THE BOOK OF MARATHON
I. ABSENCE OF LEADERSHIP
April 6, 2021
II. THE TOUCH
May 2021
III. CATACLYSM OF FAYTH
June 2021
IV. A NEW HOPE
September 2021
V. VICTORIA
October 2021
In June of 2020, everything changed for Ben Thomas. After achieving so many of his life goals the previous year, he was fired from the job that was meant to be the final link in his career path. He wasn’t fired for a failure to perform his duties, but for his attempts to bring accountability to executive leadership for the health and safety of his employees. Amidst a pandemic, Ben Thomas had managed the largest crisis this collection of people had faced with no guidance or support. Despite that, he was relieved of his duties when the light was finally visible at the end of the tunnel. Just as we have all the witnessed the absence of leadership in this country the last four years, the absence of leadership was evident in this circumstance. For the first time in nearly 20 years, Ben Thomas didn’t have to go to work the next day. His wife, the most incredible support system, convinced him to invest in himself instead of giving his heart and soul for other’s profit. So for the first time in 8 years, Marathon Man picked up the pen…
ABSENCE OF LEADERSHIP
This album is about facing injustice, head on, wherever it is found. My whole life I have hidden myself, in fear of the consequences I would face for being me. I witnessed my brother, an outspoken, caring, loyal Black child, face all the consequences of a grown man. I saw the way he was treated, punished, and cast aside. I knew I had to be the “exceptional negro” to survive my environment. I had to be better, more cordial, smarter; I had to excel at all functions of life to maintain my freedom. This is not a new awakening, this is not a revelation from a social media thread. This is 34 years of the Black experience in this country. I was very privileged myself; grew up in a great household, with loving parents who told me to chase my dreams. This society attacked my family, not always directly, and in some cases not intentionally, but my brother was taken from us….25 to…This is not to absolve personal responsibility, but to reveal the role our society played in this and every tragedy. Every broken family. Every mother that stopped taking family pictures after her son was sent to prison for what may be the rest of her life. For all the pain left in the wake of every action. This country was founded over the extermination of my ancestors. The heart of this country beats by the blood of my ancestors. This country survived World Wars and Depression by my forefathers, with the blood of my ancestors, but only for my forefathers. I learned this at a very young age, and struggle every day to overcome their expectations. For my survival. At this point in my life, I’m tired of holding back; I’m set to release my whole being through these records. I’ve got receipts for every facet of our society, and they’ve come due. I wear another mask now; something I haven’t put on in a while.
MARATHON MAN IS BACK!
- BEN THOMAS
THE TOUCH
This album is about evolution. Entering another universe through the eyes of Marathon Man. This journey explores the fictional worlds he used to escape the harsh reality of his childhood
Amidst a revolution, we must not forget, Evolution. In this second chapter, from the book of Marathon; we expand our universe. Traveling to the worlds I used to escape, our harsh reality. In comics, cartoons and video games; I found a world, where I could be the hero. Whether the heroes looked like me or not. I found parallels with my reality, and took strength, from their dedication to true justice and the destruction of evil. I share that mission
SPIDER-MAN SHOWED US, ANYONE CAN WEAR THE MASK. MARATHON MAN is WHO I BECOME when I PUT ON THE MASK. I See the Lines in the Sand, I know WHO I AM. It’s TIME, For EVOLUTION
CATACLYSM OF FAYTH
It all began, aeons ago, when man's ancestors, picked up a shard of strange stone. It’s power, which was beyond human comprehension, cultivated dreams...Memories, spoken through the sword, cast down from the stone, now, the story, can be told…Only time, will see how it all ends…
The next chapter, in the book of Marathon
CATACLYSM OF FAYTH
A NEW HOPE
A long time ago, in the CO, Marathon, didn’t have nothing to hold, burned out from the grind, four jobs no time, for school and life, I was left to decide, I choose nine, I didn’t follow through, on anything, I left my brothers, out in the cold, I dipped town, where did I go, east Atlanta, zone 6, to Decatur, I lived that shit, I made the most, of everything around me, so many shows, rebuilt my foundry, the marathon was born, forever changed me, I expressed my demons, through these beats, I said some shit, glad nobody listened to me, I was hurt, I wasn’t chasing the dream, I was running from everything after me, I was running, from destiny, so far, the marathon became me, now I stand before you, no receipts, just me, Ben Thomas, Marathon, a long time ago, I forgot, I wasn’t free, I know the truth, that’s why we speak, so I can deliver the message, so you can receive, every single blessing, I have hidden in me, a life of experience, a life of dreams, reached so many, but never reached me, a long time ago, I wasn’t living for me, I wasn’t striving for anything, I was content to be, thought I had figured it out, thought I was meant for something, never did the work, but embraced the struggle, bank account, only thing keeping me humble, that’s all different now, and so am I, a long time ago, I always wanted the shine, commanded attention on presence and deftness, but now I’m older, all I want, is to share this blessing, a new hope, for all of us…
CHAPTER IV, THE SAGA CONTINUES, MARATHON MAN, A NEW HOPE…
VICTORIA
I’ve given so much, I’ve said so much, I’ve bled so much, but I know, our day will come.
One day, I hope I see it in my lifetime, our children will walk these streets, Free.
Free in the knowledge that they are human, that they deserve, all that lays before them.
this world is theirs, to have and to hold, to create and mold.
Our vision for the Earth, is not lost, this only a hurdle, and we have jumped so many.
I BELIEVE OUR DAY WILL COME, THE BATTLES OVER, THE WAR IS WON, ‘TIL THE DAY, ALL ARE ONE
I BELIEVE, OUR DAY WILL COME
“I found parallels with my reality, and took strength, from their dedication to true justice and the destruction of evil. I share that mission. Spider-Man showed us that anyone can wear the mask. Marathon Man is who I become when I put on the mask.”
— Marathon Man