Markas Takes His West Coast Style Global In New Album, 'Not Enough Years'

[Traps N Trunks]

With Not Enough Years, West Coast rapper Markas delivers his most personal and fully realized work to date—a 12-track journey that doesn’t just trace growth, but wrestles with time itself. The project expands his creative range, balancing sharp lyricism with unflinching vulnerability.

Markas isn’t interested in pretending. From the opening moments, he speaks plainly about trauma, regret, and redemption. The title track and “Dependents” feel like diary entries read under a spotlight. There’s no theatricality here—just a steady voice pulling from a life marked by instability, defiance, and survival. When he spits, “At 16 I was locked in that cage,” on “Glitch,” the line lands with no frills, no theatrics—just fact.

But Not Enough Years isn’t defined by its darkness. It breathes with energy and intention. On “Scream,” Markas flexes through fast-paced cadences, offering an anthem as fit for clubs as for catharsis. That duality—between the pain and the release—anchors the album’s tension.

The production, handled by Gerald “The Sound” Keys, Ulisses, Brixxisking, and Marc-Easy, offers texture without overcrowding the vocals. The beats range from icy and minimal to cinematic and bass-heavy, giving Markas room to stretch his delivery.

Two of the album’s strongest moments, “Blitzkrieg” and “M Series,” showcase opposite ends of his voice. One is gritty and reflective, the other smooth and cocky. But both underline a central truth: Markas has developed the rare ability to sound like himself no matter the tempo or tone.

Not Enough Years serves as both a closing chapter and a new threshold. It marks the end of his long-running “years” series but introduces a voice more assured, more focused. Markas isn’t just documenting his life—he’s shaping his legacy in real time.