Forth-N-Back resurrects early '90s hip-hop spirit

Three C of C Jazz students and one freestyling word artist make up local band Forth-N-Back. With a sound that harks back to the early '90s masters of hip-hop - A Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Wu Tang, De La Soul - you can bet they bring something original to the local music community. Professing an infusion of swinging drum beats, funky bass lines, jazz and raw, honest vocals, these guys dream of reforming hip-hop culture. For now, they're content to make their mark in a place where they stand out.

Preview chatted with vocalist Femi Oyediran about injecting hip-hop into the Charleston music scene.

What's with the name?: Forth-N-Back is the name of a Slum Village song, from their first album, "Fantastic Volume 1." It's so hip-hop, it was perfect. We are just trying to get people into the music, rocking forth and back.

How did the group come together?: Adam and Jordan and Will are all part of the jazz program at College of Charleston, all involved with jazz combo. Adam and I have been friends since our freshman year. We wanted to start a hip-hop band, so one day we got together. After we played we all had chills at the end, it felt like straight-up magic.

What do you think of Charleston's hip-hop scene?: There are so many people who love the stuff that we're doing. There aren't many feeding the need, so that's what we set out to do. We want to put ourselves out there for the community and eventually make it across the East Coast to represent a hip-hop voice from Charleston.

What have you been listening to recently?: Fela Kuti, The Roots, Naz, A Tribe Called Quest, Pharoahe Monch, Mos Def, J-Dilla

What are your upcoming projects?: We're having an event at The Black Cart on Saturday. Some local DJs will start out the show spinning on vinyl to warm things up. It's just a celebration of hip hop and culture. Lots of dancing, drinks, it's going to be a great time.

What's a typical show like?: The local DJs, Tony and Hunter usually start out and set the vibe for the night. Those guys are a rare gem to find. They're talented. Tony has a really keen understanding of jazz and hip-hop, and they know how to create the vibe. When you hear their music, you hear our influences. People roll in around 11, at 12 you're in a fresh hip-hop mode and then we come in and rock it out for the rest of the evening. At the first The Roots shows I went to, the opening MC for the night was this guy who was playing old school jazz. He was talking to crowd, and really getting people wound up. When I first walked in, I was tired and not really into the show, but he got me into it. ... I was ready to go right from there. That was my goal here, to get the DJs going, then we just throw it in. Like Jay Z says, "Fresh off the frying pan, into the fryer."

How often do you practice?: We practice about four times a week. We jam a lot. I put on a song that I really like. Will picks up the baseline on it, Adam starts playing the drum beat, Jordan comes in on the keys. Everyone brings everything into practice. We record our practices, so we can jam and bring stuff, then later build on top of it.

How does freestyling play into practices?: I freestyle in its true form. I hear the baseline, the chords, the keys and say what's on my mind. I think of whatever fits the sound of the beat that I'm hearing right then, and I just go off.

What's been on your mind lately: Lately I think it's hard times that have been on everyone's minds. That affects people in so many ways. There's also warfare and politics. The words build on the effects of certain things. I'm like an observer. I write about things that I see in life. I'm observing things that are going on around me and what's on my mind, and relaying them in a creative way.

Are you in a local band? We want to talk to you. E-mail localbands@postandcourier.com.