2 Black 2 Strong

2 Black 2 Strong
Born	John Mars Template:Birth year and age
Occupation	Hip-hop artist
Years active	Early 1990s
Known for	"Burn Baby Burn"

John Mars, who performs under the moniker 2 Black 2 Strong, is an American hip-hop artist active during the early 1990s. Born in 1968, he gained recognition primarily for his politically provocative track "Burn Baby Burn," which supports the right to set fire to the American flag. He was also the leader of the rap collective MMG, known as Militant Manhattan Gangsters or Mighty Motherfuckin' Gangsters, which appeared on numerous songs.

Early life

The stage name 2 Black 2 Strong belongs to John Mars. Given that he was 22 years old in January 1991, his year of birth is 1968.

Burn Baby Burn EP

The track "Burn Baby Burn," recorded in 1990, includes a guest appearance by Chuck D. Due to its contentious subject matter, the pressing company Sonopress refused to manufacture the record, and retailers such as Musicland and Sam Goody declined to stock it. Issued as an EP through Effect/Clappers, it earned an honorable mention from Robert Christgau in The Village Voice, who praised the title cut. The song begins with an introduction by activist Gregory Lee Johnson, whose conviction for flag burning was overturned by the Supreme Court. This follows the landmark 1989 Supreme Court ruling in Texas v. Johnson, which affirmed flag burning as protected free speech under the First Amendment.

Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth

In 1991, 2 Black 2 Strong released his first full-length album, supported by MMG, through Relativity Records. The album, titled Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth, received favorable reviews from critics. Alex Henderson of AllMusic called it "one of the most compelling—and undeservedly overlooked—rap albums of 1991... a powerful and courageous project tackling social and political themes." Henderson also remarked that despite its merit, 2 Black 2 Strong remained relatively unknown during the decade. Robert Christgau assigned a B+ grade to the album, emphasizing its intense beats and unvarnished depiction of difficult realities without exaggeration. The song "War on Drugs" critiques the federal government's purported involvement in the crack cocaine crisis, exemplifying the album's focus on provocative societal issues.

Discography

• Burn Baby Burn EP, In Effect/Clappers, 1990
• Doin' Hard Time on Planet Earth, Relativity/Clappers, 1991