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Music

Meet the Band: Aych

A look at a band with local ties.

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 25, 2007

PRONOUNCED: like the letter "H"

BIRTH NAME: Hansel Wilson

AGE: He turns 24 Wednesday.

"THE MELTDOWN": "The first solo project CD. I'm very excited," he says. "It's for sale at Flavor Clothing in Tampa. They're always looking out for me."

MEN BEHIND THE SCENE: "There are beats from D.R., Relic and M. Rell."

KEEPING IT HOMEGROWN: "I try to stay away from samples, but the intro of one of the songs on the new CD has a James Brown sample."

EARLY SUCCESSES: In his three-year career, he has opened for Ludacris, Missy Elliott and the Ying Yang Twins.

WHAT HIS RHYMES ARE ABOUT: "Real subjects, real-life topics. I have a song called Maybe that talks about how my life would be different if maybe I'd done something different. I have a song called Let Me Explain that's talking to people that are no longer with us. I like to put a lot of emotion into my music - a regular day in the life . . . Sometimes you're upset. Sometimes you're happy. Sometimes you're aggressive. Sometimes you want to let loose and have fun."

A HEALTHY ADDICTION: "I'm a habitual writer. I just write and write. I'm always writing."

TALKS TO YOU, NOT AT YOU: "I'm a very laid-back guy and that's how I like to hear music . . . like it's a regular conversation."

TOUCHED BY TRAGEDY: "The slower songs were influenced by cousin Jermaine, who passed away a year ago. He was like a little brother to me. That was really rough. It took me out of my focus for a while, but it encouraged me. I'd seen him two weeks prior to his death. We talked about music. We were sitting there rapping with each other back and forth. I think about that often, that he'd be proud of me. Between him and my niece - she's 5 - they're both my motivation."

HOST WITH THE MOST: Aych emcees an open mike night at the Full Moon Saloon in Ybor City from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesdays. Cover is $5; free for ladies. "We have a segment that's a battle, a freestyle competition," he says. "It's crazy. Almost like an 8 Mile type of thing."

CHECK HIM OUT: At 10 p.m. Wednesday with Black Reign, 13, 3 Kings and Sean Simp, Full Moon Saloon, 1613 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $5. CDs $5. Birthday cake at midnight. (813) 248-3309.

[Last modified January 24, 2007, 11:47:47]