Lyrics & The Lab: WTFxPreme

Rapper/MC, poet, clothing store owner, WTFxPreme

Rap in the Raw- Lyrical transparency is WTFxPreme’s POV.

Meet Michael “WTFxPreme” Marion. A Midwest “mic menace” with a cool, calm shooter persona. Loaded with verbiage and vision for business, this promising artist is bound to sound off on his triumphs, tragedies and territory. Catch our chat as we dissect his journey.

When it comes to the St. Louis born rapper/MC, Michael Marion , aka “WTFxPreme” always felt organically drawn to music as his artistic outlet. “I don’t really think anyone truly inspired me.”, he explains. “It just naturally came to me. It started from me writing poems.” The poet began reciting his pieces to friends. “My homies wasn’t trying to hear me reading poems. Rightfully so.”, Marion laughs. “They were really good though.”

From the suggestion of friends, the Normandy/Pine Lawn area raised artist began converting his poetry into rap. “They said instead of me writing poems, I should rap. So, I started experimenting with putting words to beats.”, shares Marion. “That’s when I started leaning heavily towards rap influences from my childhood. Such as Biggie, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan and Black Star. Also from my teenage years, it was Electronica, Slumville…hip-hop was a big thing for me.”

While transitioning from poetry to rap/hip-hop, WTFxPreme began cultivating his personal artistic style. “As far as character, I always looked up to Stone Cold Steve Austin.”, says WTF. “He didn’t take no s***. He talked his s***. As a kid, I thought that was so cool.” The 35 yr. old MC says he also admired the WWE wrestling champion’s charisma and sense of humor. “Everything he did was pazazz.”

The North County Tech grad describes his flair as “just hip-hop”. “A reminder of Big Daddy Kane, with a splash of Ol’ Dirty Bastard.”, he explains. “With a hint of Nas and a sprinkle of Tupac.” The versatile artist says that his music embodies the culture. “I’m not a gimmick, so you can’t put me in a box.” During his time of living in Bronx, NY, WTFxPreme recalls an encounter of learning to unlearn having a “boxed” mindset. “I was there with my girl at the time, and someone shoulder bumped me. Now in St. Louis, you know we don’t just let that fly, but I had to learn that I’m in a different place where this is normal. She had to remind me to adapt. So, I had to get out of that mindset. When I did, it worked in my favor.”

WTFxPreme- “Kool Shorts”

“So now I don’t let nobody put me in a box to sell me here or there. What you can do is put me in front of people and they’re gonna f*** with me.” In March of 2020, WTFxPreme dropped his debut EP, Sincerely Yours on streaming platforms. In June of 2020, he followed up with Empty Rello Packs. “That’s when I started working with other creatives in the lab.” He also released singles Psa, Whoa, Sid Vicious, Prequel and Hahaha the same year.

WTFxPreme remembers the “game changer” in his rap journey. “I was in Virginia Beach at a competition back in 2011. Me and my homeboy performed for Kurtis Blow.”, he shares. “I was a fresh 21 yr. old with no recorded music, and we were rapping in front of Kurtis f***ing Blow! We didn’t win, we made 2nd place, but Kurtis came up to us after the show and told us to keep doing what we’re doing.” Since his debut, the rapper has also worked with fellow local artists, such as Anwar and Davie Napalm. His latest single Kool Shorts was released in June of 2024.

WTFxPreme (an acronym for We’re The Future/Supreme) is also a clothing store owner of Recs N Threads in south St. Louis. “In my project Sincerely Yours, I had a bar that said “I’m tryna own a business before my son hit second grade…”. My son just started 2nd grade, and I’ve been an owner of a store front for over a year.” WTF’s clothing store specializes in vintage urban wear and vinyl records. “If I’ve made that much stride from when my son was born ’til now, then in the next five years I want to be an established independent artist who can tour independently and have other things going on.”