Meet Eric Marable Jr. | Creative Director/Project Coordinator/Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Marable Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The most important factor is our Authenticity. Whenever we walk into a room, whether it be teachers, principals, administrators, or corporate sponsors, we come as ourselves. Our mission since I and my brother Jahman left college has been to provide better days for our people. We want to give our community a new philosophy that brings acceptance, healing, and joy. This drives all the work we do from the programming we bring to schools to the functions we put on for the community. That genuine spirit shows people that we care and that we are willing to do the work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I began acting in church plays written by my mother (She’s a genius. You should interview her) and writing poems at the age of six. I wrote my first verse at 13. My family laughed at me so I vowed to never spit again. A few years, I was filming a poetry workshop for one of my teachers. I wasn’t supposed to participate but I asked to write a piece. At the end of the workshop, after everyone had spit their piece, my teacher asked me if I had a poem. Then, the teaching artist made me spit in front of the whole class. Afterward, he asked me if I had ever done that before. I said no, haha. He then put me on to more poetry workshops at the Central Library and that’s where I met my mentors, the Real Life Poets Inc.

I started taking my writing and performing seriously. I continued acting and doing open mics throughout high school.
When I went to college at the University of Alabama, I majored in Theatre and minored in Creative Writing. I did work on stage and on film and also traveled across the country to give speeches on pressing social topics with the Alabama Forensics Council (Speech and Debate Team) as well as competing in national poetry slam competitions with the Alabama Student Association for Poetry (ASAP).

After spending my senior year doing research on the school-to-prison pipeline (along with all the other messed-up things happening in the education system), I stumbled into an opportunity to become a teacher in NYC. After moving to New York City in 2015 to teach and pursue acting, I decided to focus on developing a creative brand combining all modes of his expression to create work that drives thought, communication, and healing forward. Daan Rana was created to be a more holistic approach to my art and humanity. This year, I started my company, No More Dead Rappers LLC., which seeks to promote safety, realism, wellness, light, and love through community and the arts.

I am Creative Director and Program Manager for “The Flourish Alabama,” an Arts Education 501(c)(3) based in Birmingham, AL. I am also the Project Coordinator for the Greater Birmingham Arts Education Collaborative (@bhmartsed). I am Poet, Producer, and Lead Writer for “Bloom City,” a creative writing YouTube series. I was producer, director, and performer for my arts series in Birmingham called “The Flourish at Freedom House/The Flourish LIVE”. I have done multimedium work as Staff Writer, Song Writer, and Actor for “The Juke Joint Live,” a variety show created by the incomparable polymath Erika E. Wade. I am a Producer, Director, and M.C. for “Sunsets on 6th”, a showcase of up-and-coming RnB and Hip Hop acts in Birmingham, AL. I am also the lead director of the award-winning Off-Broadway production “Black Enough,” a one-person show that was written/performed by one of the nation’s top slam poets Jahman Ariel Hill. I dropped my first Ep “Birds of Prey” back in May 2022. You can listen to it on all streaming platforms. I am dropping my second project “The Naked Summer” this year so be on the look out!

My journey back to my city and the work I’m doing today is just a wild Full Circle Experience. No one has my story. No one can express it the way that I can. I am genuine and I think my heart is in the right place now. It was a struggle to get here. Like most of my struggles, most of it was internal. I’m really blessed with an incredible family and an incredible network of people who support me. I’ve had to really step back and work on my mental health. I had been neglecting it for a long time until I finally had to ask for help. People think depression is just sadness or weakness. Someone once told me that they think depression is just a way to get pity from people or a way to get compliments. Depression is deeper. Major depression for me is feeling utterly incapable of doing the things that I need to do to be healthy and happy and that I don’t even deserve those things. Through the support of my family and some serious work in therapy, I’m feeling capable. I’m feeling my power. I’m feeling love again. I’m excited to step into the next chapter of my life with a new sense of gratitude.

I just want the world to know that this work comes from a genuine place of healing, love, and joy. Tap in with me and have the experience for yourself!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to the Botanical Gardens to get some fresh air and to see the beautiful fauna of Alabama.

We can check out the incredible works at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

I would take them to my favorite spot, Saturn in Avondale. A great place for drinks, games, and amazing concerts. Saw EarthGang there twice!

We can check out some of my favorite bars like the Marble Ring, The House of Found Objects, and Cayo Coco! Cayo Coco has incredible empanadas! (Shout Shekinah Lee @thepurposedtherapist)

We gotta catch a show with The Flourish Alabama (@theflourishalabama) at our spot in Ensley! The Greenhouse is a hub for creativity and learning.

We can end the night checking out a great view of the city on the South Side. I know a couple spots hehehe.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to shout our my community!

Thank you to the incredible people doing work in Birmingham. From developers fighting for justice and preservation of our great city, to the homies putting on incredible events to support the amazing artists in our city. Y’all inspire me and make the work exciting.

Special shout-out to my team! The Floral Five who manage The Flourish Alabama. It’s been a wild 5 years but I’m excited to see where we go next!

And last but certainly not least; my family! I wouldn’t be here without you all. Thank you for all the love and support. I love y’all!

Website: https://linktr.ee/nomoredeadrappers

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomoredeadrappers/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-marable-jr-a4795835/

Twitter: @nomoredeadraprs

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000140390958

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@daanrana300

Other: theflourishal.com @theflourishalabama birminghamartsed.org

Image Credits
Josh Weaver – @team_weaver4life EJ Glenn Photography – @ejglennphotography