"May I be to this artform what Jesus is to religion." 

This is the prayer that initiated the journey of spokenword artist Marquis Mix aka 13 of Nazareth. It is clear from that phrase alone that this more than just art to him and has been more than just art for him. Marquis humbly began his stage life on February 5, 1999 at Soul Cafe in Virginia Beach, VA just as a means to conquer his "fear" of speaking in front of people. He like all artist just wanted to be heard, but after overcoming the fear which he later realized was no fear at all he quickly became a staple in the Hampton Roads arts community. If there was a stage for spokenword or hip-hop in the 757 he was on it and usually alongside his partner in rhyme, godchild the omen.

In December 2000 after nearly 2 years of performing locally members of performing arts community who had been like family to him discovered what had for the most part been a secret when 13 collapsed while heading to his car after Urban Safari. Back In 1994, the young man who would become 13 of Nazareth was diagnosed with epilepsy and the medications he had been prescribed had by holding the disorder at bay at least from the view of the small public he had recently gained.

Shorty thereafter the frequency of 13's seizures began to intensify to the point that he'd be unable to leave his bed, much less his house, for days at a time. This six month stint of multiple daily episodes resulted in the loss of a job that he really did not want and dynamic increases in the level of spiritual awareness that he had been seeking.  Every attempt to procure employment after this period in the 9 to 5 sense failed, mostly due to the fact that every time 13 was hired he would begin having multiple seizures within 72 hours of being employed. As the end of 2001 approached with all the chaos it contained; an opportunity arose to record and release a CD with godchild the omen on Queen Sheba's then newly founded label Oya Xclusive that CD was entitled Complex Simplicity.

In February of 2002 after the best spokenword CD release party the artist has attended to this day, 13 hit the road with nothing but his determination and a backpack full of CDs. Since making that decision to dedicate his life to his art, 13 of Nazareth has toured throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. His work has work him several regional and national poetry slam titles, been featured on Music Choice Digital Cable Radio and in 2008 he made his national TV debut on BETs Lyric Cafe. In additon,13 of Nazareth has published 5 solo CDs, the most recent of which is entitled Stained Glass.

13's writing is layered with spiritual references that have emerged directly from his personal experience and he speaks with a knowing beyond himself which has resulted in two labels, one flattering and the other not so much, depending on your stance. The first is from his contemparies who have labeled him a "poet's poet" and "arguably the best writer this generation of spokenword has to offer." The second has come from promoters reluctant to book him for appearances because he is "too deep to entertain."

In response to it all 13 says, "Whether or not I am the best is up for debate and even if I am "the best" its not the title I most desire I want to be remembered as a man who strived to know God directly and encouraged others to do the same through the use of art as a reminder of our divine heritage. As far as being too deep to entertain, it holds little releavance because I am not an entertainer I am a messenger and if you were only looking to be "entertained" you definitely were not looking for me and its perfectly okay because you get exactly what you ask for." 

Biographic Post Script

With all that being said...it should be known that ultimately the reputation of this artist means nothing to him in the grand scheme of why he was given this gift and what he hopes it accomplishes through and beyond his life. Great art is fantastic in as much as it can become a timeless flower planted in the field of time blossoming anew whenever it is gazed upon. Great artist however are usually not so fantastic because as they attempt to plant a timeless flower they themselves tend to become uprooted from everything coming face to face with the following truth.

"The only thing a great artist has ever done is get consumed by an unfathomable darkness which all but destroys them, then they get consumed by an unfathomable light, this also all but destroys them, and finally they realize themselves to be but stained glass windows in a cathedral of divinity; telling stories using both the stains(darkness) left upon them and the light that shines through."

Marquis Mix aka 13 of Nazareth
October 2, 2008