Alum seeks ‘White Rapper’ fame
January 22, 2007 by EMILY YOCCO
Filed under Variety
Timothy “T-Mo” Rasmussen was always a well-known face at the University – as an orientation leader, performer, journalist and most importantly, rapper.
Until recently, however, his face had yet to conquer national television.
T-Mo, a 2005 University graduate, is one of 10 contestants starring in “Ego Trip’s (White) Rapper Show,” a new reality TV series that premiered Jan. 8 on VH1.
The show, which features new episodes every Monday at 10 p.m., challenges its contestants to “test their musical cred, knowledge of hip-hop culture and their ideas about race along the way,” according to the VH1 Web site.
In other words, 23-year-old T-Mo, better known as $hamrock on the show, must live with nine other rappers in South Bronx and hope he is the last rapper standing. The winner receives a $100,000 grand prize and a record contract.
“We were in the hood, straight up, like the birthplace of hip-hop,” T-Mo said in a phone interview. “It was intense – it was crazy.”
Although initially wary about appearing on a reality TV show, T-Mo went to his first audition in Buckhead after VH1 contacted him in early 2006.
“I just had to spit 16 bars, give a little info on myself, and I had to freestyle,” he said.
VH1 called T-Mo shortly thereafter, told him to pack a suitcase with a month’s worth of clothes, and flew him to Manhattan for his second audition.
Although tens of thousands of rappers initially tried out, only 45 were called back to New York.
“There were all kinds of characters there,” T-Mo said.
In the show’s first episode, “Tha White House,” the contestants auditioned in front of MC Serch and Prince Paul and afterwards found out if they made the show.
While the show may be T-Mo’s first experience on national TV, it is certainly not the first time the self-proclaimed “Atlanta nomad” has been in the spotlight.
In fact, he made his stage debut at a University talent show, took home first place honors, and soon opened for The Roots at a concert on Legion Field.
“I’ve always been rappin’, but it wasn’t until college that I did my first talent show,” he said.
As an orientation leader during the summer of 2004, T-Mo had the opportunity to perform in front of hundreds of people every two days.
“I remember when I came to UGA, I felt like I didn’t fit in,” T-Mo said. “You can still fit in, as long as you do ‘you.’”
During this time, T-Mo and a friend, DJ Mays, who spins at the Ritz downtown, worked on music in their dorm rooms and put together a track listing, he said.
T-Mo performed at a lot of house parties, especially those hosted by the track team, as DJ Mays was a track member.
In doing so, T-Mo met his current producer, Luney Tunez N Yo Area, who he has been with since 2005.
Although he has been asked not to talk about the VH1 show, T-Mo is proud that the series is demonstrating the importance of hip-hop in today’s culture, especially in white America.
“White kids who are involved in hip-hop aren’t trying to be posers,” he said. “We’re not just following a trend – it’s the same thing as kids who want to be in rock ‘n’ roll.”
The entire experience has been eye-opening for T-Mo whose first trip to New York was, in fact, the time he spent on “The (White) Rapper Show.”
“It’s interesting when you shed light on the fact that it’s less about race, about black or white,” he said.
“Hip-hop is definitely about economic standing – it’s music for the masses, and the masses are on the lower end of the spectrum.”
