Columbus hip-hop artists Zero Star and Envelope will bring their beats south to Casa Cantina tonight, as part of the venue's Hip-Hop Night.
Karrio Ballard, who goes by the name Zero Star, began his career in hip-hop at age 15. He was first introduced to the local sounds of Columbus through the tapes of Illogic and Blueprint while digging through underground record stores, Ballard said.
I saw a flyer for a local show
so I went and there were hundreds of people
really into it Ballard said. It kind of started from
there
just observing and working up the nerve to do it myself.
Ballard eventually signed with Weightless Recordings, the label of both Illogic and Blueprint, after being asked after a performance to record at Blueprint's house, Ballard said. In 2006, he released Forever's Really Never that Long, and his upcoming album is titled Maybe I'm Joking, Maybe I'm Not.
People always compare you to someone
and that just happens naturally
Ballard said. I would say my sound comes straight from the heart.
Also performing tonight at Casa is Tony Collinger, who goes by Envelope. Like Ballard, Collinger was exposed to hip-hop at an early age in the Columbus public school system.
This was before that whole 8 Mile thing
Collinger said. It was way more about battling in the hallways during lunch.
After agreeing to handle the music for a friend's house party, Collinger began writing material for a solo EP. Soon, he released Insignificant Anthems in 2005 and Shark Bolt in 2008 on Weightless Recordings. In between operating his bicycle messenger business, he has plans for another album.
His new sound turns away from political and serious tracks in favor of romantic nihilism
an attitude employed by his friends and fellow musicians in the Columbus band Times New Viking, Collinger said.
I've been feeling really optimistic about a bleak future
he said. Even with downturns
the economy and terrorism
at least we've got our own little place in the world.
