Music for the People (Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch album)

Before the group was even formed, Mark Wahlberg, who was the lead singer, was in jail for beating a Vietnamese man.[1] Even before Mark got arrested, he dropped out of school at the age of 14 and began hustling, stealing, and selling drugs.[2] Once Mark got out of prison, his older brother Donnie helped him out by getting him involved in the music business. Mark wasn't the best singer, but with his charisma and looks, Donnie helped him and his group debut their first album. In 1990, Donnie Walhberg convinced younger brother Mark to return to the music scene as Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, even landing them a spot as opening act for Donnie's band New Kids on the Block.[3] Mark Walhberg (Marky Mark) was joined by an all black ensemble including Scott Ross (aka Scottie Gee), Hector Barros (Hector the Booty Inspector), Anthony Thomas (Ashley Ace), and Terry Yancey (DJ-T) to create more of a "street" feel for Mark.[4] The following year Donnie went a step further, producing the group's first and most successful album, Music for the People.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[5]

Music for the People released on July 23, 1991 to mixed reviews. Despite being lauded more for Mark's physique, and charisma than musicality, the album still managed to receive a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America. MTV's Jason Ankeny says“Rap purists were appalled by Wahlberg's mediocre lyrical skills, lame samples, and tired beats.”[6] In an interview with Oral Tradition, DJ Romeo says that he believes Marky Mark’s disjointed rhythm and rap cadence comes primarily from reading the rap from paper while recording, and that while some rappers use “poets tools,” (simile, hyperbole, and alliteration) Marky Mark “just raps.”[7] The album was the only real successful thing that the group accomplished with its two big hits "Good Vibrations" and "Wildside". The group started to tank a couple years after their platinum album and split up in 1993 when Mark Wahlberg decided to take his career in another direction by starting to act.

• ^{^[a]} signifies a co-producer

Adapted credits from the media notes of Music for the People.[8]

• Leo Okeke: chief engineer, keyboards, bass, Macintosh Protracks programming, digital sampling
• Donnie Wahlberg: drum programming, Macintosh Protracks programming, digital sampling
• Mary Alford: mixing
• Ted Jensen: mastering (Sterling Sound)
• D.J. Terry Yancey: scratches
• Jeff Dovner, Randy Melton: engineering
• Tom Soares: mix engineering
• Joe Pires, Jamie Locke: assistant mix engineering
• Chuck Reed: A&R coordinator

Peaks:

• no. 21 – Billboard 200 (Album)
• no. 1 Top Heatseekers (Album)
• no. 1 – Billboard Hot 100 (Single; Good Vibrations)[9]
• no. 10 – Billboard Hot 100 (Single; Wildside)
• Certified Platinum – RIAA (Album)[10]
• Certified Gold – RIAA (Single; Good Vibrations)[11]
• Certified Gold – RIAA (Single; Wildside)[12]