We recently connected with Marcus Hanna and have shared our conversation below.
Marcus, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started you own firm sooner?
I normally don’t have regrets but thinking back on certain situations, as a 29 year old, I have learned not to waste seamless amounts of time. Some backstory, I started producing in 2009, juggling my last few years of high school, work and even extra curricular activities. The pressure of what something different than what your family wants can take a real toll. I loved music and everything about it but I was not the best idea according to my mother. Despite the friction, in 2011, I decided to go to college for Music Business. Ended up picking the wrong location for my job choice and that itself is very crucial. After 2 years of partying and less studies, I ended up dropping out and just focused on regular home life, which basically consisted of 40 how work weeks at Walmart. My desire for music basically diminished at this point until I had a sudden spark and entertained the idea of moving to my dream city, Atlanta, GA. Started attending The Art Institute of Atlanta and started getting back in the music groove. Started interning at Soul Asylum Studios and at the point I was living the life in music. Only one crucial miss, I focused more on engineering and basically stunted growth in my music production. From 2013-2017 I probably made 20 beats, but my engineering was immaculate. I was even recording the neo-soul Angie Stone. Don’t get me wrong, I still do and love engineering , but production is my first love. Then from 2017-2021 I took on another career and starting my own trucking company. If you think timing was crazy before, these years took a lot from me, even things I still suffer today. Now I’m focusing on production the majority of my time, and have accomplished so much in a year and a half and I couldn’t help but think, where would I be if ai would’ve taken my craft more serious, if I would’ve taken myself more serious. I’ll never know but I know my path now and refuse to waste anymore valuable time. All I all, I do wish I would’ve done this way sooner though.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Well I’m known as 808Hanna, and first I’ll get into why so choose that name. Gotta take it back. 2002 was when “Drumline” came out, that movie lit a spark in me and so just had to be a drummer. I wanted to be just like Devin Miles, young talented NY kid that moves to Atlanta. Notice that drumline has “8” letters. It’s alot of that in this story. My birthday is on the 8th. My favorite number is 8. My favorite producer is Southside of “808Mafia” as well as the iconic TR808 drum machine. Now let’s get into the last name, growing up I didn’t really like my last name, it was always girly to me. As I got older, I obviously got more serious, I started to love my name even more and more. I was like the only person down south with it. Now anybody in the industry that knows me, calls me Hanna, which is unforgettable to me. That name will forever be etched within the minds of everybody I cross paths with. “H” is also the 8th letter of the alphabet. There of time in my instances in life where the “8” resides, it’s in me, therefore the birthday of 808Hanna. I would want my clients that I got them from the beginning to the end of every project. Very effective problem solving and will go through endless bounds to make everything happen within control. I proud of how I made it through so many situations in life to even be able to do music. It wasn’t easy getting here and the path is still not clear but so will continue pushing through. I provide Rap, Hip Hop, Trap, RnB, and Pop compositions. The reason ai say compositions because my music tells a story! You’ll be seeing more if that vibe on music coming soon! Producers are changing the sound, One hit at a time! I also provide mixing services. You record a song, send me the files and I’ll use my vision and skill to bring you art! Every single time. My brand is built upon the idea of creation and innovation, no right or wrong answers but total creativity. This work of art is not done until my ear says it’s done.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Literally my whole story in resilience, going through 8 years depriving myself of my dream and still be able to pick it back of as if you never stopped! This is the epitome of resilience along with a path of retribution. I can only get out what Im willing to put in.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
2017, when I started driving trucks. I wouldn’t say I was wrong but when you peal back the layers. I was only chasing money, tryna avoid the turmoils of the years prior. The decision is one that changed my life the most.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://808hanna.beatstars.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/808hanna
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/mhannabeatz
- Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/808hanna
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCG2_NOFSrGEDSn9T31FUoUw
- Other: https://mahanna5.wixsite.com/fullsailportfolio
Image Credits
N/A