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VOL 3. NO. 16 Friday, April 13, - Thursday, April 26, 2001
AFRICA
AGAINST THE GRAIN
BUSINESS/NETWORKING
CARIBBEAN CONNECTION
CONSCIOUSLY SPEAKING
FOR THE FAMILY
GALLERIES/MUSEUMS
GET YOUR LAUGH ON
GO GO GROOVES
HEALTH/LIVING WHOLE
HIP HOP/R&B
JAZZ/CLASSICAL
JUST CLUBBING
MORE MUSIC
PRAISE & WORSHIP
SOULFUL CUISINE
SPORTING ACTION
STAGE
THE WORD
HIP HOP/R&B
Props To Local Underground Hip Hop
By Ryan MacMICHAEL

Photo by Ryan McMichael, Akrobatik

Recently, underground hip hop infiltrated Mary Washington College. In a free show sponsored by SteadyDiggin.com and several campus groups, including the campus radio station WMWC, local underground acts joined headliner [Akrobatik] bringing a great show to a few dedicated fans.

The night started off a tad late, due mainly to heavy traffic on 95 (a "sludge spill," I'm told) with local DJ, [DJ Ragz] spinning hip-hop for the small, but loyal crowd. [Storm the Unpredictable], an emcee from Oxon Hill, Md., soon took the stage as the evening's host. Storm has had some good fortune recently, appearing on {Farmclub.com} on the USA Network as well as BET's {Rap City}. Storm also performed a couple of his tunes between acts, including the first single from his self-released EP, "Stop Lyin'."

The first act of the night was a crew of Northern Virginia turntablists known as [The Trooperz] (formerly the Stormtrooperz). All three representing members were solid, running through some great flares and beat juggling.

The Trooperz were followed by DC's own [Defined Print]. I had never heard these guys before, despite the fact they're well-known on the local hip hop scene, and I must say they were the surprise of the night. With DJ Dirty Hands on the wheels, Chopsticks on drums, Jihad and Chris on vocals, and the friendliest pit bull known to man (who responded to French commands, no less), these guys brought some real old school energy to the stage. It was clear that even with the sound problems, they all love to perform, as they interacted freely with the crowd and broke into occasional Kid-n-Play/Scoob-n-Scrap dance routines. It didn't hurt that they were nice on the mic, too. I can't wait to hear more from these guys.

After Defined Print came Fairfax-based [Team Demolition], a six-emcee crew that proudly proclaims that they're from "The 'Burbs" (odd, since they were the more hardcore act of the evening). These guys had a good stage presence and worked together extremely well, something rare in a group with so many vocalists. Team Demo has built quite a name for themselves not only as performers, but with their recording studio and record label as well. With them, they brought one of their new groups, a duo known as [Black Lung], who performed a pair of tracks.

The night closed out with Boston-bred emcee Akrobatik. It's clear that Akro has performed more than a few times in his life. He knows his way around a stage like few other underground emcees. Akro ran through most of his well-known tunes, including the scalding "Internet MC's."

Props of the night have to go to Team Demolition, who, at the last minute (literally), came to fill in for Philadelphia's Mountain Brothers. However, respect must be given to everyone involved with the show, as everyone performed as though there were hundreds of people in attendance. Actual numbers fluctuated between 35 and 60 people throughout the night, but everyone that stuck around got a heck of a show from those involved. And, really, isn't that the way hip hop {should} be?

For more information about these performers check out these links:

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