As more artists emerge into the rap music scene, three University students teamed up with friends to create a new group — The Graduates. The group recently released a music video on YouTube for its song, “I Be the Man.”
Sophomores Tyton Charles, Raheem Allen and Tony Blayze, along with University of Wisconsin-Madison sophomore Marquaan Logan and Berklee College of Music freshman Devin Smith formed The Graduates over the summer.
In addition to selling merchandise, putting out two more videos and releasing solo music, the group hopes to release its first mixtape, “Take a Left on Aster Street,” this semester. Charles plans to release his second solo mixtape “Dreams” this semester as well.
The name The Graduates started out as a joke among the friends. After creating a logo and thinking about the message the group want to convey — educating through music — The Graduates became the official name.
After the death of his older brother eight years ago, Charles, also known by his rap name “DarkerParker,” transitioned from writing poetry to rapping as an outlet for his emotions.
Tony Blayze started out in slam poetry and naturally evolved into rapping.
Allen, who has been rapping for a year, manages the business side of The Graduates.
“I’m like the DJ Khaled of the group,” said Allen, also known as “Heemy D.”
The final two members of the group are Smith, who handles music production and engineering, and Logan, who is known by his rap name, “Quaan.”
Though the group officially formed a few months ago, the members knew each other long before. Blayze and Allen have been friends since middle school, while Allen met Charles their freshman year at the University.
Allen introduced Charles to Blayze after listening to Charles’ solo music. Logan was a high school friend of Allen and Blayze. After Charles met Smith in 2014, the group was complete.
Trying not to take themselves too seriously, The Graduates focus on making “real” music that people can relate to. Opting to have fun with their craft, the group’s members enjoy making fun of many mainstream rappers who mostly rap about money, cars and expensive clothing.
“We gotta talk about what we know,” Blayze said.
Other than “I Be the Man,” the group’s repertoire includes “Shackled to the Lyrics” and “Weirdo.” “Weirdo” expresses the members embracing who they are, which they hope will inspire others to do the same.
The members said they believe their combined love and passion for music and being themselves is why they get along so well, and is what they hope will draw more people to their music.
University sophomores Tyton Charles (left), Raheem Allen (middle) and Tony Blayze (right) combine their talents to form the Graduates, an up and coming local rap group.
