TeenMusic Contests

Win a 30 GB Video iPod From Rhymefest

Best known around Chi-Town as the kind of battle cat who can make the competition squirm before even touching the mic, Rhymefest has built a solid rep as one of mightiest mouths in that gritty city. “I’m wacktose intolerant,” Rhymefest says. Yet, as the hulking brother proves on his major-label debut Blue Collar, this new kid on the hip-hop block has the skills to talk smack. “The entire concept behind my project is to fight the wackness that rap has become.”

As the co-writer and sample finder for Kanye West’s brilliant “Jesus Walks,” one could say that Rhymefest is on a mission from God. “I’m one of the only rappers to win a Grammy Award before recording my first major label release,” Rhymefest jokes, though he has been grinding on the scene since he was seventeen. “Now it’s time for me to bring my own thing to the table.” Not new to this, Rhymefest released his first true indie album Raw Dawg in 2001, which was mostly produced a then-unknown Kanye.

Having teamed-up with homeboy producer No-I.D., dj/producer Mark Ronson, whose label Allido Records has a distribution deal with J Records, the rest of the world will soon understand Rhymefest’s master (rap) plan. Known for being simultaneously witty and gritty, Rhymefest takes the best of old school humor from the Biz Markie school, militancy from a Public Enemy class and creates his own unique vocal persona. “There are enough people trying to be gangsters without me going that route,” Rhymefest explains. “What we need in hip-hop right now are rappers who are both truthful and entertaining.”

While Blue Collar features collaborations with singers Mario (“All Girls Cheat”) and Carl Thomas (“L.S.D.”), it is the non-singing dazzle of the late Old Dirty Bastard on “Build Me Up” that will warm ones heart. “We all know that Dirty was a dope lyricist, but personally I thought he was even more skillful at singing,” Rhymefest assures, though one can’t be sure if he’s joking or not.”

Official Site

Prizes:

1 lucky winner will receive:

• 30 GB Video iPod