will appeal to any music fan. "On The House Tip" is definitely the best track overall on the record, with a house-influenced beat produced again by brother Donnie which also sees the only track where Marky Mark allows his band to throw in individual verses. It also contains a vocal sample from the hip-hop classic "It Takes Two", which blends with the beat very well. It's unfortunate that Wahlberg didn't do this formula more often, as it works with extremely catchy yet slick rhymes from members DJ-T, Ashey Ace, Scotty Gee, and Hector the Booty Inspector. "Wildside" sees Wahlberg do some urban story-telling on a beat that is nothing reminiscent of his party tracks that occupy the debut, driving towards a slower pace in sound. Wahlberg struggles a bit, not able to really adapt with the slow beat with his incredibly terrible timing on throwing out rhymes which actually were pretty good, walking through the lives of people who witnessed death, suicide and other things, but it is overshadowed by his horrific timing. "I Need Money" features another fantastic beat by Donnie, but it is poorly used and wasted by Marky Mark's disjointed rhythm and rap cadence. It was the flaw that eventually befell the band, as Mark never improved on that in his later material.
"Music For The People" is shockingly a pretty solid record by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Deeply laced in a blend of dance and hip-hop beats with a hint of pop incorporated, the production is absolutely well-done by Donnie Wahlberg who throws out explosive, sample-heavy beats that are fun to listen to. Marky Mark shines with his dynamic energy and charisma in tracks like "On The House Tip", but he also can display some mediocre lyrical skills with his disjointed cadences and lame lines on some of the well-produced tracks. The group members of DJ-T, Ashey Ace, Scotty Gee, and Hector the Booty Inspector did an excellent job with the limited time they vocally collaborate, giving the album's material a "street" feel to it. Nowadays Mark Wahlberg refuses to recognize Marky Mark or anything he did during the early '90s, getting angry everytime somebody calls him his former name. What a shame though, as this unexpected debut makes it way through the "awful" and "mediocre" barrier by a long shot and delivers mostly lighthearted, fist-pumping music that is still enjoyable decades after.
