Today we’d like to introduce you to Cesar Marquez
Hi Cesar , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello my name is Cesar or (Big 4L), I am currently 28 years old. I reside in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles, CA. My story is very unique and not the normal to be honest. I am 1 out of 2 adopted children in my families household. I am the first born/the oldest, my little sister (Angelica) is the 2nd adopted child. We have a 3 year age difference but I still refer to her as my little sister. I myself was born in Fort Campbell, KY in the year of 96. My biological mother at the time felt I deserved a better life than what she & my father could give me. There was no real in depth search when it came to my adoptive parents, it’s like God knew the plan all along because when my adoptive parents were selected to be my guardians, my biological mother knew off the bat she wanted them to be who raised me. Luis & Beatriz (my adoptive parents) lived in Boyle Heights, CA at this time hence the history connection to this city and more. My father who was an English teacher at the time fast forward to CEO of Puente Learning Center a non profit organization established in the Boyle Heights area raised me to love, respect, and stand on my moral compass with passion. My mother who’s the pillar of my strength raised me to believe in myself, taught me how to navigate my moral compass and has been my rock through all that I’ve been through. Raised in a household full of love there was always music and art involved. Since a baby my father would always play every type of genre music you can think of through the house speakers. I don’t think there was a day where music and art wasn’t being brought up in some way through conversation. I was always a quiet but wild child. Always doing things on my timing and being head strong in those ways. I took an interest in music and arts/crafts. My mother she was very crafty and still is to this day. She has a lot of style as well hence another reason I know how to dress the ways that I do. We lived in West Covina, CA & Covina, CA for the first quarter of my life. A smaller quieter city than the metropolitan area we live in now. There wasn’t much to do to be honest so my days were always filled with things like listening to music, crafts, basketball, biking and skateboarding. As I got older in my youth I started gravitating to being outside more often. I’ve always had a issue paying attention so it was always difficult for me to be in doors all the time and focus on things like school work and homework assignments. My brain always just wanted to move. I ended up sticking close to three major things. A basketball, a skateboard & a bike. I never played basketball for a team but growing up watching Kobe Bryant & Shaq had me addicted to balling. I got really good at basketball; so good that others started to notice and pushed me to join a team but because I’m quiet & more preserved I didn’t feel comfortable playing in front of crowds. Simultaneously playing ball I was pushing around an old skateboard and old Shwinn bike. Juggling the sports, I became very talented in skateboarding and biking. It seemed at the time I was unlocking my super powers. Humbly speaking, everything I touched I became extremely gifted in. My parents have always been so supportive of my endeavors, taking me to skateshops, taking me to bike shops and ultimately taking me to skateparks. Out of all those 3 things I became a beast at BMX, ultimately taking trips throughout SoCal & being scouted by potential sponsorships. It all came to an end though one day when I fractured my ankle at a local skatepark. My healing process didn’t go the way I needed it to go ultimately putting strains on my body moving forward bringing too much discomfort to continue in the sport. The last trip I ever took before my BMX career ended was to film clips for a youtube episode with famous BMX rider Nate Richter from what used to be known as The Come Up BMX (owned by mogul Adam22.) At this time streetwear was already on the rise and it correlated with BMX very heavily. Music and art were very much around me almost everywhere that I looked. Since I couldn’t ride any longer the way that I desired to, I knew I still wanted to be involved in the culture somehow. That’s when I discovered my hidden graphic design talent. I had learned the basics of the software in a high-school elective class that I had no choice but to take. I had no interest in the classroom projects but I had interest in the software and how it could be used. I started creating designs in replacement of going outside some days. That path led me to creating a brand called 90’s Baby’s. I hand designed the logo, slapped it onto some pull strap casual hats that I had found in DTLA garment district which my girlfriend at the time invested her hard earned money into me to bring the vision to life. At the time which in terms went viral throughout my peers, I had became discouraged when I had found out Forever 21 had dropped a 90’s Baby’s line a little after I dropped my hats. I didn’t think I’d win over such a big corporation so I started to expand my creativity in search of a new vision. As I searched and searched I realized my Instagram name at the time was (@putthemonfrvr): “Put Them On Forever”, meaning = To help put my loved ones in a position to better they’re situations and they’re futures. I took a lot of pride in that knowing how deep that message truly is. I knew that was the vision. That day I myself became the brand. Everything created moving forward would represent just that, to put them on forever. My family didn’t come from riches infact my family was a lower middle class household. My parents worked very long very hard hours every single day. Doing everything in they’re power to give my sister and I a life they felt we deserved. I have no choice but to honor that every way I could moving forward. My endeavors with putthemonfrvr led me to meeting many creatives, entrepreneurs, CEO’s, and still growing to this day. I have had many mentors throughout this journey. I’ve also worked for moguls such as Joey Fatts (Cutthroat.la Clothing Brand) as a head clothing designer, shook hands & had dinner with Rob Dyrdek at