Feature Article (taken from the Hilltopper): Student Rapper Tries to Make it in Austin

At an age when most St. Edward's University students are working on Capstone papers, Austin-based rapper and St. Ed's student Clark Perry is working on his fifth album in four years. Perry has recorded and performed everywhere from Los Angeles to Belgium, and opened for the likes of Hanson and Devin the Dude. With an unwavering work ethic, confident flow and witty lyrics, Perry just might turn Austin's barren hip hop scene into something worthwhile.

The fact that Clark Perry raps at all comes as a surprise to most people initially. He looks more like the front man of an indie rock band or an actor in a quirky comedy than an MC. He's soft-spoken and even a little nerdy, but carries himself with the swagger of an artist who knows he's good at what he does.

Despite his current confidence, even Perry admitted he would never have imagined himself rapping just a few years ago.

"I didn't listen to music for a long time," he said. "I didn't even own a CD player until I was 14."

Then, Perry heard Eminem and developed a passion for hip hop. Perry said he related to Eminem's identity as a white rapper.

"His sense of humor and in-your-face attitude played a part too," Perry said.

Perry jumped into music headfirst and put out his first album, "Watered Down", under the name "Greyt Whyte" in 2003. Selling mostly to his fellow students at Austin High School, Perry moved an estimated 1,000 copies of "Watered Down". His success gave him the confidence he needed to work to get better.

After recording two more albums, 2004's "Indecision" and 2005's "First Wave", Perry left the United States to study in Spain, a move that would advance his career and permanently change his life.

"I was so inspired by everything around me," he said. "I got to hang out with the most famous rap group in Belgium, roll with London rappers, German rappers, a Romanian producer. Everywhere I went I was hooking up with the local people."

Perry said meeting these people provided him with material for his latest effort, "Barcelona On Ice", an album that plays like a love letter to Europe. Perry worked on "Barcelona" with renowned European producer Smimooz, and addressed topics such as Europeans' negative attitude toward Americans.

"All of that made me a new breed of enlightened, multi-cultural party rapper," he said.

Perry is currently back in Austin and he said he is still struggling to make a name for himself in a city that calls itself "The Live Music Capital of the World", but has yet to truly make room for hip hop.

"I've been doing this a really long time, and still don't feel like I've gotten much attention," Perry said. "Bavu Blakes is probably the biggest rapper in Austin, and still, the average person doesn't know his name. I've never even been to ACL because it's not like there are many rap acts playing."

Perry is determined to break through to a wider audience, and despite being in a less than ideal locale for his type of music, he remains optimistic. He has recently started work on his fifth album, "Danger to Myself".

At only 22 years old, Perry has accomplished far more than many of Austin's other musicians and has the potential to go even further. Maybe he'll be the one to change the pecking order here and help this city escape from the shadow of Houston and make a name for itself in the world of rap. But even if he doesn't, hip hop has already taken Clark Perry exactly where he wants to be.