The Nothing

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Not the first place one would think of when they picture the hometown of a hip-hop group. Correction, a "good" hip-hop group. But Gettysburg is where Central PA's newest hip-hop trio derives from. Emcees Teddy Holmes, Solomen Pade, and Wallypeanuts (producer) aka Mar have always had what their peers call a "knack" for hip-hop music, and didn't let their whereabouts defer them from keeping a close ear to the streets. The three emcees met while in middle school. It seemed even then, the three had a future in hip-hop. During school sporting events Mar would play beats on the metal bleachers in the gym while Holmes and Pade would freestyle in synchronizing harmony. It became a regular during every school sport function, and always would generate a crowd of students that would listen to the aspiring artists in amazement. In high school, when most of the students were listening to popular mainstream rap music, Holmes, Pade, and Mar developed an appreciation for aritsts like Mos Def, Common, and The Roots. They also continued to "wow" their fellow classmates/peers. Mar began to experiment with beatmaking, and in 1997 the three young men composed a mixtape entitled "Southwash Ridaz Vol. 1." While the contents of the songs pretty much just made fun of the teachers and classmates, the mixtape was an instant hit among students at Gettysburg High School. After high school all three young men went on to college, Holmes and Pade attending Central Pennsylvania College, and Mar attending Gettysburg College. Though at different schools, the three students kept up at their craft. Mar continued to make beats, and along with his college roommates Blitz, Hotshot, and Bakes, Mar was able to showcase some of his work while opening for Common at Gettysburg College's 2001 Springfest. Holmes and Pade continued working, becoming known as two vicious battle rappers in the Central Pennsylvania area. It wasn't until 2006 that the three emcees, along with childhood friend Doug Shew, decided to get serious and make music a career. The group name "The Nothing" was created one night over a few drinks, and the first official LP, "From Nothing to Something" was dropped. In 2007 "The Nothing" dropped a mixtape titled "Live From the Shelter," and in 2008 dropped their follow up LP "Closer". Currently the group just released their fourth project in three years, "Digital Villians," which is the most successful so far. Available on iTunes, Amazon, and Rhapsody, Digital Villians has been described as jazzy, with a unique sound that hip-hop has been lacking. The lyrical content has been described as "smooth" and "witty".(Origivation Magazine Sept/Oct. issue, Mode Magazine) Even hip-hop listeners on the west coast appreciated what they heard, causing "The Nothing" to get a post on the San Francisco based website Legendaryhiphop.com. Now with the goal in clear view, the group is working harder than ever to reach what they've been striving for since the age of 14, flooding the internet with videos from recent shows, and various blogs (YouTube: Padeblog). "You know, I've been watching my favorite artists and marveling at what they've done for a long, long, time now. I want that 16 year old kid to marvel at me the same way i marveled at Mos when I was 16. I don't wanna just listen to my favorite artists, I wanna see the things they're seeing, and be in the scene with those guys." (Teddy Holmes; recent interview) If these guys keep doing what they're doing, they may end up seeing, and doing alot more than what they originally anticipated.

Purchase "Digital Villains" here