Clad in Ohio State colors and rapping in cold weather, local hip-hop rap group Rythum & Ghetto filmed the video to their newly-released album, “Ohio State Anthem” in front of the Ohio Stadium Friday.
The group, formed by Darrell Johnson, Carlton Jones and Danny Jones, released their album Oct. 8.
Walter Jones, a representative of the group, said they recorded the song as a new anthem for the OSU football team and other sports teams to hype people up during games.
“We’re trying to get another anthem for the Ohio State Buckeyes, so maybe they can use it during the songs or play it in the stadium, during the basketball games, in gymnastics,” Jones said. “We’re being produced by Rythum & Ghetto and Mr. Jones from Power 107.5.”
“On game day, it’s the most requested song on radio,” said Paul Strong of the Power Morning Crew for 107.5. “Fans really like the song and call in throughout the week in the buildup to a football match. It’s the quality of the song.”
Rythum & Ghetto is an independent recording label and also a versatile production company that specializes in singing, rapping, engineering and music and video production.
“We do videos, we do commercials, we also do music beats, tracks, we sing, rap, we do the whole nine,” Jones said. “We’re basically one of a kind, because you rarely get producers who can rap, sing and do production as well. So it gives us an advantage over a lot of people.”
The singing part of the group formed in 1996. They toured from 1996 to 2000 before making a stop. It released an album in 1998 titled “Da Last Resort.”
Johnson said the group is making a comeback with their new album, which features five versions of the “Ohio State Anthem” sung by the group and Jones. Na’Sha (Natasha Watkins) contributed to the second track and the others are remixes and an instrumental.
“The quality of the CD is top-notch,” Strong said.
The group has been interviewed on “Buckeye Fever” and is working to feature a music video on BUCK-iTV, according to their Web site at rythumandghetto.com.
“Right now, we got commercials in BET about the song, on MTV about the song, they play it a lot on 107,” Jones said.
Jones also said the group is making an effort to gain more recognition, and each member is dedicated to helping one another.
“Basically, we’re a team right now,” Jones said. “Nobody really wants money. We’re just trying to get in the industry. Maybe we can take the next step, so we’re just helping each other right now. We grew up together, so we’re sticking together like we’re a family. Everybody wants us to succeed. Everybody wants to put Columbus on the map as far as the hip-hop industry.”
Jones said OSU is the “best university in the world” and the group wants to help out the Buckeyes.
“I can’t explain how much Ohio State means to us, even though we don’t go to school here,” Jones said. “We were born and raised by our parents as Ohio State fans, we took after them. That’s why we call ourselves die-hard fans. We’ve got to be die-hard with the way the Buckeyes are doing right now.”
Fans can watch video clips and buy the tracks individually for $1.99 from the group’s Web site. The album can be purchased at CD and Tape Outlet, CD Warehouse, Singing Dog Records, Best Buy, Media Play and FYE.
