One of the interesting things about celebrity life is that these individuals can get the chance to shine in multiple facets of the business. Dwayne Johnson was a wrestler before becoming a powerhouse actor and Selena Gomez was on television before bursting onto the music scene, as was Miley Cyrus. In rare cases, some people will find success in a little bit of everything.
Before becoming an Academy Award nominee, Mark Wahlberg was an entirely different person. Back then, he was known as Marky Mark, and with the help of the Funky Bunch, he became a chart-topping rapper. Yes, Mark Wahlberg used to be a legitimate rapper with a massive hit.
Let’s look back at Mark Wahlberg’s rapping career and see how things played out for the movie star!
He Started Out In New Kids On The Block
To get the full picture of how Marky Mark wound up making it big in music, we need to head back to when the rapper was an early member of one of the biggest boy bands to ever grace the stage. This was back in the 80s, the decade preceding the one that sent Wahlberg into the stratosphere.
In the early stages of New Kids on the Block, Mark Wahlberg was a member of the group alongside his brother Donnie. This was an interesting lineup, but it was not the one that would go on to sell millions of records. Eventually, Mark would depart the group, and once the classic lineup was put together, the group eventually broke out.
As fans got to see play out in the 80s and early 90s, New Kids on the Block completely took over the music business. They released a string of smash hits that thrust them into stardom, and they were virtually everywhere during that era. They had their own toys, a legit hotline, and even an animated series.
All while this was going on, Mark was honing his rapping skills and patiently waiting for the day that he could get his shot at stardom. Eventually, a familiar face would be instrumental in Marky Mark becoming a household name, and once he became famous, there was simply no looking back for the young star.
He Had Multiple Top 10 hits
Thanks to his brother paving the way in New Kids on the Block, new doors would soon open for Marky Mark. In a rap game that was still relatively young, it was an open market for someone to come along with the right vibe and take off. So, when Marky Mark dropped “Good Vibrations” to the masses, he blew up in immense ways.
The interesting thing about “Good Vibrations” these days is that it’s a song that just about everyone knows. However, enough time has passed since the song’s release that younger listeners may not even realize that it’s a song by Mark Wahlberg. People who were around for its height of popularity, however, have not forgotten.
When looking back at Mark’s rapping career, most people can point to “Good Vibrations” as perhaps his biggest and only hit, but the truth is that he actually had multiple songs crack the top 10 on the Hot 100, according to Billboard. That’s right, Marky Mark’s song “Wildside” was also a top 10 hit when it was released.
Despite the initial waves of success that Wahlberg had on the charts, this was simply not meant to last. Much like Vanilla Ice before him, once things cooled off, it was clear that Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch weren’t going to make their way back to the top.
A Reunion Is Unlikely
In total, Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch released two albums, with both of them achieving Gold status, according to Billboard. This means that, while his rap days are long behind him, he was rather successful in the grand scheme of things.
Even though they have not been together in years, many people have wondered if and when Mark would get the gang back together for a reunion, even if it’s just for one show. Despite the fan’s wishes, there appears to be no reunion on the horizon.
Back in 2013, talks emerged about a reunion, but this never came to pass. While it would have been cool for his fans to see, ultimately, Wahlberg chose to keep his Marky Mark persona in the past. We can’t really blame him, as he has done loads of work to shed the bad boy persona that he initially rose to fame within the 90s.
Few people can go from a successful rapper and model to a successful actor, but it just goes to show the appeal that Mark Wahlberg has always had.