Da Kreek taking it one step at a time


The group says Youngstown isn’t conducive to hip-hop.

By JOHN BENSON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

Crandall Park may seem like an unlikely epicenter of burgeoning hip-hop, but that’s the exact location where brothers Dorian (“Dtown”) and Devin (“Mello Dee”) Townsend used to congregate in the afternoon with friends to go over the rhymes and beats they had created earlier that day while attending Rayen High School.

Specifically, in the park there’s a bridge that traverses a creek, thus creating the duo’s moniker Da Kreek.

“We’re a hip-hop group, primarily alternative hip-hop,” said Dorian, 21. “In fact, we pride ourselves about being alternative. How that differs is standard rap would be the 50 Cents, the G-Units, while alternative rap would fit more into the category of Common, Lupe Fiasco, Mos Def. All of our songs are derived from real-life experiences.”

Showing growth

“Each song we do has a meaning, and it’s just real high impact and behind everything we do. It’s socially conscious lyrics, too.”

Currently the Brothers Townsend — both of whom attend Youngstown State University — are really excited about their new album, “Tinted Stanzas,” which follows up 2005’s “Goin’ Up: The Album” and 2006’s “In The Game [Mixtape].” Dorian points to new songs “We Make Money” and the title track as defining its current mind-set and vibe.

“The album really displays our growth as both musicians and producers over the course of seven years,” Dorian said. “This one, if you listen, not only will you hear a whole lot of high-impact lyrics and deep metaphors, but you’ll also hear great music intertwined in that. There’s a lot of jazz elements and at the same time, there’s a lot of synth elements. It’s kind of like an old school hip-hop vibe meets new school modern rap.”

Bright future

The future appears bright for Da Kreek, which is not only scheduled to perform Friday at Youngstown’s Plush Nightclub, but is also in the running for the Ohio Hip-Hop Awards, which take place next month in Cleveland.

Even though the act does have a local show coming up, Dorian said the market isn’t conducive to hip-hop. This explains why Da Kreek has regularly left town — including a show in Westminster, Pa. — to get exposure as a live act.

“The rest of Northeast Ohio seems to be very receptive of hip-hop,” Dorian said. “It’s just in Youngstown, there’s not a lot of outlets. It’s real difficult in this area to get any local buzz.”

Still, Dorian is optimistic.

“We’re taking it one step at a time,” Dorian said. “The best advice somebody gave me is in order to eat an elephant, you gotta do it one bite at a time. And the music industry is an elephant, so we’re doing it one bite at a time.”

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