One of the most active affiliates of the
Quality Control label,
Marlo, aka Lil Marlo, emerged from Atlanta in 2017 with output beside close friend and labelmate
Lil Baby. He has since issued three solo mixtapes, including
The Real1 (2019), and has appeared on both of QC's
Control the Streets compilations.
A lifelong Atlantean,
Marlo, born Rudolph Johnson, didn't consider getting involved with music until multiple acquaintances remarked that he should become a rapper. Fueled by his experiences on the streets, he was a quick study. He took part in a slew of
Quality Control releases issued during the latter half of 2017. These included
Lil Baby's
Harder Than Hard track "Ride or Die," the full-length
Lil Baby collaboration
2 the Hard Way, and a solo mixtape entitled
The Wire. Additionally, he had two slots on the number five Billboard 200 entry
Control the Streets, Vol. 1, featured with
Lil Baby and
Gucci Mane on "The Load" and showcased alone on "Live Like Dis," the finale. Within six months of 2018,
Marlo was behind two more solo tapes,
9th Ward God and
The Real1. The next year, he branched out with a verse on
Yella Beezy's "Big Shit" and connected with
City Girls and
Offset for "Soakin Wet," a preview of
Control the Streets, Vol. 2.
Marlo died in an auto accident in Atlanta on July 11, 2020 at the age of 30. ~ Andy Kellman