K-Ruckuss’ Is Causing Much Ruckus
Sean Bogle
Issue date: 10/3/02 Section: VARIETY
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“We sold over 180 copies of it [One Life To Live] in the first two weeks,” said K-Ruckuss. He has been selling the album himself through bookstores in the city. With campus bookstores already requesting more copies, K-Ruckuss knows he’s moving in the right direction.
“The album itself is definitely getting me a lot exposure in and around D.C.,” he said. Although the album features both Chucky Manson and K-Ruckuss sharing microphone time, K-Ruckuss’ tenacious lyrical flow is the backbone of the album. Despite collaborating in the studio, he stands firms in his stance as a solo artist.
“My solo project is coming real soon, but this was just something to kick in the door,” said Ruckuss. “Both of us had something to say, cause Chucky [Manson] had just lost his father and I could relate to losing loved ones, so we just shared our talents and made it happen.”
Songs on like the title track, “Aggravated” and “Bleed On Wax” display why K-Ruckuss’ time away from the mainstream may be short-lived. On “Aggravated,” he spits out heartfelt lines like, “I’m trying to see tomorrow/Ruck is it that deep/deep/a lifeguard could drown in sorrows/that’s why I spark flows/so I can shed light to my life/while I walk down this dark road.”
K-Ruckuss attributes his rhyming style and content to the deaths of his half-brother and cousin.
“Their passing just reminded me that tomorrow is not promised,” said Bates. “My brother was gone before I really started putting my rhymes together so I want to do this for him.” With the feelings of lost family members and the ups and downs of everyday life acting as the core of Ruckuss’ rhymes, fans of moving content will be easily won over. “One hundred percent of what I rap about is what I feel,” he said.
Even with his tremendous talent, K-Ruckuss acknowledges that there are still no guarantees. He is a senior health care management major who will be graduating from Howard University in December. Yet even a successful career in the field of health management will not keep Keenan Bates from being K-Ruckuss.
“Even if I never become famous I’m going to keep rapping, because there’s always someone listening.”
“One Life To Live” is available at the Howard University, University of Maryland and American University bookstores. Contact K-Ruckuss at 202 256-3197 or kbates@howard.edu.
Contact Sean Bogle at District_Chronicles@hotmail.com.
“The album itself is definitely getting me a lot exposure in and around D.C.,” he said. Although the album features both Chucky Manson and K-Ruckuss sharing microphone time, K-Ruckuss’ tenacious lyrical flow is the backbone of the album. Despite collaborating in the studio, he stands firms in his stance as a solo artist.
“My solo project is coming real soon, but this was just something to kick in the door,” said Ruckuss. “Both of us had something to say, cause Chucky [Manson] had just lost his father and I could relate to losing loved ones, so we just shared our talents and made it happen.”
Songs on like the title track, “Aggravated” and “Bleed On Wax” display why K-Ruckuss’ time away from the mainstream may be short-lived. On “Aggravated,” he spits out heartfelt lines like, “I’m trying to see tomorrow/Ruck is it that deep/deep/a lifeguard could drown in sorrows/that’s why I spark flows/so I can shed light to my life/while I walk down this dark road.”
K-Ruckuss attributes his rhyming style and content to the deaths of his half-brother and cousin.
“Their passing just reminded me that tomorrow is not promised,” said Bates. “My brother was gone before I really started putting my rhymes together so I want to do this for him.” With the feelings of lost family members and the ups and downs of everyday life acting as the core of Ruckuss’ rhymes, fans of moving content will be easily won over. “One hundred percent of what I rap about is what I feel,” he said.
Even with his tremendous talent, K-Ruckuss acknowledges that there are still no guarantees. He is a senior health care management major who will be graduating from Howard University in December. Yet even a successful career in the field of health management will not keep Keenan Bates from being K-Ruckuss.
“Even if I never become famous I’m going to keep rapping, because there’s always someone listening.”
“One Life To Live” is available at the Howard University, University of Maryland and American University bookstores. Contact K-Ruckuss at 202 256-3197 or kbates@howard.edu.
Contact Sean Bogle at District_Chronicles@hotmail.com.