"The Opus"
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1978
Music
Press
A mostly sad, blue, intimate song, "Time's Runnin' Out" caught our attention as The Opus sings with a rap inflection. His doubletracked voice is effective as is the crackle effect, and the keyboard and drums all to a refreshingly mellow hip-hop tune...
### - Music Connection Magazine "New Music Critiques" March 2009 pg. 51
"The Opus" aka Reality brings an Aaron Hall flow to the table. His rhymes are really a collection of harmonized lyrics. Writing, recording and performing his own songs sing the age of 15, the Aliquippa, Pennsylvania native has gone on to recieve such notable accolades as being the 3 time champion of "The Battle Of The Beats" on 106 Jamz WAMO, and hsi 2005 underground rap hit, "Simon Says" earned a top 500 Honorable Mention in the 13th Annual Billboard Song Contest. Check out what this singer/songwriter/MC has to offer and you will notice immediately what makes his style hip-hop smoothed out with a New Jack Swing feel, appeal to it. - URB Magazine:: Next 1000 March 2009 online edition:: Reviewed by Jason Kordich
Theo Lewis has written a rap about Rochester's famous runner. Lewis, 26, will debut his Lauryn William-inspired song this weekend as part of the Beaver County Block Party at Rochester's Riverfront Park.
"I'm just letting her know we are inspired by what she did," said Lewis, an Aliquippa hip-hop artist who uses the stage name Radio.
By winning the silver medal in this summer's Athen's Olympics, Williams gave all local residents hope, said Lewis, whose lyrics urge listeners to pursue their dreams.
"Once the goal line is in sight take a flight the finish/Like Lauryn did her competition off in the Olympics," says a line in "On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!" which Lewis raps in a speed befitting a tribute to a track star.
Interviewed this week, Lewis said the point of his song is, "You might not be an athlete, you might be in academics, but just be the best you can be, and don't let people slow you down."
Lewis hasn't let anyone slow him down as he continues to lay down tracks at Rochester's Black Rain recording studio.
I've been tightening up my demo, which I've been shopping around," Lewis said.
Lewis also has a music video, which premiered last Monday on WBGN-TV's "The Charlie Godart Show," a variety program for which he has become a regular cast member. He and the show's founder, Godart also perform a locally in a music-comedy skit dubbed Elvis in Black and White.
Lewis will perform solo, and in tandem with Godart, on Saturday and Sunday at the Beaver County Block Party in Rochester.
Lewis isn't sure what time he'll take the stage, though spectators should keep an ear out for Radio, his stage name, which harks back to a childhood ability of mimiching singers on the radio.
Lewis said he might have to change his stage name due to the 2003 movie "Radio" starring Cuba Gooding Jr. in the title role as a mentally challenged man.
Realizing how rappers often chide each other, Lewis doesn't want to be compared to the other "Radio."
"That might put a little salt in my game," said Lewis, who is considering changing his stage name to Reality.
Hopefully, none of his rap rivals remembers the movie "Reality Bites." ###
Beaver County Times 10/21/2004
*Scott Tady can be reached online at stady@timesonline.com - The Beaver County Times; Scott Tady
Discography
1993-94-Lyrical Prophet (demo)
1998-99-I Got Dat Fire (demo)
2005-06-The Tree Of Good & Evil (underground lp)
2007-08-Hustlin' Base! (underground ep)
2010-11-Time's Runnin' Out (lp)
20117-2018-Duck You Sucka!!! (underground mixtape)
Photos
Bio
"The Opus is one of the dopest underground talents out there. A native of Aliquippa, PA (home of the great composer Henry Mancini, writer of the Pink Panther theme music) "The Opus", has been writing, recording and performing his own songs since he was 15 years old (as a child he aquired the nickname "Radio" from reciting his favorite rappers' songs). His music is what you might call, hip hop soul. But what sets his music apart are the personal experiences he is able to lyrically illustrate through his style, his production, and the clever way he injects a positive and sometimes, "esoteric" message into his music while keeping a gritty street edge.
The Opus states, "No one smart wants to sound like someone else. So when I rap, it come across with a melodic, songlike style and when I sing, my vocals have a rap inflection to them, but, I'm not a singer and I'm not a rapper. I'm a songwriter. I'm The Opus".
The Opus has worked and performed with many different artists from the signed to underground such as Mc Breed's legendary dj/producer, Dj Flash, Beretta 9 of the Wu-Tang Clan affiliated KillaArmy and hip hop legend Doug E. Fresh. He's a 3 time champion of "The Battle Of The Beats" on 106 Jamz WAMO in Pittsburgh, an accomplishment still unprecedented by any of his Aliquippa rap peers. In 2005, his underground rap hit, "Simon Says!" recieved a top 500 "Honorable Mention" in the 13th Annual BillBoard Song Contest.
After getting his demo in the hands of the show's director and executive producer, his music landed him a co-star role on a variety television program based in Pittsburgh. The show was called "The Charlie Godart Show", after said producer and his son. The show began airing on a station called WBGN and was later picked up by WPGH Fox 53 from 2004-06. The show often aired The Opus' self directed music videos, one of featuring 1st round 2007 NFL Draft Pick and now retired future hall of famer Darrelle Revis. He even hosted his own comedy segment which became one of the most popular parts of the show called, "Theoretically Speaking" (Theophus is The Opus' born name). Hip Hop icon Russell Simmons, "Survivor" winner Amber Birkish, and country music legend Charlie Daniels also made cameo appearances among many others. When the show went off the air in May of 2006, it came in 3rd in the Nielsen Ratings out of 500 choices TV viewers had.
Because he is extremely serious about his musical career, in 2007, Reality became a certified member of ASCAP, the U.S.'s biggest performing rights organization. He also plans on establishing his own publishing company called, "Partners In Rhyme" due to the fact he has so many other talented friends and affiliates with great songs.
Of recent, he's been in regular rotation on some of the internet's hottest radio stations such as Indie104.com, Banana Peel Radio.com, Shades Of Hip Hop.com, BGLradio.net, Sexy1000clubradio.com. and Flawless 99.1 internet radio. He's also recently been featured in the March online and printed publications of URB and Music Connection Magazine. His latest hit and album title track "Time's Runnin' Out" was used by the cable network A&E (Arts & Entertainment) for their running series "Biography". It looks like The Opus is poised to start making noise again 2020. So focus on "The Opus".
Partners In Rhyme Publishing 724-419-7980(office)
Links
