Hip-Hop's assurgency to the top of the Billboard charts has corresponded with the infiltration of its culture into the mainstream. Hip-Hop is rapidly replacing the dream of professional sports for ghetto boys as MTV and BET have portrayed fabulous lifestyles of today's stars. Whether real or not, mass psychology has embraced the ghettofab lifestyle in all its splendor. Every year brings new faces along with the old, new records that sound like some of the old, and new styles for fans to embrace. The Mecca of hip-hop is still New York City, where hustle is a way of life. Whether they're from the Midwest, south or the west, rappers come through NYC to blow. MTV and 106 & Park make stars. Underneath it all is the constant struggle of thousands to rise up from the underground to the lights, camera, and action. Bars & Beats captures the comical and real essence of the streets from the music industry perspective. The diversified cast of characters provides a parity of the real life occurrences in the music world.
Centered on Brooklyn's finest young mc Spitacula, Bars & Beats follows the lifestyle of today's hottest hip-hop stars. The themes are easily incorporated into parities on real life events and can even feature guest appearances by some of today's hip-hop monsters. The flexible concept is built to integrate an experienced writing staff composed of industry insiders and noted comedians as they portray the funny and diverse aspects of the culture surrounding the force that hip-hop has become. As Spitacula faces his trials and tribulations with his entourage, the public will have a new fascination with the real life situations and the realness of the characters who live them. Bars & Beats is similar to an urban version of South Park, with uncensored commentary on issues related to urban communities and the suburban communities who follow them.
Mays Jackson, aka Spitacula, has been one of the hottest mc's for a few years, appearing on mix tapes with D-Block and G-Unit. The buzz eventually landed him at Murder Death Kill Records and a distribution deal through a major label. The Brownsville native attacks the mic like his life depends on it. In many ways it does. Spit grew up in the projects in Brownsville with almost no supervision. He never knew his father and his mother was heroin addict. He found comfort in the older guys around his block who took a liking to the little spark plug when he punched a drug kingpin in the face at the age of eleven. By the time he reached the age of 16, he was on the block hustling by day and in the studio by night. The rage comes out on wax. Spit never got over his mother's lack of a nurturing touch or his father's split. He swore that he would find his father one day when he made it and hand deliver a bullet to his head. For somebody who's seen it and done it all by the age of 22, he fears nothing, not even death. His legendary freestyles and street credibility have delivered him a mass following across the nation with the much anticipated release of his first solo album, entitled "Night Crawlers". The slender, 6'2" cat is a giant of sorts in the rap game. He's an enigma of sorts. It's hard to get to the person beneath the Yankee fitted. Perhaps the only two people alive who know him are Brown and Eazy J. But fans think Spit may be the next Jay-Z.
Brown grew up on Saratoga Avenue in Brownsville and was a large supplier of drugs in several Brooklyn neighborhoods. He befriended Spit when Spit was only 14 when the young aspiring rapper ran behind him and his crew looking for direction. Brown is a mountain of a man standing 6'7" and weighing in at just over 330 lbs. When Spit made the jump to the big time, he hired Brown as his resident bodyguard/tour manager/extortionist. In his younger years, Brown was a standout football player who received a scholarship to Texas. He was kicked out of school after a knee injury forced him to take his frustration out on some fellow students. It seems that some of them refused to pay for sexual favors they received from women under his "protection". The incidents landed him on parole and back in New York. He's refused to use his government name ever since and got his nickname "Brown" because he wears brown sweats and Timerberlands with remarkable frequency.
Trevor Watson, aka Eazy J, was one of the brightest kids in his class at Stuyvesant High School. He's an artist who draws comic books but moonlights as Spit's right hand man. Spit keeps him around not because he's a "yes" man, although he is, but because he admires his artistic abilities and meticulous pursuit of improvement. Eazy J's talents grew into a graphic artist business that pays his bills and allows him to run around with his number one fan, Spit. In turn, Spit is Eazy's number one fan and loves having him around. The two met when Spit was slinging his cd's on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. Eazy J picked one up and told Spit he could design a better cd cover to entice more buyers. Not many people know the talent level of Eazy J by watching him run around on stage during Spit's performances. Eazy J comes from a solid family background, the son of Jamaican immigrants. A once nerdy looking type, he now does ok for himself by wearing the hot gear that Spit gets for free. His phenotype is otherwise average in every dimension.
