Marcus Muscogee, better known as $co, sits down with Lalaa Shepard of The Progress Report in this latest episode of Skipping Class to reflect on his life journey—one that spans military service, personal loss, and a newfound dedication to music and therapy.Raised in Columbus, Georgia, a military town, Marcus grew up with the discipline instilled by his military family. Inspired by both his passion for football and his love for movie scores, Marcus shares how his unique name, SK, was born out of these interests.
The influence of his family’s military background is profound, with Marcus remembering his grandfather’s service in Vietnam and the painful loss of his cousin in combat. Despite his initial plans to play football, Marcus enlisted in the Army, where he served for 11 years. Although he was stationed overseas twice, he was never deployed into active combat—a decision he reflects on with both gratitude and caution. The experience taught him the importance of being mentally prepared for such high-risk decisions, while also highlighting the military’s responsibility to care for its veterans.
Yet it wasn’t just the military that shaped Marcus’ life. In 2015, he faced a profound personal loss when his mother passed away while he was on PCS leave. In an emotional revelation, Marcus shares how he missed the call about her death, despite a conversation the night before. The overwhelming grief of that loss, compounded by the death of his grandfather shortly after, deeply impacted Marcus, and he admits that the emotional weight affected his marriage as well.
Despite these personal challenges, including the loss of his child and a traumatic incident where his wife was hit by a truck, Marcus finds solace in his music. He describes music as his constant source of healing, explaining that his lyrics are shaped by real-life experiences rather than fabricated stories. His aspiration is to become a “musical therapist,” using his own struggles to help others, especially young people who may not always heed advice from older generations.
Marcus’ path is also taking a more academic turn, as he plans to return to college at Columbus State University to study psychology with the goal of becoming a music therapist. Reflecting on his time as a career counselor in the Army, where he helped people share their stories and connect across different walks of life, Marcus is eager to use his own experiences to help others heal.
But it hasn’t been an easy road. He recalls a life-altering accident when he was hit by a truck while working for the post office, barely surviving the incident. This traumatic experience led him to reevaluate his life and trust in God’s guidance. Marcus emphasizes the importance of accepting help from others, even for someone as independent as him, and notes that personal struggles have taught him to rely on God and remain open to the love and support of his family.
Family plays a central role in Marcus’ life, especially his two daughters. Despite the challenges of being in a third marriage, Marcus remains deeply committed to his partner and children.
The idea of perseverance and progress is something Marcus carries through in his music. Drawing inspiration from his own life, his “Keep Walking” motivational series encourages others to take things one step at a time, no matter how small. He hopes to inspire his listeners to stay true to themselves, even if their journey doesn’t look like that of mainstream artists such as Drake or Future. Instead, Marcus is focused on his own path, releasing new music and visuals in the coming months while remaining authentic to his journey.
With plans for continued growth in his music and a dedication to helping others heal through both therapy and his art, Marcus Muscogee’s story is one of resilience, faith, and the power of progress.
