<p id=”par-1_32″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/mark-wahlberg/”>Mark Wahlberg</a> experienced some success as the rapper Marky Mark before transitioning <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/mark-wahlberg-net-worth-criminal-history.html/”>to acting full time</a>. But some wondered if Wahlberg would’ve become like rapper Eminem if he remained a music artist.</p>
<h2 id=”h-mark-wahlberg-would-ve-gone-in-a-different-direction-than-eminem-if-he-kept-rapping”>Mark Wahlberg would’ve gone in a different direction than Eminem if he kept rapping</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” width=”1200″ height=”804″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?strip=all&quality=89″ alt=”Mark Wahlberg speaking on stage in a black t-shirt at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.” class=”wp-image-3553265″ srcset=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg 1200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=150&h=101 150w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=640&h=429 640w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=768&h=515 768w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=1024&h=686 1024w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=522&h=350 522w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=252&h=169 252w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=200&h=134 200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=757&h=507 757w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Mark-Wahlberg-Eminem.jpg?w=90&h=60 90w” sizes=”(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px”><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Mark Wahlberg | Kevin Winter/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>
<p id=”par-2_66″>Wahlberg was becoming a popular act when he and his brother formed the hip group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. Their 1991 debut record, <em>Music for the People</em>, was a hit, although their sophomore effort <em>You Gotta Believe </em>didn’t enjoy the same success. Eventually, the group disbanded, but Wahlberg continued his rap career for quite some time before devoting all of his attention to acting.</p>
<p id=”par-3_56″>By the time he retired from music, Eminem was making his debut. And as Wahlberg rose up the ranks in Hollywood, the <em>8 Mile </em>star was quickly becoming one of hip hop’s top artists. In a resurfaced interview with <a href=”https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/05/29/an-interview-with-mark-wahlberg” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>IGN</a>, Wahlberg was asked if he thought he could’ve been Eminem if he didn’t end up retiring.</p>
<p id=”par-4_28″>“Could I have been Eminem? I certainly hope not. I like Eminem, I think Eminem’s really talented, but I’m trying to go a completely different route,” Wahlberg said.</p>
<p id=”par-5_33″>He shared <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/mark-wahlberg-eminems-brief-secret-feud.html/”>he and Eminem</a> had two completely different personal experiences and upbringings. Wahlberg also felt he was perhaps trying to send more positive vibes than the music artist was at the time.</p>
<p id=”par-6_74″>“I love my mother, man. Are you crazy? No, I can’t be a bad influence on anybody. But, I think there’s a lot more to what he does than that. There’s certainly a shock value that’s kind of gotten him to a certain place, but the guy’s got a lot of talent. It’s just, you know, I came from the real thing and I was trying desperately to get away from that,” he said.</p>
<h2 id=”h-mark-wahlberg-felt-his-hip-hop-career-would-ve-been-much-more-successful-if-he-was-allowed-to-do-what-he-wanted”>Mark Wahlberg felt his hip hop career would’ve been much more successful if he was allowed to do what he wanted</h2>
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<p id=”par-7_33″>Wahlberg felt studio interference played a part in pushing him out of the film industry. It seemed the label behind Wahlberg wanted the actor to be more pop than he wanted to be.</p>
<p id=”par-8_49″>“They wanted me to be a little more commercial, take my pants off more. Do a duet with a girl singer. They didn’t want me to do what I wanted to do, and to be who I am. So, I just got a little frustrated by that,” he said.</p>
<p id=”par-9_27″>Wahlberg, however, wanted to do different types of records without changing his image. <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/mark-wahlberg-major-problems-martin-scorsese-the-departed-set.html/”><em>The Departed </em>star</a> tried to work with the studio, but eventually he’d had enough.</p>
<p id=”par-10_100″>“I think I could have been a lot more successful, had I been allowed to do what I wanted to do. I think the record company had one specific idea, and they wanted to go for that,” he said. “I had just gotten out of jail and I wanted to make a record. I saw my brother making millions of dollars and I’m still struggling, so I kind of compromised a little bit. But, when they continued to push me further in the opposite direction, that’s when I decided not to make another record and to wait out my contract.”</p>
<h2 id=”h-mark-wahlberg-shared-he-didn-t-listen-to-rap-music-that-much-anymore-because-it-makes-him-want-to-turn-violent”>Mark Wahlberg shared he didn’t listen to rap music that much anymore because it makes him want to turn violent</h2>
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<p id=”par-11_39″>Wahlberg once revealed that he was beginning to distance himself from rap music as a whole. He still listened to certain artists, but back then he quipped that most rap music gave him violent urges he could do without.</p>
<p id=”par-12_37″>“I try not to listen to rap anymore cause as soon as I do, I’m ready to bust some heads. I’ll put on some angry Tupac record on my way to church,” he once told <a href=”https://blackfilm.com/20030523/features/markwahlberg.shtml” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Black Film</a>.</p>
<p id=”par-13_16″>The actor shared what he did listen to in his spare time as <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/mark-wahlberg-shared-didnt-think-make-age-35.html/”>he’d gotten older</a>.</p>
<p id=”par-14_48″>“In my next film, my character listens to that Tibetan music. I’m working with David Russel and we start filming in June. I also listen to reggae and Oasis, and some Coldplay. I still have Nas and Jay Z. Very rarely do I turn that on,” he said.</p>