There will be a slightly different soundtrack to the hookah-smoking, tea-tasting and coffee-quaffing that usually goes on at the Tall Shiva Hookah Lounge, 224 W. College Ave., today.

From 10 to 12 tonight, Hip-Hop Anonymous, a collection of various local hip-hop groups performing original pieces, will be laying down grooves for the price of a dollar.

BJ Wineglass, Chris Styles, Flow Paterno, raen, prophet and uncle grumbles will be performing at this event. There will also be an open mike for all aspiring free-stylers.

Jason Buim (sophomore-communications), a.k.a. BJ Wineglass, will be displaying his unique DJ skills at the show this evening.

Although he is looking forward to tonight's show, his gig at Franklin & Marshall tomorrow somewhat overshadows it. Nevertheless, he is excited for the grand finale battle, where anyone who wants can duke it out 8 Mile-style.

The moderator for Hip-Hop Anonymous will be Jon Rowe. Rowe goes by the moniker Flow Paterno. Though Flow Pa alludes to faux pas, Rowe is out to prove he is the real thing. "I am trying to prove that original music is viable [in State College]," he said.

His obsession with hip-hop began his freshman year at Millersville University.

"[Rapping] was mainly a party trick, something I was coerced into doing at parties and stuff," he said.

From these humble beginnings, Rowe has since entered numerous contests, or battles; has been covered in the "Unsigned Hype" column of The Source magazine; and has cut an album entitled Heritage Acres. Rowe describes his unique take on rap as "an interesting mix of the street grimy with an interesting, privileged, suburban edge. In fact, the name of my album is the name of the housing development where I lived growing up."

Aggress, known to the rest of the world as Jason Browne (sophomore-engineering), will bring his "jazz-funk-hip-hop" band raen to the stage this evening.

Browne said he compares his music style to Mos Def and Outkast. Although initially disappointed by what he says is Penn State's woeful hip-hop scene, Browne is heartened by what Hip-Hop Anonymous is doing.

"We are providing a portion of music that is missing on campus," he said.

Uncle grumbles will also be there to lend his synthesizer talents to the freestylings and original pieces of his peers. Kyle Hollinger admits he is not into hip-hop, but his love for improvisation has drawn him to Hip-Hop Anonymous. With his band, The Alligators, currently on hiatus, he has been looking for new challenges.

Drawing from a potpourri of sources including Pink Floyd, Ravi Shankar, Thelonious Monk, and The New Deal, Hollinger is ready to add a different perspective to the hip-hop this evening.

"I am looking for total free-form spontaneity," Hollinger said. "If you are coming out for live music, be expecting something new. Otherwise just throw a buck in a jukebox."

Hip-Hop Anonymous has even surprised itself with the crowds it has garnered. Students are responding in numbers to this local hip-hop offering.

Because of the overwhelming turnout last time, Hip-Hop Anonymous is now charging a one-dollar admission. Buim said this will be their second concert this semester, and they plan to continue hosting shows on the last Thursday of every month at the Tall Shiva Hookah Lounge.

In addition to tonight's show, there will be a Spring Bling 2003 concert at 7 p.m. on March 5 at the HUB Alumni Hall. This show will cost two dollars and will showcase many of the same acts. Unlike tonight's show, though, there will be a $100 prize awarded to the winner of the battle.

The hip-hop scene in State College is definitely getting on its feet (or hands, if you prefer break-dancing). One thing is for sure -- Hip-Hop Anonymous is slowly outgrowing its name.