Hip Hop Heaven with Black Eddie aka Rashaad the God -

Indianapolis – The thing about Hip Hop music is that it has its own special kind of life. The beats of any good hip hop artist break through the skin, and dance through the veins melding with the pulsing of the heart. The blood pumping synchs with the rhythms, and soon every single body in the house is moving to the same melodious voice. That’s exactly what it felt like in the Sabbatical . Every eye is on the stage. Every hip sways. The crowd is entranced by the mic, and both are putty in the hands of one of the greatest minds of this time, Black Eddie aka Rashaad the God. The idolatry is validated by all of the fans on their feet swaying to the beats.

Rashaad Trapp was born and raised in Columbus, IN. He has a prestigious job in a well-known company, and he coaches wrestling for the youth in the community. He has a degree, and excels at life while being a single father . He genuinely cares about the world around him, and wants to make a difference. He is one of those people that leaves every place he goes just a little better off than when he found it. As long as Rashaad could remember, he had a passion for the culture of Hip Hop. One day he decided it was time to give back even more than just to his hometown. He wanted to contribute to that culture. How? He became an emcee. Black Eddie was born. He traveled all the way to the Sabbatical to share his rhymes with the eager throngs of hip hop fans gathered together as Cut Camp presents Around the Clock – Hip Hop Finale.

Sabbatical is an awesome live music venue that mixes art, music, great food, and culture. The atmosphere is spectacular, and positive vibes abound among the concert goers as well as the fantastic staff. Sabbatical has been great to the hip hop community over the years, and representatives of several hip hop families have gathered tonight to show some love back . Cut Camp and Strong Roots Records are a couple of those families, and Black Eddie is kin to both. Tony Styxx hosts the evening, and it was obvious that he has a mad hustle that can’t be ignored. He goads the crowd lingering outside at the start of the show to come in by poking them in the ears with his razor sharp wit. DJ Spoolz pumps up the volume and the beats to set the tone for a phenomenal show. The opening acts get the crowd warmed up, and soon Black Eddie emerges with Cut Camp to bring the fierce heat to make them explode. Every chair is empty before the end of the first song, and every head bounces to the beat. Cut Camp’s message of love and liberation makes a tough act to follow for Strong Roots Records, but Black Eddie is up to the task on all counts. He breaks into his solo like a maniac on a rampage, and there’s not a person left in the room who would defy him. The rap is Battle of the Sevens, but it’s clear that the resonating battle was the crowd fighting themselves at a chance to get a little closer to Rashaad the God.

All in all it was an extraordinary evening at the Sabbatical with Cut Camp, Strong Roots Records, and, of course, the great hip hop hobbyist, Black Eddie. The fans showed up just as individuals looking for a good time, but they left as one. They left as a single group unified and bound by Black Eddie and his crew’s hip hop harmony.

Article and photos by: Melodie Ramey