a non profit dinner gala with my father & many more. It’s as if my father since a child was molding me into what I can only believe is what we call a leader, a boss. Fast forward to the year 2020, the year of covid but also the year I had my first child. November 24th 2020 my son Ezra was born into this world, changing everything for the better forever. That quietness, preserved self I used to be grew in ways I never imagined I could. I no longer was afraid to speak my mind, voice my thoughts and execute goals that needed to be achieved. It’s almost as if my son being born flicked a switch and a drive in me that would become unstoppable. I moved back and forth between 2020 and present day time from LA to the Midwest and back. I have never stopped chasing my dreams despite so many relocations & changes in my life. I always was involved in some type of artistic craft. It wasn’t until the year 2023 though, where I truly discovered my voice in music. Shoutout to my dear friends Alley.Avi & Zionofficial for allowing me the studio space & patience to help me craft my first song ever. That day would change my life completely. Growing up surrounded by music, my dad playing what’s called the congas, my mom dancing and smiling to the rhythms in harmonizations and melodies, my biological dad trying to be a rapper at the time I was born… it all meant something. It’s all bigger than me. 2023 I discovered my voice. I no longer wanted to be quiet, I wanted to tell my story in hopes it inspires and helps others. As I shifted also knowing I am now a father I knew I couldn’t hesitate anymore. I have dove head on into the waters of the music world and I have taken everyone by surprise. But to me, it’s normal.. lol isn’t that how it’s supposed to go? People will doubt, people will talk, but they can’t stop what makes you happy. Music is healing and therapy for me and I so happen to be naturally good at it. It’s opened so many doors for me and my loved ones. Not just is my story being told but resources I never thought would come my way have came acknowledging my presence and who I am today. To be quite frank I’ve lost everything in my life. Many loved ones has passed both friends and family, my mother and father became divorced, losing the houses we lived in and having to move to what we call the “hood”, my own relationship with my sons mother failed but through it all I continue to push and tell my story. I continue to strive and accomplish the impossible for the sake others can feel the strength within themselves to do the same. I am on my own now but surrounded by so much love and passion in this. Most of my pain and experience goes into my music now and conversations like this. I can’t thank God enough for keeping me safe through all the pain and harm I’ve came across and for the voice now that I have. At the end of the day we all have a purpose and we can’t let the hardships or negativity get in the way of stopping that purpose. Life is beautiful in many ways, I hope and pray people discover that burning fire in they’re hearts to pursue and accomplish life changing goals and self discovery that ultimately will not just tell they’re stories but help others move forward in life as well. I do have a lot more to say but this is enough for now. I don’t want to spoil some of the best parts soon to come. Thank you, with much love and gratitude.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I don’t think anything generational or everlasting comes with a smooth road. In fact mine was the complete opposite. It was rough in its own ways. Like I mentioned before, we had a good life growing up, but certain major situations that took place is what made things moving forward, rough. Those struggles though of watching young friends pass away, to my family members passing away from illness and other causes, to my family losing the house my sister and I grew up in, to my parents later on getting a divorce, losing my own relationship and just watching life go on, I don’t think any of that has ever been easy but I will say that it kept my head on my shoulders and kept my heart BIG.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Music & Fashion creative. I have always been known for my artistic ways in fashion and art that comes from my inner core. I am most proud of all the moments I’ve wanted to give up, that I never did and no matter what always continued to push forward. I believe what sets me apart from others is not just my style in sound and how I carry myself but the resilience my soul carries internally.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
First off I’d like to thank my Mom, Dad, & my beautiful Sister for never judging me and always just guiding me to accomplishing everything I’ve wanted to do so far in my life.
Second off I’d like to thank my Son & his Mother for being the reason my heart beats and continues to beat the way that it does to this thing we call life.
I’d like to thank Alley.Avi, Zionofficial, IIamtlo, Tyeecon, $iNO and many others (you know who you are) for always supporting me and pushing me to not give up all the times I truly felt like doing so.
I really want to thank everyone who’s crossed paths with me in this life because it was all for a bigger purpose wether it was good or bad I accept everyone for who they are and cherish the roles they play or once played in my life.
I want to make a special shoutout to Johnny (Jayg3) who is no longer with us, but thank you brother for instilling in me what it means to be a true friend a true brother and a value in life that cannot be taken away no matter what. Rest peacefully and know that we miss you down here tremendously.
I want to shoutout Rudeboiiofficial (Jeremy) for giving me the name 4L and seeing me for me, you helped me become who I am today.
Second to last, shoutout to everyone who will support and anyone who will shade this journey in the future to come, without you all I wouldn’t be so driven the way I am.
Now last but never least…
Thank you God… for everything.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/putthemonfrvr?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- Soundcloud: Check out Big 4L on #SoundCloud https://on.soundcloud.com/8NaGCj8QwKmJD97H6
Image Credits
@putthemonfrvr
