A self-declared bevy of the best, Athens' Iron MCs believe that they are the best freestyle rap battlers in town and welcome any challenger.
"I really feel like we are the best emcees in the city, and if anyone would like to dispute that they can come to the battle," said Iron MCs member Tony Rawlings, of Lexington, Kentucky. "No one has beaten us yet in the battles."
Joining Rawlings to round out the crew is Eddie Franks of Chicago, Ill., Josh Mei of Morgantown, W. Va, and Marcus Rose of Medina.
All in Athens attending Ohio University, the four young men met through mutual friends and battling one other every other Monday in The Hip Hop Shop at The Union, but just came together as a super group last October.
"I think that we have such a unique relationship," Rawlings said. "The fact that we can talk bad about someone for two minutes on stage and then get in the same car with each other at the end of the night, that says a lot."
Although hip-hop is often about the ego, the Iron MCs strive to work together to generate the most intricate and creative rhymes that they can, with a message to back them up.
"We are all about the lyrical aspect of hip-hop," Mei said. "(Popular hip-hop) is like different boxes of cereal shipped out to be sold, and they look different in the packaging on the shelf, but in the end it's all the same cereal."
Because the Iron MCs are from different parts of the country and are also of various ethnic backgrounds, they feel this gives variety and depth to their music. But the most important element is the dedication that they have to their craft.
"I found myself going out a lot less and getting more involved in the music scene, which saves me bar money and a way to find a balance," Mei said. "If you're willing to set aside your Saturday night to perform and your Friday night to practice for that performance, and it is for only 15 minutes of stage time ... that's dedication."
Currently having only a four-song set, the group is working on bringing their snippets of writing together so that they can record a demo in the near future. Until then, they continue to hone their craft, freestyle-battling one another and any willing competitor at The Hip Hop Shop.
"I really feel like we are the best emcees in the city, and if anyone would like to dispute that they can come to the battle," said Iron MCs member Tony Rawlings, of Lexington, Kentucky. "No one has beaten us yet in the battles."
Joining Rawlings to round out the crew is Eddie Franks of Chicago, Ill., Josh Mei of Morgantown, W. Va, and Marcus Rose of Medina.
All in Athens attending Ohio University, the four young men met through mutual friends and battling one other every other Monday in The Hip Hop Shop at The Union, but just came together as a super group last October.
"I think that we have such a unique relationship," Rawlings said. "The fact that we can talk bad about someone for two minutes on stage and then get in the same car with each other at the end of the night, that says a lot."
Although hip-hop is often about the ego, the Iron MCs strive to work together to generate the most intricate and creative rhymes that they can, with a message to back them up.
"We are all about the lyrical aspect of hip-hop," Mei said. "(Popular hip-hop) is like different boxes of cereal shipped out to be sold, and they look different in the packaging on the shelf, but in the end it's all the same cereal."
Because the Iron MCs are from different parts of the country and are also of various ethnic backgrounds, they feel this gives variety and depth to their music. But the most important element is the dedication that they have to their craft.
"I found myself going out a lot less and getting more involved in the music scene, which saves me bar money and a way to find a balance," Mei said. "If you're willing to set aside your Saturday night to perform and your Friday night to practice for that performance, and it is for only 15 minutes of stage time ... that's dedication."
Currently having only a four-song set, the group is working on bringing their snippets of writing together so that they can record a demo in the near future. Until then, they continue to hone their craft, freestyle-battling one another and any willing competitor at The Hip Hop Shop.
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