03/28/08

For most college students, a typical hobby can range anywhere from painting to collecting shoes, but for Baker University junior Jeff Theis, his spare time is spent doing what he loves to do most – rap. Listen to samples of Theis's music<a href="http://www.bakeru.edu/orangeline/0708audio/theis.html" target="_blank">Listen to samples of Theis's music</a> Listen to samples of Theis’s music

Performing at different places around campus and a few bars here and there, Theis said he loves entertaining a crowd and seeing how different people react to his music.

“I basically started recording music when I was 16 and since then, I’ve made somewhere around 200 songs,” he said. “Most of them need more work, but like anything else in life – practice makes perfect.”

Already having made three different mixtapes, each with at least 30 songs, Theis said the main thing he wants to do right now is get people familiar with his music.

“I’m from Paola, Kan., which is only about 30 minutes away,” he said. “Most people there are aware of what I’m doing, a lot of people at Baker know, but for the most part people are clueless. I don’t really try to go out of my way to make it known because it is still just a hobby to me. Obviously, I’d like for that to be different, but it is what it is.”

Theis’ roommate, junior Mikey Meyer, said he mostly sees him working on songs at night after he has already finished all of his other work.

“I’m a big fan of his music, and I am glad that people have gotten to hear what he has to say,” Meyer said. “He is good at what he does, and he enjoys it – that’s all that matters.”

With music being a major part of his life in many aspects, Theis said the music he listens to influences both the style and variety of what he writes on paper.

“Even though music has an impact on what I listen to, I think I have my unique style for the most part,” he said. “If you listen to one of my records you’re going to get a little bit of everything: story songs, hype songs, relationship songs, a few club mixes and music you can just relax to. Basically, just hip-hop in every aspect and style.”

Senior Tylor St. Clair said he has heard Theis rap at a couple fraternity houses and always likes it when he gets onstage.

“I think his freestyling is the best because he is so good at it,” St. Clair said. “There will be a bunch of us hanging out, and he will just start rapping and everyone always likes it because it’s so different.”

While not every artist has a favorite song or group he or she listens to, Theis said there are a couple artists whose records he can’t put down.

“Lately, I’ve been listening to a lot of Lupe Fiasco and Joe Budden,” he said. “I listen to a lot of underground hip-hop, everything from Atmosphere to Saigon. I love Eminem’s older stuff, Jay-Z, Common, Tech N9ne, Talib Kweli and of course, Tupac. I hate the radio with a passion, and I’m tired of walking it out, but I’ll lean back on occasion.”

With aspirations of compiling something official before graduating, Theis said as for right now he is just enjoying what he likes to do as his hobby.

“I think everyone can relate to at least one song I have done,” he said. “Every song has a message – some more than others, but I try my hardest to keep my music as real as possible. I don’t have a gun, a nice car, or a lot of hoes, and even if I did I wouldn’t rap about it. My only focus is making passionate music that I enjoy and that people can relate to.”