What's Burning? Volume 1 - The Genesis

So, you want to know who Cremat0r is? The first thing you should know - I'm not much like your average hip-hop fan. I grew up in a nice area. I don't dress in the urban style. I'm not even black. But in spite of those things, I became enthralled with the genre anyway. How?

In its beats, I found soothing melody that sparked imagination. Who would've thought "Human Nature" could become It Ain't Hard to Tell, or that Frank Sinatra would mesh with the Notorious B.I.G? I became enthralled with the unique sounds of each track, each album. It was as if each were a living entity with a special identity. I couldn't wait to meet them all.

In its lyrics, I found masterful command of the English language. Every MC pushed the envelope of self expression, reinventing language to fit their needs, from slant rhymes to multisyllabic rhymes to outright inventing their own words. I became entranced by how diverse the lyrics became - stories, punchlines, conscious messages, boasts, all stemming from the soul.

In its delivery, I found incredible passion and emotion, bleeding out in every bar. "Ante Up" never fails to get me hyped. "You Never Know" still makes my heart ache. Those are feelings that are universal, that cross racial boundaries. Even "Stan" still raises the hairs on my neck.

Ask yourself now. How could I not love everything about hip-hop?

I was supposed to write about my local hip-hop scene. To be honest, I don't listen to much from the Bay Area. A few years back we reached the national scene with hyphy, but I wasn't quite into that movement. In fact, most artists on the West Coast don't appeal to me. While it's hard for me to say that any one part of hip-hop is my favorite, I feel that the West has something missing to me. Maybe it's their laid back swagger, or how no one of value has blown up the last few years (Sorry, Game!). Maybe it's the different lyrical style. Regardless, I've always fallen in love with the East Coast artists first. Even the West Coast artists I love (Murs, Crooked I, Blu) have an East Coast twinge and flavor. I wish I knew why. I suppose when I can answer that question, I will know myself better than I ever have.

So, you wanted to know who Cremat0r is? To put it simply, I am a 17 year old Asian nerd attending UC Berkeley, trying to find his way through life, with hip-hop as his theme music. I have alot of diverse interests, from cuisine to cinema, sports to sleep, all of which I'll try to meld together in my columns and infuse with my eccentricity. You'll hear me sound off on a variety of topics - like, what the spirit of hip-hop truly is, the " freshmen class", current things happening, all through a different, less urban perspective. In short, every thing that is "burning." I sincerely hope that this is my first post of many on this site, and that you enjoy my columns in the future.

Until next time, Stay Gettin It In. - Cremat0r