HIP-HOPULATION GROWTH

A few months ago, San Antonio hip-hop collective Assasyn Dynasty put their music to wax and elevated their entity (Culture Sound Records & the Blunt Factory), to new heights. Currently, they reign supreme on UndergroundHip-Hop.com, garnering the most downloads in the history of the website, courtesy of their 12-inch single "Vaccination" and the b-side "Sacrifice." Currently, the group is also opening for Main Flow, on his Hip-Hopulation Tour. Taz, one of the group's four standout MCs, reflects on their recent accomplishments.

Current: How long had you been on the site when you recorded the most hits?

Taz: We had been on there for about two months and then we were number one. We had like 4,000 hits and were getting about 500 hits a week after that, probably more.

Current: What were you competing with?

MAIN FLOW with RUIN, ASSASYN DYNASTY, DJ 7-ISH, HAPS W. DJ BEAN 8pm Friday, January 16 $10 The Lounge at Avenue B 1033 Avenue B 224-4005

Taz: We were battling with Dilated Peoples, going head-to-head with them for a minute and just blew past them after a while.

Current: As a young journeyman and underground cat, how is this significant for you?

Taz: At first I thought it was because our name begins with A. It's at the top of the list. The people who designed the website and run the website thought the same, but after a while, the numbers showed. It was because the song was just dope. I think people liked it because it was something totally different. The hook and especially the beat just grabbed people's attention as something new. If you hit the site, especially the reviews that people left on there, that's exactly what they said. They liked it because it seemed like that was exactly what they had been searching for and waiting to hear. •