With hip-hop performers breaking ground on the Penn State music scene, indie rock isn't the only kind of student music that's popular on campus.

Abdul Al-Nakhli (senior-communications), who goes by the pseudonym Abdul Spadez in the music world, released his debut album First Semester this Tuesday through Red Yard Records.

Al-Nakhli said the 18-track album is his introduction to the world of music, telling a story based on his life.

The album touches on lighthearted themes, such as the club song "Bend Ova" and more serious themes, such as "14th Street Vibes."

Both songs have gotten airplay in the Pittsburgh area, on the radio and in local clubs. He also said that "Bend Ova" has been played on Penn State Beaver's radio station.

He said that he is more of a lyrically driven artist and that anything from personal experiences to current events inspires his music.

"I can write a song about anything," he said.

Al-Nakhli, who classifies himself to be of Arabic and African-American heritage, said "14th Street Vibes" is a more serious song that deals with the hardships he faced as a person of Arabic descent living in a small town following Sept. 11. The title comes from 14th Street, his street of residence in New Brighton, near Pittsburgh.

"[People] used me as a scapegoat to relieve the stress of 9/11," he said.

He said that new events inspire his music and that he tries to get people to see different points of view.

One example was when he interviewed Hadassah Lieberman for his high school's newspaper during the 2000 presidential election.

He said he was amazed with how down-to-earth she was and how she treated him as an equal, not as a teenager. He said it made him realize he can reach people. If he was able to reach someone like her, then he was able to reach anybody, he said.

"I chose hip-hop as my means to get my message to people," he said. "I feel like hip-hop is the best way to get my message through."

Al-Nakhi's stage personality was more of a secret alter ego in high school, and as a result, his entrance into the music world came later than he would have liked.

"I was shy in high school; I didn't think people would take me seriously," he said. "This is the time to introduce myself."

All of the tracks on the album were mixed and mastered by Al-Nakhli, said Matthew Bible (senior-management), who is the vice president and public relations coordinator for Red Yard Records.

The label was started by Al-Nakhli and currently carries about five other artists, Bible said.

Allison Perry, who attends Mercyhurst College in Erie, contributed to the album under the pseudonym Alli-R. She is the only female artist on Red Yard Records, and her vocals are featured on First Semester. She said Al-Nakhli's music is autobiographical and is a myriad of different rap styles.

"Abdul is honest and truthful in the songs he does," Perry said.

His songs can be found and downloaded on MySpace at www.myspace.com/ abdulspadez. Bible said that currently, First Semester is available only online at www.cdbaby.com and www.red-yard.com.

Al-Nakhli said his family provided a solid foundation for his music.

"I grew up in a household where music was appreciated," he said.

In addition to his family nurturing his love for music, Al-Nakhli said his family also inspired his stage name Abdul Spadez, which is a metaphor for his personality.

"I play with a whole deck, I serve aces, I'm going to be a king, everything I do is a royal flush, and I'm not going to be a gamble," he said.