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I've read a good number of topics here, and not surprisingly I have not found anything about one of my favorite emcees. Before I go on about this kid, let it be known my music taste is a bit odd. I consider Eyedea a god, I listen to him, Aesop Rock, Atmosphere, Grieves, Illogic, Blueprint, Sage Francis, Tribe, Mos Def, Common, etc. etc.

I've always liked the music scene, although I've never been good at making it, I loved going to shows and seeing bands with no fame whatsoever get somewhere. Lately, it's been interesting hearing what people call underground. All of the artists above are nowhere near underground. They've got an intense amount of listeners around the entire world.

So anyway, I go to a show one day at this shabby little arcade to see one of my favorite reggae/punk/ska/rap bands, and some guy went on before them and really ended up just freestyling for about fifteen minutes after doing three songs or so (there was only about eight people at the show... thursday night in a city where the music business is limping). The people liked him, he had a few friends with him, and some people got it on film. It was obvious he was planning on doing more songs, but he just asked us if we'd rather hear him freestyle.

After the show, and after Knockout went on, he was actually out there hanging out with them. And in the parking lot I asked the kid to freestyle some more, and he did. I don't remember exactly what he said, but we gave him stuff to rap about while he was going, and made it fit in really well. He wasn't amazing, but he was good enough to entertain for sure.

What got me, though, was at the time he was only seventeen. Broke as hell, still in school, and he was able to describe situations like he'd been through them a hundred times. At the time he was making music with some (lousy) producer, but I kept in touch with him after giving me a sample cd, and the stuff he's been making recently is worth listening to. I'm pretty sure he's eighteen, and although age shouldn't matter, he's damned good for being so young. The problem is, that in this city the music scene is sort of dead, but even still, he does shows every now and then and is constantly writing.

I'm not one of those guys that says you shouldn't listen to mainstream, or lyrics about the common elements of rap are terrible (although it IS nice to see some creativity, don't get me wrong), I'm just a fan of hearing people saying what's real. I wouldn't say I know him personally, but from the conversations I've had with him compared to the lyrics he writes... they match up.

Lucid Optics. I'm not sure if we're allowed to post links, but look him up on reverb nation, facebook, or myspace. He just started this solo project recently, and he's been releasing a ton of good songs. He produces and masters his own stuff as well, which I think is really cool. Look him up, kid deserves it.

Thrice

I only had a chance to check out a few songs, but I really enjoyed them. I liked head in the sky the best. I like the way you introduced the artist. You have to have 15 posts before you can post a link, but I got you. I'm intrigued and will check out more of his songs after work. Thanks for the lead, and welcome to MB.

Lucid Optics

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Lew Harrison, who looked like an anarchist with his red eyes and fierce black beard, had been writing furiously in one corner of the room. "That's good—happiness by the kilowatt," he said. "Buy your happiness the way you buy light."