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entertaining u newspaper: your monthly guide to entertainment
<< Interview with a Stormtrooper | Main | The Smile Rays >>
by christina wagner and jon bosworth | photos by rachel henley

      The questions flowed easily from out of my fingertips, being that I’ve known these guys for a bit. No matter what I ask, not only will their responses be eccentric and brilliant, they’ll be a tad long-winded. Halfway through my Simple Complexity questions, my phone rang and Ian Ranne was on the line. I had completely forgotten to let Mas Appeal and Tough Junkie know that the interview had been bumped from 9 pm to 10 pm due to Niam’s (aka Willie Evans Jr.) work schedule. I grabbed my laptop and headed like a bat out of hell towards Shanty Town.

      A bunch of young metal kids were lounging around the front door when I reached my destination, so I knew this could prove to be interesting. I wondered how the guys would react when the music started. Sitting patiently were Tough Junkie, Aaron Jr. and Mas Appeal. I’ve met Aaron Jr. a couple of times, he’s a sweet guy and he helps Mas Appeal with his PodCast, Urban Synthesis Radio. We all made our way outside to start the ruckus.

      While the four of us were sitting around giggling like little school girls, Therapy arrived with a huge smile spread across his face. He stuck around for a hot minute and was checking out the bands inside. He explained to us that the hardcore scene was actually the first scene he really got into. I didn’t see that one coming, but it was a pleasant surprise.

      As I set up my laptop for the interview, I slyly eavesdropped on the surrounding conversation. Every scene is connected one way or another, but not this tight. Jacksonville’s hip-hop scene is so incestuous, it is hard to keep up. Everyone is making a beat for someone who is in a group with another guy, who used to be a part of a collective with someone that the first guy played a show with. Everybody has a stage name, an alias, and a real name, which adds to the confusion. But essentially, the core of Jacksonville’s hip-hop scene consists of about fifteen to twenty performers that make up about seven to ten acts, many sharing members.

      They are a close-knit group, and every one of the artists EU talked to for the Have You Heard…Hip Hop issue is performing in the Summertime in the City festival in downtown Jacksonville on Sunday July 15. We’ll introduce the players, but to really grasp the music, you’ll have to check out this free event for yourself.


Willie Evans Jr. Interview
The Smile Rays Interview
Dillon Interview
The Alias Brothers Interview
Simple Complexity Interview
Elevated Hip Hop Experience Interview
Tony Allegretti Interview
Ian Ranne Interview
The N Word
Dope Sandwich Interview

Entertaining U Newspaper, eujacksonville.com. Published by N2U Publishing, Inc. 3101 University Blvd., South #201 Jacksonville, FL 32216. Copyright N2U Publishing, Inc. 2006. Reproduction of any artwork or copy prepared by N2U Publishing, Inc. is strictly prohibited without written consent of the publisher. We will not be responsible for errors and/or omissions, the Publisher's liability for error will not exceed the cost of space occupied by the error. Articles for publication are welcome and may be sent to the following address: 3101 University Blvd., South #201 Jacksonville, FL 32216. We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. For information concerning classified advertising phone 904-730-3003.