
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 29, 1990                   TAG: 9006290102
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: The 1990 Minority Journalism Workshop
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HERE'S WHAT'S ON TAP FOR SATURDAY'S RAP

Editor's note: For the past eight years, the Roanoke Times & World-News has sponsored a Minority Journalism Workshop, a project to expose high-school students to the newspaper business. As a writing exercise, the 1990 workshop participants compiled their impressions of the artists featured in Saturday night's rap music festival at the Roanoke Civic Center coliseum.

Workshop students also submitted personal essays on rap music. On Page 4 are excerpts from the three judged best.

\ Heavy D. and the Boyz-Heavy D., who often refers to himself as the "Overweight Lover," dances great, considering his size. The group's style of dress - baggy, loose-fitting clothing - helped start a fashion trend. The Boyz keep in step with their "house," upbeat, synchronized style of dance. Their songs' lyrics are smooth and soft, showing a very pleasant side of rap.

\ Public Enemy - This group makes a political statement and preaches black awareness. Labeling the group controversial is unfair. It is clear that Public Enemy is not in the recording business for the money but to educate.

\ En Vogue - A lot of people think they are a one-song group, but they have a nice versatile album. They are four beautiful women of soul who have their own unique style. They do their best work when they sing a cappella. Their hit song "Hold On" will be the main attraction of their set.

\ Kid 'N Play - A stylish group that gained part of their notoriety by Kid's high-top "fade" haircut. Play also is a fashion designer and makes most of the group's clothing, including the outfits they wore in their "2-Hype" and "Funhouse" videos. The group also includes an outstanding DJ, "Wiz," short for "Wizard." They are very energetic dancers as well as rappers. They have a hard-core beat in some of their songs, but they avoid the profanity other groups use.

\ Digital Underground - Wearing a fake nose, clothes from the '70s and shoes with fish swimming in them, lead rapper "Humpty" has an unusual way of delivering his rap. This group first gained attention with the comical song "The Humpty Dance," which became a crossover hit. But like other rap groups, Digital Underground uses a lot of profanity and very offensive language.

\ Chill Rob G - His song "The Power" is No. 4 on the Hip-Hop countdown. Though Chill Rob G isn't as popular in this area as some of the other groups on the bill, we expect great things from him in the future.

by CNB