It’s not easy to break into the rap game when you’re from a small Southern city like Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It takes persistence and creative marketing skills ‚“ two qualities that Kenny Thomas has in abundance. As both a producer and rapper, he’s been pursuing his musical dreams since he was thirteen. He released two albums in Alabama, “Still Dirdy” and the mixtape “Unkut Vol. 1,” selling over 4,000 copies of each through the tried-and-true trunk/mom & pop distribution method. Frustrated by the lack of local radio support, he began promoting in Atlanta and landed a spot on the So So Def Unsigned Hype mixtape with his single “Call Grady.” Kenny prides himself on using unorthodox marketing methods. “I don’t wanna give out all my ideas,” he laughs. “But we promoted ‘Call Grady’ by riding around Atlanta in a van. We had a loudspeaker in the van, so we’d pull up in front of the clubs “ the gutta clubs, the Buckhead clubs, wherever “ and just fling the door open and play the song. Radio DJs heard about it, and it picked up from there.” Even though “Call Grady” is a club joint, Kenny describes his style as lyrical and “street conscious.” “[When people hear my music], they don’t believe I’m from Alabama,” he laughs. “I have to pull out my license!” Encouraged by the success of his most recent single, Kenny plans to release another album in early 2005. While many artists are seeking a major deal, Kenny loves the independent grind. “My ultimate goal is to set a good example for independent artists,” he says. “I want them to be like, ‘Oh, he did it this way. We don’t have to get fucked with a major label or get a bad deal. Kenny went to Kinko’s and printed up his own flyers and his own CDs, so we could go that route too.’” (Kenny can be reached at 404-438-7831) - Julia Beverly, jb@ozonemag.com

Kenny Thomas

"Unkut Vol 1."