And thankfully they've got it.
Anyone remotely plugged into the pulse of the Chapel Hill music scene has heard -- or at least heard of -- the funky hip-hop rhythms of Sankofa. The group's style is unique, its sound intense, its talents soaring.
The road to glory could be long and arduous. The Daily Tar Heel will shadow Sankofa for the entire year, watching its struggle for stardom through recording, touring, promoting and, they hope, signing.
Since its formation more than four years ago, Sankofa has become a mainstay of the Chapel Hill music scene. What started as a few friends having fun has turned into an institution for local hip-hop enthusiasts.
When they first performed together in a talent show sponsored by Hip-Hop Nation, a student organization aiming to foster hip-hop culture, they had no name, no lofty aspirations, no pretensions. They were just out there to have a good time.
But after blowing away the audience and garnering rave reviews -- from both friends and strangers -- the members knew they had found something real and something they loved.
"We practiced once for that talent show then went out there and rocked it," recalls Stefan Greenlee, also known as MC Creem, the group's lead vocalist. "After that we just kind of went from there -- writing, performing, practicing, really getting serious.
But the group's maturation hasn't always been without growing pains. When keyboardist Mark Wells quit the band in 2001, the future seemed bleak and uncertain.
"Everyone thought that we had kind of dropped off," Greenlee said. "People were asking me what we were doing and when we were coming back. A lot of people thought that the band was dead.
"When Mark quit we were all like 'What the fuck do we do now?' We had to come brand new."
Enter Dana Chell. A classically trained guitarist, Chell brings structured intensity and a wicked, experimental sound.
All of the band members agree that the addition of the guitarist, who they have affectionately nicknamed DNA, almost single-handedly fueled their revival.
"DNA inspired a lot of the new sound, allowing all of us a great outlet for play," said Matt Brandau, who provides the thumping energy of the bass. "All of this new energy really opens up the door for us to play around with our identity -- take up more of a hip-hop edge."
Chell humbly accepts all of the praise with smiles and nonchalance, exuding the same calm and cool demeanor that he carries onto stage. Instead of attributing the change in Sankofa's sound directly to his influence, however, he cites general trends in the genre.
"I feel like music is kind of resetting itself, creating a trance-like state that focuses on the lyricists," Chell said. "That really allows me to get into the music with guitar synth and energetic play."
Whatever the reason for the change -- be it catastrophic loss, inspirational gain or musical maturation -- Sankofa has become a musical tsunami, with more potential and talent than many of the groups that dominate the popular front.
Its performance before a near- capacity crowd at the legendary Cat's Cradle on Friday was testimony to its power and promise.
Sankofa was a seamless mix of the old and new, filled with funk and soul but showing a jagged edge.
DJ Pez (Lem Butler) has, somehow, gotten even better, twisting, sliding and scratching his way through grinding back beats and complex bridges. He is quick, creative and above all smooth, melding with the traditional instrumentation without ever overpowering.
Drummer Steven "Apple Juice Kid" Levitin, Brandau and Chell all threw down trippy and crafty rhythms that layered for a full and forceful flow.
Their throbbing pulse gave Greenlee plenty of freedom to stretch his lyrical versatility. Roaring around the stage while pumping his fist at the heavens, Greenlee was every ounce the MC.
When Sankofa plays and everything bleeds together, it is like watching a fire grow. The members sizzle and pop, then build in energy, glowing like an ember before bursting into flame. To top it off, Jana Privette, lead vocalist of the Apple Juice Orchestra, lends a cherubic tilt, seductive and sultry with a touch of calypso.
Sankofa has the talent to rise to the top. Its unique sound is a much-needed jolt to the abyss of mainstream rap that, while not worthless, has become unoriginal and packaged.
Its sound, fresh and far from packaged, stems directly from the members' bond as friends -- a bond that is just as important as their performance on stage, Brandau said.
"We all bring out great sides to each other, both as individuals and performers," Brandau said. "We are all very optimistic; we will see this through."
But can Sankofa break through, garnering the oh-so-coveted major record deal?
"It is hard to get signed," Greenlee said. "Most bands wait around 5 to 10 years before they get a good deal.
"That is where we are at right now, working our asses off and getting better all the time -- hoping to get noticed."
The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu.
