The album Hustling and Scuffling, released by the rap group Lethal Sons, of which UTM student Marcus Johnson is a member, was released earlier in the year with much anticipation on behalf of the musicians.

This would be the case for any musician, but this album’s success has a little more riding on it than most because Johnson financed the project himself.

This rap album follows many of the traditional rap rules and has enough colorful language to earn it a Parental Advisory sticker on the cover.

In addition, some of the songs repeat many of the same lyrics, leaving you to wonder if you’ve hit the repeat button.

However, you will find that Hustling and Scuffling is a pleasant surprise with its vast medley of music.

Instead of real-life stories of drugs and sex being put to the background of heavy drums and guitars, it is actually the sounds of piano and violins that are keeping you company. And the emotion that these young men put into their music will often raise goosebumps on your arms.

“As a fan of country music, I don’t listen to much other than country,” said Mary Sager, a senior Family and Consumer Science major from McEwen.

“However, I could listen to this CD all the time. I like it that much.”

Kat Indigaro, a senior Biology major from Memphis, said, “I enjoyed the fact that every song has some classical instrument thrown in the mix because it gives each song a certain beauty and creativity. I like how each song is different. The music doesn’t sound the same and the lyrics are not repetitive.”

This is not the first album for the band.

Johnson said the group’s first project was too underground to be much of a mover and shaker in the music world.

He’s not expecting to shoot straight to the top; all he wants is for this album to do well.

Although you cannot locate the album in any record store, you can stop by Next Door Music in Martin and pick up a copy.

What else is in store for Johnson, who is a Communications major?

He already has a mix CD due for release next January and another album, titled The League, that will be released sometime in the future.

Perhaps the next time you see Johnson, he will be smiling at you from the cover of Rolling Stone.