K-Ruckuss’ Is Causing Much Ruckus

A crowd of more than 500 spectators crowded into a Howard University ballroom Friday night to witness the biggest Hip-Hop competition in the area, Verbal Armageddon. Thirty-two handpicked entertainers performed in the first of a three round series to determine the illest MC in the District. For many of the rappers, the competition is pure fun and games, but for others it provides a solid foundation for a serious career in the ever-growing world of hip-hop music. After effortlessly defeating a rookie challenger, four-year Verbal Armageddon veteran Keenan “K-Ruckuss” Bates walked off the stage with no fun and games in mind. In a husky voice, K-Ruckuss made a promise to the crowd. “If I don’t win, you can come see me.”

At age 16, Bates started to put together his very first rhymes. Six years later, the alias has changed and the now 22-year-old rapper K-Ruckuss is on the verge of stardom. With his consistent top five rankings in Verbal Armageddon and appearances on local mix tapes, K-Ruckuss successfully made a name for himself far beyond his home campus.

In fall 2000, his raspy, thug-aligned flow initially caught the ear of the CEOs of Nation Wide Takeover (N.W.T.) As one of the first lyricists signed to the rising entertainment group, K-Ruckuss began to gain momentum by appearing on N.W.T.’S first single, “Five Minutes of Fame.” Creating a local buzz he became more focused on controlling his solo potential.

After parting company with N.W.T. in 2001, his involvement with Verbal Armageddon then caught the attention of local rapper/producer Chuck Kendall, a.k.a. Chucky Manson. Kendall, eager to push out hot beats and rhymes, did not hesitate to invite K-Ruckuss to the studio. After months of laying down tracks together, the two emerged from the studio with the full-length studio album, “One Life To Live.”

Even without distribution through a major record label, the album is currently achieving substantial independent success.

“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.