THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2002
MUSIC
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 3
Local artist approaches success
By Janette Yost
jyost@kansan.com
Jayplay writer
His music is approachable, his rhymes are approachable, and don't be intimidated — he's an approachable guy. Humble, even.
Sean Hunt, known as "Approach" in the local hip-hop scene, said he wanted to make music that was easy for listeners to get into.
"My music's like an open hand," said Hunt, Lawrence resident. "I'm inviting everyone in."
Approach will play a release show for his new album, Ultra Proteus, Oct. 25 at The Pool Room, 925 Iowa St. The album is on Datura Records, a new label that Approach co-owns with Brent Lippincott, who is also known as Candlewax.
Candlewax, Lawrence resident, heads business operations for the label.
Approach started listening to rap music as a high school freshman in 1993 at Shawnee Mission North in Overland Park. Six years later he was performing gigs in Lawrence.
Approach said he kept his rhymes cuss-free and lived a lifestyle free of drinking and smoking. While writing lyrics, he said, "I put my personality on paper."
Approach said he was inspired as an artist by the underground rap scene he discovered as a junior in high school. He made friends on the scene, including Raymond Perkins, a Kansas City area musician.
"It was Ray who really made me want to make music." Approach said.
Jurassic 5, Mos Def and Black Eyed Peas were artists who influenced Approach's music, he said.
Approach said he started rapping in 1997. Two years later he was encouraged by local artist REBEL, now Ras Reb, to record a tape with him. The result was called The Web of Thought. It wasn't until 2000, though, that Approach started taking himself seriously. That summer, he recorded a tape with a more funky side. That tape was the original Ultra Proteus.
The national label We Sell Soul picked up Approach's tape and eventually planned for an album release. Because of ownership issues with the label, his plans
kansan.com
Listen to "The Opus" from Approach's upcoming release Ultra Proteus
were put on hold. That hold ended up lasting a full year, when the label gave the album back to Approach, saying they weren't in a financial position to put it out.
After that year, Approach got his album back and put a year's worth of musical maturation into perfecting its details.
Candlewax decided the album was something he could devote himself to and moved to Lawrence, where Datura Records is now based.
Ultra Proteus is about 23 minutes long consisting of eight full tracks and two short interludes.
"It's an addictive listen," Candlewax said. "It flows from start to finish and gets better as it goes."
Approach said he made the album short so listeners would play the whole CD and not just skip to a few favorite songs. He said his goal was to have no middle-ground opinions; he wanted people to either love the album or hate
photo courtesy of lawrencehiphop.com
Lawrence rapper Approach releases his new CD 'Ultra Proteus' Oct. 25 at The Pool Room, 925 Iowa St. "My music's like an open hand," he said. "I'm inviting everyone in."
it.
Approach said a lot of people contributed to his album.
"If they didn't make it happen,it would be half of what it was," he said.
On the album is Ehren Starks on Fender Rhodes and B-3 organ, Ben Tuddle on percussion, Abaus Adams on keyboards, Miles Bonny on horns, Eric Johnson on guitar and Dore Freeman on bass. Johnny Quest was recording engineer and Ben the Scratch Rat was producer and DJ.
— Edited by Nicole Roché
Wax Clash to showcase DJs, break dancers
By Lindsey Hodel
Inodel@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Hip-hop, electronic and other styles of beat music will fill Liberty Hall, 642 Massachusetts St., tonight.
Local and out-of-town DJs will show off their skills and compete for prizes in the 2002 KJHK Wax Clash DJ Battle. Last year's DJ battle attracted about 900 people, and the organizers expect even more this year, said Leila Kim, Wichita junior and "Lady Luk" from Hip House on KJHK.
Between 16 to 20 DJs will compete tonight for cash, records, and CDs. The purpose of the competition is to provide a showcase for local musicians who want to show off their talents, Kim said.
"We are reaching out to many different aspects of people," she said. "It's about forgetting your differences, having fun, and watching good music."
The competing DJs should not feel limited to any particular style, Kim said.
The event is a chance for Thorton Cherry, also known as DJ Speedy, to get his name out, he said. Cherry, Chicago junior will participate for his third year in the competition.
because the event will showcase different styles of beats.
Cherry has performed at the Jazzhaus and Raoul's Velvet Room. He has never won a prize at the Wax Clash, so this year he is practicing his techniques 3 to 5 hours every day.
Cherry also balances 14 hours at the University of Kansas and a part-time telemarketing job.
"I practice blending and scratching, but I don't know the materials I will use because it depends on how I feel," he said.
"Anytime I have down time, I work on my beats," he said. "My music is my entire life."
This year's competition will include three rounds, with two finalists competing in the final round. Kyle Nelson, Topeka senior and a Breakfast for Beatlovers DJ at
Some of the same B-boys will perform at the Bulldog Battle Friday night at The Pool Room, 925 Iowa St., where some of they will be competing for a first-place cash prize of $500.
In addition to the DJ competition rounds, this year's Wax Clash will also feature break dancing from some of Lawrence's B-boys.
Tickets for the Wax Clash are $3 per person. Tickets will be sold at the doors, which open at 8 p.m.
"The first DJ Battle was held in the KJHK studio, and last year we almost sold out Liberty Hall," he said.
Downplay Productions will sponsor the competition. This locally-owned promotions company also organizes Project Groove, a weekly event at the Pool Room that features different DJs.
KJHK, said the Wax Clash had grown significantly in the three years KJHK has been hosting the event.
Edwin Morales, San Antonio sophomore, is one of Downplay Productions'
two founders. He started the Bulldog Battle because he felt break dancers lacked a niche within Lawrence's music and dance scene.
"I think we have opened people's minds to break dancing," he said. "The event shows that break dancing is its own form and is a way of life."
The winner will be decided by Kujo, a break dancer from Los Angeles who has appeared in music videos.
Downplay Productions is also sponsoring a "F#ck School Jam," on Friday, Oct.18.Morales said the event would be a gigantic party featuring a performance from the Go Hard Crew. Admission is $1.
Tickets are $5 for 21 and over and $7 for 18- to 20-year-olds.
Morales has named Friday night's event as the "Midwest Gathering of B-boys."
"We are doing it for the people who can't afford to leave for Fall Break," he said.
— Edited by Matt Gehrke