Let me tell y’all what it’s like
Being male, middle-class and white
It’s a b*tch, if you don’t believe
Listen up to my new CD
(Sha-mon)
I got sh*t runnin’ throught my brain
It’s so intense that I can’t explain
All alone in my white-boy pain.
I’m not going to lie. When these boys walk up on stage, I am prepared for some cheesy suburban white-boy anger. But what I got instead, was some freaking furry in a fun basket of real talent. I’m floored. I’ve seen Hurris, (lead rapper) before. He’s got some things to say, and you better listen up, because shit just got real- real fun.
Meeting with local band, Better Taste Bureau, is a bit of a riddle. The boys couldn’t be sweeter, hugging their fans, taking pictures, and enjoying the fruits of killing it at their first huge venue. It leaves a puzzling contrast between their aggression and energy on stage, to the humble and nice guys standing here in front of us. I guess that’s what you get from growing up in Utah as a suburban white boy.
It immediately reminds me of Ben Folds’ Rockin’ the Suburbs cliché, except these guys have moved past that cliché into some real genuine and legitimate rap territory. They’ve transcended expectations and provided the perfect vibe for the night.
Hurris, the front man in the dreads, and founder of BTB comes out on stage full force like he is an officer about to take you down. You have no choice but to step back and listen. However aggressive his stage presence is, his beats are still up-tempo and word-perfect.
Credits given to these fine gentlemen include:
City Weekly’s “Rappers of the Year” and U92’s (92.5 FM in SLC) first “Homegrown Hip Hop Champions”, these guys have shared the stage with Tyga, A$AP Rocky, De La Soul, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, E-40, G-Eazy, Paul Wall, Problem, Kid Ink, DJ Felli Fel, Sol and more. Their debut album “Outliers” was released in May 2014.
BTB (as their true fans call them) have been playing the University of Utah party scene for quite a few years, as well as some touring around local venues. What could have turned into just another college band to blow away with the wind, when the graduation caps are tossed, is instead staking their future in touring the country and letting people see what these white boys from Utah can really do.
For our delightful and nonsensical interview with Shaun and Hurris, please follow this link. But you can’t say that you haven’t been warned. ICE CREAM TATTOO DOCUMENTARY
