Local rap artists create niche in music scene

Some might say that the Penn State hip-hop scene has been nonexistent lately.

But if you ask Mike Jackson, he would disagree.

"The local scene here is good," said Jackson (senior-telecommunications). "There are just so many creative people out here."

Jackson works with WKPS-FM (90.7) and helps create the all-hip-hop show "Jam91."

- Mike Jackson (senior-telecommunications)

"Hip-hop needs to be brought out in State College," Jackson said. "It's what's filling the clubs and bars around town, and it's time that it got some more exposure."

The image that hip-hop music is stagnant and uncreative is not reflected in the music being made in the area, said Randy Green (senior-criminal justice), also known as "R-SON," a member of the local hip-hop trio Black Ops.

"The reason that people aren't seeing hip-hop here is because it's hard to break into the 'format' that bars use for bands," Green said.

Louis Dorley, Class of '97, known as "louis logic" on stage with Black Ops, said venues see hip-hop acts as a financial risk, citing the fickle support from State College fans.

The Black Ops have been together for about a year, Green said. They work together with Tommy Knockas Productions, a State College-based record label. The group has been making original music using computers and samples from older music to create an "old-school" style.

"I love using metaphors and imagery and rhyming in the second person to get closer to the audience," Dorley said.

"We use samples from everything from (Eric) Clapton to The Doors," he added, careful to mention that a big difference exists between sampling obscure pieces of music and full-fledged rip-offs from choruses of famous rock songs.

"I even found an old record that they gave away free at the gas station as a promo," Dorley said with a smile. "It's got some great beats and a rich sound."

Green, Dorley and Nate Laskar (junior-psychology), or "Papa Shanti Messiah," the third member of the group, have played some gigs in State College.

"We played with Windigo, which is like a straight-up rock band, and got to jam out with them, puttin' down some funky beats," Green said. "But we really don't want to do the 'alterna-rap' thing. That's a cop-out for the State College hip-hop scene."

Fans who are looking to find the most innovative hip-hop have to check out smaller "indie" groups, Green and Dorley said.

"These artists need fans' support, and fans need to be willing to see experimental groups," Dorley said.

Another local hip-hop artist, Amechi Akpom (senior-marketing) has been working on developing his own record label, Big Shot Records, for which he is producing a number of albums. One album will be a compilation of local hip-hop and R&B artists, though he could not say exactly who will be on the record.

"One of the drawbacks to being in State College is that we're away from big cities." Akpom said. "But we have a captive audience here."