Scooby Da Kid, Oxford’s favorite rapper that you’ve never heard of, records in a converted shed in the backyard of his home. He’s crammed in two 10-inchs speakers, midi controller, drum pads, and a TV hooked up to the computer. Opposite the workstation, against the sound treated wall, is a worn in couch. In the room are Scooby and his two friends and partners, Ethan and Ryan.
“I feel like music should be all love,” said Scooby. “I don’t think I’m a better human being than anyone else, but I think I’m a better M.C than anyone else.”
The M.C. has released two music videos as well as an interview piece through TopChart Productions that are hosted on the company’s YouTube channel.
“I wanted to give them the other perspective,” said Scooby. “Show them that yeah I make that type of music, but I’m also more intelligent than you might think.”
The artist was born in Oxford but moved to Greenwood, North Carolina until returning to Oxford two years ago at age 18. Since then Scooby has been actively recording and releasing projects online but has yet to find much local traction.
“There’s not that many venues for it,” said Scooby. “There’s no place to even do an open mic.”
The rapper points out that The Square, and Oxford in general, has a lacking presence of hip-hop entertainment, but that there also isn’t a united push from the community.
“Nobody wants to put anybody on and work together,” said Scooby. “I’ve thought about doing a cypher, but no one wants to get on the beat together. It’s like, if you’re really as nice as you say you are then you wouldn’t be afraid.”
For Scooby, this is his passion project, not just a hobby. He’s investing everything he can into producing the music he can.
“Nobody wants to put anything into it anymore,” said Scooby. “People want to release a single and have it pop. It doesn’t work like that though.”
In 2017 Scooby plans to release seven singles accompanied by seven music videos. Following that up in 2018 he intends to release seven mixtapes featuring seven tracks each that will have a single and music video.
“I’m going to release so much that you won’t be able to ignore it,” said Scooby. “You’re gonna be wondering who this kid is releasing 7 mixtapes in a year.”