siuDE.com

For local music fans looking for options other than cover bands and metal showcases, reprieve can be found in the familiar beats and real-life lyrics of a couple of local hip-hop artists.

Hip-hop duo Danny "Tic" Tock and Larry Hines, a.k.a. K.D. Murks, is bringing hip-hop back to the Carbondale music scene with energetic live performances and the release of their second mix tape, "Prelude to a Million: Volume 2".

The pair is celebrating the release of its second CD with a party at Tres Hombres on March 22. The release party will also feature a guest performance by local band Mathien.

"I had this premonition of just trying to get a hip-hop movement going back down in Carbondale, because it's kind of been nonexistent for a long time," said Tock, a senior from Dwight studying radio-television.

Tic Tock and K.D. Murks began performing together in October 2007 and have since gained recognition through playing shows and implementing what Tic Tock calls the "promotional beast." The effort, headed by manager Sarah Rivard, aims to implement word of mouth information channels and pass out copies of their CD.

Tock said the public enjoys their music because they talk about real issues rather than the superficial topics industry artists cover.

Though their mix tape, "Prelude to a Million: Volume 2," incorporates mostly industry beats, Tock said that he and K.D. Murks are working to bring more attention to the lyrical side of the music instead of the beats.

Another aspect that draws the public to the shows is their high level of performance energy, said Rivard, a senior from Bourbonnais studying business marketing and business management.

"When it comes to stage performance, nobody comes close to these two," she said.

The duo released its first album in October 2007. Titled "Prelude to a Million," it was essentially a compilation of songs the pair had been working on and decided to put on an album.

The new album involved more planning, Tock said.

"We focused a lot more on concepts for each song, instead of just rapping about whatever," Tock said.

Even people who don't like hip-hop or rap can find something they enjoy about the new album because of the crazy, eclectic background and diverse lyrics the group use, Tock said.

"Volume 2" also incorporates more work from guest artists such as Chris Mathien of Mathien and Jurisdiction.

Tock said the title of the album, "Prelude to a Million," signifies some of the goals of the artists, such as garnering a fan base of a million listeners.

"I think people see that and think, 'This is cool. They've got a black dude out there and a funny-looking white dude, and they're making insanely good hip-hop music,'" Tock said. "People don't expect it."

For samples of the duo's music, visit their MySpace pages, http://myspace.com/authentictock and http://myspace.com/kingdelaronakakdmurks.

Audra Ord can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 275 or at amarie06@siu.edu.

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