"Some are hot but never reach the boiling point. It's the fire that burns within that fuels the dream of everlasting success." This phrase emanates from four Penn State students who have formed an independent hip-hop record label, Boiling Point Inc., with big dreams and the talent to match.

Joanes "JP" Prosper (senior-marketing and finance), Atanu "Nu" Bhattacharjee (junior-economics), Dawson "Prime-Dino" Gittens (senior-telecommunications) and Jamal "Mal Stacks" Campbell (senior-telecommunications) are Boiling Point. Prosper and Nu perform executive duties while Campbell and Gittens, two rap artists, are the first to be signed to the label.

Over the past two weeks, the men of Boiling Point have been working to complete their upcoming album. Bhattacharjee, a Houston product, whose recording industry credentials include a summer internship with Rawkus and a position as campus representative for Atlantic Records, provides much of the vision behind the Boiling Point concept.

Although he shuns the term, Bhattacharjee can best be described with three letters — CEO. Nu draws much of his inspiration from another illustrious hip-hop executive, Russell Simmons.

Prosper, a Harlem native, is the second half of the Boiling Point management team. He provides much of the financial management needed to keep the young label viable. Prosper cites a long list of internships with the likes of Paine Webber in his credentials and shows evidence of the financial prudence that would have served MC Hammer and Willie Nelson well in their heyday.

Both Nu and JP contend their management style of putting the artists first will be what sets them apart in an industry where according to them, "artists are constantly puppets of the record labels."

Their speach of "focus" and "discipline" towards making great hip-hop music, which will determine their success, reminds one that it's not all about bling-bling.

"If you don't have good music and a head on your shoulders, you're just a flash in the pan," Bhattacharjee said.

After sitting in on a recording session with Mal Stacks and Prime-Dino a flash seems doubtful, but a major splash in the pan that is hip-hop seems highly likely.

Campbell and Gittens comprise the yet-to-be-named rap group that is Boiling Point's first project. Campbell, a west Philadelphia native, cites his father as early inspiration to pursue his musical dreams.

"Growing up around my dad (lead guitarist for popular reggae band House of Assembly), music became a part of me. It was not until later that I discovered my musical talent was not instrumental but vocal," he said.

Prime-Dino, who also comes from a family involved in the music industry, found his inspiration in the streets of Brooklyn where he grew up. "I liked playing ball, but I wasn't serious about it. I was always more drawn to rapping and hanging out on the streets," Prime-Dino said.

Together Prime-Dino and Mal form a group that represents the two major east coast hip-hop communities — Philly and New York — and embodies much of the Boiling Point philosophy, which according to JP relates as much to artist independence as it does to providing a diverse hip-hop sound.

The ever-quotable Nu likens the Boiling Point label to a gallery: "Within it there are masterpieces of art."

If Boiling Point is an art gallery then Jason "J.J." Brown (senior-broadcast-journalism) must be Rembrandt. The New York native is the owner of 5 G Productions and the main producer on the album. J.J. Brown, of WKPS fame, has worked with the likes of Mr. Cheeks of the Lost Boyz and is most famous for work done with underground rap artist Louis Logic. Brown, who has worked with Boiling Point since March of 1999, is enthused at the prospect of working with the "next big thing" in hip-hop.

"I was impressed with the way they stepped to me with a business plan. I always wanted to work with someone who could be the next Biggie or Nas," Brown said.

Brown, who routinely comes home to an answering machine filled with raps from aspiring artists, likes the work ethic of the Boiling Point crew. In the studio where Mal and Prime-Dino worked on the intro for their upcoming album, there would be up to five takes sometimes just to get a few words right.

Brown said a great amount of work goes into each song.

"We're not in this to make album cuts, we're in this to make hits," he said.

From the fresh, down south flavored "Round Da World" to "Happy Days," Prime-Dino and Mal have so far compiled ten tracks of hip-hop glory. They definitely have bonafide hit-making ability and as Brown reiterates, "These guys are rap stars waiting to happen."

Prime-Dino, though, is not so concerned with hit making as he is with longevity. As evidenced by the hip-hop greats, Prime-Dino feels it is necessary for him to stay true to himself to ensure his staying power. His style is rawer than Mal's, who will undoubtedly make people ask, "was that Nas?" when they hear him. Prime-Dino's style is unapologetic in the sincerest of ways.

"There's a lot of haters in the game, you'll always have a lot of people saying that they're not real. Thug is a way of life, not an image," Prime-Dino said.

A listening party is in the works for Boiling Point. Mal Stacks and Prime-Dino will perform at the upcoming Collaboration of Mics on Nov. 10, which is co-coordinated by Boiling Point's very own Bhattacharjee. Mal, no stranger to the stage, has opened for Wu-Tang on several occasions.

Both have performed at Collaboration of Mics before, and on Nov. 10 will find themselves alongside Terror Squad.

Each of four members of the Boiling Point organization considers himself a fan of not only the music but also the hip-hop culture that is giving enthusiasts three of the top five albums currently on the Billboard 200.

Nu respects Russell Simmons for his visionary acumen, JP pays homage to the founders of the genre at every opportunity, Mal is impressed with Jay-Z's hit making, and Prime-Dino sees Notorious B.I.G. as the greatest rapper of all time. While Boiling Point is still yet to sell a single album, they seem almost prophetic on a verse in the intro they recorded.

"We here now. Boiling Point, a new era, get it clear now."