ELO

Lorenzo Lawson just has to be himself. So much that the 30-year-old Hip-Hop artist from D.C. has adopted the moniker ELO, short for Everybody Loves Originality. His style, which he describes as ?street oriented,? falls somewhere between hard core and mainstream rap. While ELO represents his home city, you won?t find even the slightest trace of D.C.?s signature Go-Go in his music. He has admittedly carved a difficult niche for himself, contending that the nation?s capital is not known for rap. ?There are a few good emcees in D.C., but since it?s not a rap city there?s not a good showcase for them. The ones that you get to see are the ones who have connects and no skills,? he laughs.

ELO insists, however, that no one will have difficulty understanding where he is coming from. He characterizes his sound as ?a little bit of everything for everybody...it?s 100 percent me, from my experiences.?

It seems to ELO that he has been in the business forever and has been successful at independent promotion. After beginning his musical career as a roadie for the Go-Go band Hot Cold Sweat, ELO advanced into producing and playing keyboards. Upon meeting his current producer Paul Dowe, Jr. a.k.a. Iron Beats, Dowe told him to focus more on music?s lyrical aspects. The rapper abandoned production work and for the past twelve years, has found writing to be more lucrative.

Although ELO?s first album, ?Back From Nowhere,? is slated to drop in late September, he has already released ?Rock with the Party Gang? and a single about teenaged pregnancy on his own label, ELO Records. He has also been featured on a Tourus Records compilation entitled ?We Set the World on Fire? which unfortunately had been ?shelved? due to insufficient backing and promotion.

The union of ELO and Iron Beatz also boasts an impressive ré³µmé ¯f production for local artists, as well as more recognizable artists such as MC Eight and Foxy Brown (during her pre-Ill Na Na days). As for future collaborations, surprisingly ELO is as eager to work with local artists as he has in the past, explaining that ?non-established artists seem the most hungry. They seem to put forth a better effort.?

ELO believes Hip-Hop is in a state of emergency: ?True artists have a responsibility over their lyrics and should keep it real.? He does admit that some conformity is needed to break into the business. ?Once you obtain a little bit of power, however, an artist is free to set more of his own rules. [The industry] is like the ghetto, a trap. While we [currently] have no control over Hip-Hop, we can get it back by starting more independent labels,? a move which would eliminate many of the middle. ?We are the ones who have an obligation to put [Hip-Hop] back into its proper perspective. We can be blamed for accepting the negativity associated with Hip-Hop, like the b*tches and ho?s.. [But] if women stop buying those records, they?ll stop making them,? he asserts.

Because he truly feels that no artist has emerged as strongly as Biggie or Tupac, he says ?It?s about stage presence, lyricism, and clarity [of speech],? adding that both of the late rap stars possessed these attributes. He also thinks that it is something that he, unlike many artists, is mindful of this.

All opinions aside, he encourages aspiring artists to never give up. ?Something?s got to give sooner or later unless of coarse you?re just stagnant and not getting any better. Then you might as well stop. If you can change with the times, don?t give up. That?s the most important thing,? he says.

ELO?s primary objective is to slowly bring a sense of responsibility back to Hip-Hop, citing Public Enemy as an inspiration. Though his approach would be less militant, he would ?spoon-feed a message for positive change.? (In the past, ELO has participated in governmental educational programs about smoking, teenage pregnancy, and suicide.) Not to say that he doesn?t have a few ?fun records, talking a little dirt.? But the main difference for ELO is moderation. Although he may dabble in occasional mudslinging, his music is not focused on such topics. ELO believes artists should have integrity, among other positive qualities.

ELO?s future plans include enduring a Hip-Hop career with longevity. ?I don?t get bored with [music]. This is what I do. If I was to stop this, ain?t no telling what I would do.?

Please visit www.ironbeatz.com for audio links and additional information about ELO, or contact him directly: lcage073@aol.com.