R<$>AP fans were able to get up close and personal with international rap star Tightest Whitest during a whistle-stop visit last week, thanks to the efforts of a local entrepreneur and her stateside associates.L.A. Virgil’s musical ties in the US and her passion of always trying to promote up-and-coming talent has helped put Bermuda on the map.

She had made the connection abroad to introduce Tightest’s music to Bermuda’s young market. She is an ASCAP songwriter and an associate member on the Grammy Board on the east coast.

Ms Virgil and her associates, one of whom is Gayle Morris, the sister of Nate Morris of Boys II Men, negotiated a deal between PHAM (Philadelphia Alliance Of Music) and a chosen Bermudian artist.

Coming up in humble surroundings in Peoria, Illinois, the rapper known as Tightest Whitest was the kid who was an anomaly. As a white rapper outside of Vanilla Ice, Eminem and Bubba Sparxx, he was virtually unheard of.

‘When I chose to become a rapper or I should say when rap chose me, my parents saw it coming. I rap on anything and rap about everything. When asked how he copes with the ‘haters’ (naysayers/negative criticism), his reply was: “A hater is gonna hate and those who love rap are gonna love me!

“That’s how I overcame the reverse discrimination and silenced the haters. When they hate it is free press for me because, hey, they are calling my name and keeping it out there!”

As Tightest continues to be a force to be reckoned with, he recalled how he rose through the ranks of the hip-hop hierarchy.

“I’m an army of one. When I’m on stage you’ll remember me. I used to fight UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) style before making a transition to battle rapping. I don’t get hurt rapping and when I battle rapped I smashed the competition,” he said.

It is without a doubt his take-no-prisoners attitude from the days of battling in Octagon to the adrenaline charged night club circuit that has tongues wagging.

He said the name Tightest was given to him by his fans when he would be battle rapping.

“Even my mom calls me Tightest! They used to come up to me and say, ‘Man, you are the tightest, whitest rapper we have heard.’ The name stuck and I do what I do best and that is spit fire when I am on the mic.”

I had a chance to listen to one of his CDs and Tightest has a unique style that reflects his life’s experiences and his delivery is, for lack of a better term, ‘tight’.

He continues to move from strength to strength as he has opened for such rap notables as Juvenile, Kanye West, Trina, 2 Live Crew, Bow Wow and has headlined with Ohio’s own Bone Thugs N Harmony.

Tightest Whitest is high-energy 24/7 and says for six months he is on the road touring and when he is not rocking the mic and selling out venues he is penning his lyrics.

“I have a couple of hundred songs written and if I were to die, I have enough material to put out five more albums,” he said with a laugh.

The ‘Tight One’ usually freestyles his rhymes and then puts them to paper and, contrary to popular belief, all of his lyrics are his own and does not have anyone writing his lyrics for him.

Knowing that many artists reach their true value after their passing, Tightest isn’t content to wait that long and his track Booty debuted at No. 3 on Power 92, Central Illinois’ premier radio station.

His offering was hot on the heels of Eminem and Nelly. The night after Booty had hit the airwaves it quickly skyrocketed to the top spot and secured that berth for three solid weeks on the Pepsi Top Nine at Ten Countdown.

He credits his success to being able to do something no one else has done.

“When I am on stage you will remember me. My biggest fans are the ones who thrive on good lyrical content and love this type of music. You cannot like rap and not like me.

“The reality is people like good music. I rap outside of the box and I am doing what Eminem isn’t doing. I like to rap outside of the box. I do my own skits on the CD and I am like the Jim Carrey of rap. I am an animated guy.”

His track record is impressive for someone who has been in the game less then a decade and has taken the rap world by storm. Tightest also sings on some of his tracks and said that the combination of rhythm and blues and rap produces a good sound. When he was cutting his teeth in the rap world it took two years of dropping off CDs at the radio station to finally pay dividends and, according to Tightest, ‘good things come to those who wait’. Once the radio personalities got a taste of his material they knew they were on to something big.Unlike many of the gangster rappers, Tightest explains what he does on stage is for entertainment purposes and he does not live the thugged-out lifestyle like many of his counterparts.

“When I am on stage I tell a story and I let the fans know I have had the same experience as them. Many rappers do not differentiate between being a gangster and an entertainer and what does that get you other than in trouble? You can’t make money when you are in handcuffs and locked up!”

His manager Bryant Spry agreed with his client’s sentiments. “We keep it real like anything else and in this business you have to go outside of your comfort zone and people have had Tightest perform in Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany and England.”

Bryant said he and his company would be working closely with a chosen local artist, but was mum when asked who the artist was.

Bryant said in any given week he listens to more than 100 tracks submitted by hopefuls wanting to break into the business.

“We are passionate and an up-and-coming force and you will hear about us. Whether I reach Puffy’s (now called Diddy) status give me a call and I will talk to you.”

Bryant heaped kudos on his latest acquisition that he acquired from a colleague who did not know what to do with him.

“He is a character all unto himself and one of the easiest guys to work with.”

Both guys said they loved the Bermudian atmosphere and vow to return in the near future.