Meet Marcell Henry | CEO & Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marcell Henry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marcell, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I was actually just hanging out at my recording studio and the thought of a new board game came to mind. I had been trying to think of a product or idea of something that’s completely different from what’s already out there. As time progressed, I just thought of how the rap game and music industry works. Every quarter, (songwriters, artists, producers, etc..) you are issued a music royalty check. So with that in mind, I figured that could be the object of the game. Along the way, I just came up with different things that go along with being a rapper. Things like paying for studio time, promo, and music videos. Also, free styling over beats, rap battling, and performing on stage. I combined all of those things you have to do as an artist and I made it into a board game.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an artist and business owner originally from a small city where everyone knows each other (Omaha, Nebraska). I always had plans on making it out and exploring other places. I started pursuing a rap career early on at 14 years old. I used to write poetry in the back of my english class in the 7th grade. When I was in high school, I would go to a friends house after classes and record songs on his speaker box. We only had a regular stage mic, speaker, and a portable keyboard. He made the beats and I wrote the rhymes. We took our demo to the radio station and the DJ played our song every week on the local artist segment. It was only a handful of rappers back then where I’m from. I used to rap battle other kids in the neighborhood and at the lunch tables. After I graduated high school, I moved to Atlanta to pursue my music and ended up going to college for media/audio production. I learned how to record, mix, and master music. That led me to save money and I started to record myself as well as others. I released multiple mixtapes and albums. I became an audio engineer and eventually opened up my own recording studios in Atlanta. Early on, it wasn’t easy being in the music business and maintaining financially. Being ambitious and driven, I forced myself to succeed and win. So many losses and failures in the process molded me into the more knowledgeable and focused business man I am today. I want the world to know about The Rap Game just like they know about the games that inspired me such as monopoly, chess, and checkers. I want kids and minorities to know you can make a name for yourself if you keep dreaming, believing, and creating.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in Atlanta it’s definitely about the good vibes and FOOD! We would hit a few soul food restaurants like Paschal’s, Busy Bees Cafe, and Annie Laura’s. Ride through Peachtree Street and do some shopping at Lenox Mall. Make a quick stop at some clothing/sneaker boutiques like Wish ATL. We for sure have to hit the recording studio and work on some music, grab some drinks at the illuminarium bar or Mexican restaurant behind my studio. Film a music video or shoot some dope footage over by the Krog tunnel. Take a hike up stone mountain park and go for a ride in my old school! Some places to check out are Colony Square, Ponce City Market/The Beltline. And for a historic tour, Auburn Avenue. We would probably go to a rooftop bar/lounge in Buckhead.

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 want to shoutout hiphop and the whole rap culture. I’ve been inspired since a young kid and to go from wanting to be a rapper in the rap game to creating and launching The Rap Game is a huge blessing for me. Also, I want to shoutout my wife and partner. She’s been there every step of the way from the ups and downs to my failures and success.

Website: www.therapboardgame.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/therapboardgame

Facebook: www.facebook.com/therapboardgame

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFZM0UETEkg