Merk Tarentino, born Carl Anthony Tharps, is a Harlem, New York-born hip-hop recording artist and songwriter whose career connects East Coast lyricism with the Southern California underground rap scene. Previously known as Alias The Menace, Mistah Merk, and Mr. Merk, Tarentino developed a musical identity rooted in freestyle performance, lyrical expression, and independent hip-hop.
Originally from Harlem, New York, Tarentino established connections with Southern California’s underground hip-hop community. His documented history places him in the Los Angeles area during the 1990s, and his later musical activities included collaborations with independent artists and production organizations.
His professional history references associations with Faultline Productions, Trauma House, Hood Castle, and Dammit Boy Productions.
By 2007, Tarentino was officially associated with Dammit Boy Productions under the name Alias The Menace.
On August 7, 2007, Dammit Boy Productions published an interview titled Alias Interview, introducing him as the organization’s newest artist.
The six-minute interview is an important historical document establishing his participation in the early development of the independent record label.
His relationship with DBP founder Tre Dizzle continued through collaborations released under his later recording name, Mistah Merk.
Two documented appearances include “A New Girl” and “Stay out the Way,” both featured on Tre Dizzle’s 2018 album The Birth of the Brink.
In later recordings, Carl Tharps adopted the name Merk Tarentino, reflecting another chapter of his artistic career.
His contemporary catalog includes work associated with The Black Gloves Project, which features collaborations involving I.R.Space and other independent artists.
Tarentino is also associated with Link 05, a collaborative hip-hop group connected to Jayson “Space” Warren.
Link 05 released the six-track EP THE FLOOD in March 2026, with Carl A. Tharps and Jayson D. Warren credited as composers throughout the project.
Merk Tarentino represents a connection between Harlem’s hip-hop traditions, Southern California’s independent music community, and the early history of Dammit Boy Productions.
His documented participation in DBP dates to at least 2007, while his later recordings demonstrate a continuing commitment to independent hip-hop.
Through his historical identities as Alias The Menace and Mistah Merk and his contemporary work as Merk Tarentino, Carl Anthony Tharps remains part of the Dammit Boy Productions artist legacy.
