Thursday, March 15   8:00 p.m.
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  Mike and Ike - Classic Sound
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That classic sound is coming out of Austin, Texas, and its making noise in the hip hop scene as Mike & Ike present their debut album, Introducing Mike & Ike. The duo blends smart, but accessible lyrics with the infectious sounds of jazz and soul music to create a style that recalls the best elements of where rap music has been, but stays fresh and inventive, always looking toward the future. In a musical landscape full of studio gangsters rapping about how hard they are and money they may or may not actually have, Mike & Ike are a refreshing change of pace. Rather than fall into the all-too-common trap of preaching about what they are not, however, they choose to focus on what they are, and the original styles they bring. They kick intelligent rhymes that a wide range of people can relate to their own daily struggles and triumphs. The raps show that the two are aware of and concerned about social ills, but avoid becoming overly self-righteous or cliché in their treatment of them. Mike & Ike know when to be serious, but never lose sight of the idea that hip hop should be at least as much about the good as the bad, and maintain an overall positive and fun vibe on the album. Tracks such as "Classic Sound", "Home Invasion", and "Genie in Disguise" show that Mike & Ike have what it takes to bring their classic sound to the masses. Mic Flow (Michael Richardson) and Alpha 2020 (John Isaac Ramos) met at the University of Texas at Austin, where they were both undergraduates. They discovered a common passion for hip hop music, and Ikes budding beatmaking skills provided the backdrop for the two to hone their rhyme abilities. Years passed, with the duo improving steadily, both in the studio and on stage. Ike found his footing as a producer, and developed a distinctive style that formed a perfect canvas for their art. Since graduating from college, Ike has become a high school teacher, and Mike has begun studying to become a physician at the UTMB School of Medicine in Galveston, Texas. They remain dedicated as ever to the craft of hip hop, however, and this album clearly shows that they have the talent and the motivation to put out a great product.