Dutch is also signed to Murder Death Kill Records. He's been tabbed a more authentic JaRule with a tad of Fabolous' wittiness. His music is maid for billboard with catchy hooks and guest appearances by the hottest mc's around. Originally from Atlanta, Dutch dropped out of Clark University and relocated to New York City following a summer internship at Def Jam. After making a habit of dropping his demos off to the head of A&R on a daily basis, they finally agreed to give him a deal. After Def Jam pushed him to Murder Death Kill, his career began to blossom. The pretty boy rapper was rumored to be signing with Bad Boy but didn't feel comfortable with their recent artist line up. Dutch likes to be on the forefront of lifestyle and fashion statements, even claiming that he started the French cuffs thing although most attribute that fad to Jay-Z.
Rob Goldenfeld, aka Shady Rob, is the President of the MDK label. The stout accountant character started MDK as an independent label before collaborating with major labels like Def Jam. Rob's in his mid forties and is most known for discovering Spitacula and Dutch Master. Before his remarkable development of the two mc's, he was head of A&R at Sony over grunge and acid jazz genres. He knows the business and how to make stars. He doesn't particularly know the intricacies of the rap game but likes to be around the hip-hop circuit in hopes they'll accept him as one of their own and perhaps be seen as "cool" in the eyes of his son, a rabid hip-hop supporter.
Mos Blind is an underground legend from Hollis Queens who never had a lot of mainstream success as a recording artist but has gained a little success in other entertainment endeavors. He's appeared in a couple movies and hosts a show on MTV. Known for an artsy sense of style, many feel he's a bit far out and in seek of attention. Just shy of 5'6", Mos Blind is still highly regarded in the rap world along with others in his mold like Common Sense, Pharaoh Monch, Mos Def, and Talib Kwali. He represents the hip-hop homesteaders who shy from the mainstream appeal of bigger artists but still garner the respect of industry.
Grass Roots is a mc much like an early Common Sense. Lyrically he's sufficient but comes off as a bit preachy at times. His black consciousness vibe won't allow him to step out as a mainstream artist. Even if he wanted to, the public would never accept him because of his stance on things like the Grammy's. True to the hip-hop art form he doesn't necessarily rap for money. Now in his early thirties, he has over ten years in the game and realized he has to eat. So he rendered his services to a couple Sprite and Nike commercials, alienating some of his fans who felt he was contradicting himself. As part of a new start Grass Roots cut off his dreads in 2003 and refocused his work on the underground scene in New York. He's often seen in public with Mos Blind whom he shares a solid relationship. They've collaborated on several projects over the years. They became friends as they shared many a stage and microphone on the underground NYC circuit. Open mic nights and studio sessions gave Mos and Grass Roots an opportunity to bond over what else?… music.
Mercedes is the people's champion of radio residing at JIVE105 in New York. Women love her because she runs through a man's world and men love her because she's drop dead beautiful. However, in the industry she's known as a user so most steer clear on issues related to business. The Dominican princess of the airwaves hosts several parties around the country with noted DJ's.
Sophia is the receptionist at MDK records. Rob discovered her at Dutch Master's first video casting. Sophia is a video groupie who graced the screen of many a music video. Over the years, she was featured in Playboy, Maxim and other men's publications. Realizing her career has brought few fruits, she's refocused her energies on a new job at the record label while she searches for acting opportunities. Her desire to be a star still burns in her gut and many feel she'll do anything to make it happen. She also known for her 1999 paternity suit against a noted R&B superstar after gave birth to her only child.