Powder

Wednesday, March 10, 2004....
Rawlins' hip-hop artist "Powder" debuts his third CD this Friday, one month shy of his 20th birthday.
An album rlease party is scheduled this Saturday, March 13th for Adam Raymond, known as Powder professionally, at Michael's Bar and Grill, 1711 W. Spruce St., at 10:30 p.m.
Powder plans to perform a few cuts off the new record. A seperate area away from the bar is planned for teenagers who want to attend. There's no cover charge.
Hip-hop and rap artists are a scarce entity in the Equality State. "There's not a lot of hip-hop in Wyoming," Powder said. "I want to put Wyoming on the map in the hip-hop scene."
Powder's new album, entitled "Reality," was produced by Way 2 Vicious Productions and was recorded recently in the company's studio near San Francisco.
The album is to be available Friday in Rawlins at Lynn's Place in the Spruce Street Mall, at Michael's Bar and Grill and in Casper at Sonic Rainbow.
This is Powder's third CD, but his first full-length, professionally produced CD. It has 10 tracks. "I write all my own music." The lyrics are about the reality of his life at the time the record was made. It covers "different things I've been through, problems I had when I was younger. It's about being broke, broke in Wyoming. The name is Reality because that's what it is. I'm real and it's about being real and that's what you hear."
Clean cut and seriously devoted to his music, Powder is on the way up and away from a bumpy adolescence. His mother, Jnell Raymond, who also lives in Rawlins, is supportive of his career. She's a fan, helping with promotion and finances. Powder holds down a full time job in addition to writing, promoting and performing.
He's busy looking ahead. "My two year goal is to not have to work a regular job" and be able to work on his music full time. "My five year goal is to be with a record label."
He's mostly a fan of rap and hip-hop but does listen to other types of music. "If I hear emotion and it's real and put together well. If I like the beat, the sound and the lyrics ... if it's people talking about stuff real and writing about stuff real to me."
Powder's first CD was "Just the Beginning," his second "Verballistic Arsonist." The new CD brings his work to another level, he explained. "I like it, it's professional. I wanted to wait and do it right."
A for song "radio ready" version of "Reality" is also available, Powder said. The unedited CD of 10 songs does include some profanity.
The songs can be heard on the internet at www.cdbaby.com/powder. A merchandise web site bearing Powder's name and Wyoming's area code can be found at www.cafepress.com/powdercd.
Opportunities include a possible summer concert tour for regional hip-hop artists being organized in Casper. A Washington DC hip hop musician has plans to host a showcase, including Powder, at Sidelines in Casper this spring in addition to a May festival in DC. A college tour along te East Coast is possible this fall, Powder said.
Powder's management and promotion teams are "Bliss Artist Management" of Laurel, Md. and "Fresh Flava Entertainment" of Washington DC.
Anyone who is interested in booking Powder may reach him directly at his email address: powder@powdercd.com - "The Daily Times" in Rawlins, Wyoming