There’s something titillating about excess, something that revels in vulgarity, depravity, and decadence. The human tendency is to keep those appetites in check for the sake of appearances or civility, but you can prepare to indulge your quiet demons with Konkrete. Their grit will ruffle feathers, their edginess will spark controversy, but their debauchery will earn them permanent placement in your CD changer. Cory “Black-Owned C-Bone” Andrews, Nathanial “Supa Nate” Elder, and James “Lil’ Brotha” Patton depict their reality in graphic terms. As a result, the music roams from the trap to the club to the hearts, minds, and hips of women! In the case of these three Atlanta natives, difficult childhoods have indeed produced interesting adults. The grimy streets of Atlanta’s south side are anything but a playground. Growing up running an obstacle course filled with drugs and dirty money, Konkrete drew inspiration from their past. C-Bone cites life as their muse: “We only write about what we know, and we only know what we’ve lived. Everything in our music is a reflection of our lives and circumstances. This isn’t gangster-fantasy. It’s all from the heart!” That authenticity was evident to Outkast’s Big Boi, who signed Konkrete to his own Atlanta-based Aquemini Records. “We’ve always valued realism in music,” muses Big Boi, “There’s a lot of pretense in hip-hop right now. Konkrete manages to go against the grain, and still make incredible records!” Of course, it also helps that one of the group members is Big Boi’s younger brother. Apparently, talent runs in the family. – Kiera Lytle
 

Code Red began when MC El One and reggae artist Junior Dread began throwing parties together in 1998. They later formed a hip-hop supergroup with producer Wattz, DJ Q, DJ Erratic, and Manfred, an MC formerly of the Schitzophreniks crew. Their mission is to never compromise, regardless whether they get paid or not. They head up their own independent label, 502 Headz, and plan to keep it that way. A distribution deal didn’t work out, as one group member explains, “101 Distribution is having a lot of problems. They were in all FYE’s and got dropped, now they owe us money and they’re doing shady business, so fuck them.” If there’s one phrase that represents this group, it’s “do it yourself.” With no major-label backing, little radio play, and no video, the group still continues to play to sell-out crowds and push their latest release, “Since Forever Til Forever.” However, El One realizes, “You can’t hustle out the trunk forever. At some point you have to run with the machine.” They realize that they’re approaching the point in their career where they’ll have to either put up or shut up. Rather than trying to get big bucks from a major label, they’re doing all the production, advertising, promotion, and videos for their upcoming album in-house. “Good MCs lower their skills for major labels, but our skills never decrease. We’ll never go bubble gum. We made a vow to ourselves to just do us, and if we blow we blow. If not, that’s fine. Music needs more creativity. Everybody is singing the same song.” Code Red promises they’ll never sell-out, but for now, they are patiently waiting! – Darin Gloe
 

On Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Pt. 2,” Prodigy boasts, “I’m only 19, but my mind is older.” This line also applies to 18-year-old Jinx da Juvy, who, despite his age, is steadily attacking his career with the maturity and passion of an experienced individual in the music industry. Jinx was discovered and signed by Def Jam’s Russell Simmons, who was impressed with his talent. When Jinx was shot for the second time in a police shootout, Simmons moved him out of the streets of Brooklyn where he’d grown up, signed a record deal, and became a father. The streets were a distraction for Jinx, preventing him from being fully focused on his music. After leaving Brooklyn, Jinx was able to complete his debut album, “From a Young G’s Perspective.” Jinx mentions that the mere thought of “just having an album” is enough to satisfy him. Overall, the album truly reflects Jinx’s life as a whole instead of just focusing on the usual hip-hop routine of rims, women, and cash. “I think my album speaks for itself,” Jinx explains. His story and music is somewhat remiscient of Mobb Deep’s “Infamous,” with a straight East Coast style. He mentions that he’d love to work with Mobb Deep, but prefers to compare his album to Jay-Z’s classic, “Reasonable Doubt.” His first single, “Project Hallways,” is currently heating up on the mixtape circuit throughout the country, and it’s the first opportunity many have had to become familiar with Jinx. He recently beat an attempted murder charge, adding that he’s “always been running into [the police].” Despite his youth, his struggles and experiences combined with a powerful delivery promises that his upcoming album through Teflon Muzik/Def Jam could indeed become a street classic. – Rohit Loomba, poombster@aol.com