Black Cobain  Marcus Gloster (born April 29, 1986), known professionally as Black Cobain, is an independent American rapper signed with Jet Life Recordings. He collaborated on the Wale track "4 AM" and was the opening act of Wale's 2011-2012 53-city "Ambition" tour. Black Cobain was born in Alexandria, Virginia, and fell in love with hip hop at an early age. His MC moniker "Black Cobain" originated from his childhood nickname "Black" being combined with "Cobain", in homage to his uncle who introduced him to rock and roll and the world-renowned band Nirvana, with frontman Kurt Cobain. Black Cobain attended Virginia State University, graduated magna cum laude, and obtained employment at the Boys & Girls Club, uncertain he could make a viable living and income from his ambitions as an emcee. During this time, he linked with long-time friend and mentor, Le'Greg O. Harrison, and under his direction began to professionalize his sound and actively exploit his talent through local performances, collaborations, sets, and freestyles. In 2009, Black signed to The Board Administration as their first official signee and shortly thereafter left full-time employment to fully pursue emceeing as a career. Black Cobain performed the local circuit and various open mics within the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas to garner attention and heighten awareness of his brand. Despite his affiliation with Wale and The Board Administration, he worked tirelessly to cultivate his own buzz and did not collaborate with Wale until years after signing with the label, because he put in his own groundwork and operates by his childhood reality and philosophy that nothing is ever given, more so earned. After a solid run releasing freestyles and frequenting local performance venues, Black Cobain released his debut mixtape, "Now or Never". "Now or Never" focused on his transition into adulthood and the perils of inner city life. A year later, he released a second mixtape, "Now", a demonstration of a more evolved emcee and better articulated and confident Black Cobain. "Now" had features from Wale, Raheem Devaughn, J. Holiday, and Wiz Khalifa. Later the same year, he was featured as the spokesperson for the 2010 Rocksmith Tokyo fall/winter campaign alongside Wale. His 2011 mixtape, "Young, Gifted & Black", hosted by Rocksmith Tokyo, possessed features from Wale, Stalley, and featured production from Tone P and 88-Keys.