Eighteen months ago, DJ Rude One of the production duo known as the Single Minded Pros promised that he and co-beat cultivator Doc West would release an album that featured rap / hip-hop legend Kool G Rap.

It was quite a pledge from a tandem who had never released anything more than a pair of 12-inch singles. Sure, they were critically acclaimed singles, but they were talking about Kool G Rap of Marley Marl's Juice Crew and the classic track "The Road to the Riches," the rap / hip-hop legend who had penned classics ranging from "Erase Racism" to "Ill Street Blues," and who had been recognized by rap artists ranging from Eminem to the RZA to the Roots.

"To be honest, I had never heard of Single Minded," G Rap says. "But [Rude One] was able to contact me and they came out to the crib and we knocked [the single] out. They turned out to be real cool cats."

In the end, not only did the Single Minded Pros get G Rap, his wife, Ma Barker, also blesses the single, "You Know I''m Wit It."

"They came out for the G Rap collaboration and they got the whole entree," G Rap says. "Chicago has always been real good to me, so there was no question about giving back."

"We are the first Chicago artists to ever collaborate with G Rap," Rude One says. "That's a big deal."

Tonight at Metro, the Single Minded Pros will celebrate the release of their album "From Now On." Not only is Kool G Rap on the album -- he's coming out for the party.

But the success of the Single Minded Pros doesn''t end with that track. For "From Now On," they attracted East Coast underground stars like Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, Louis Logic, Pace Won and C-Rayz Walz. They also didn''t forget where they''re from. The album features fire from Chicago artists like Juice, Iomos Marad, Earatik Statik, Profound and Rubberoom.

Earatik Statik's Abstruse Tone says the ability the Single Minded Pros to attract such a varied and talented pool of artists has to do with their approach.

"When you get a CD of beats from them, it's not like it is with other producers," he says. "Most producers will send you a CD full of beats and it's a shot in the dark whether anything will be right for you. [Rude One] and Doc really listen to your songs and they personally cater beats to you. So there may only be five beats on the CD, but all five beats will be made just for you."

Doc West said this approach doesn''t constrict their possibilities to any one sound or style. Because the Single Minded Pros are making beats for MCs rather than mass-producing them, they are able to manipulate sounds to fit a particular MC's voice and delivery.

As a result, the beats on "From Now On" range from the Kabuki strumming of Shabaam Shadeeq's "Death Bells" to the dark strings of Kool G Rap and Ma Barker's "You Know I''m Wit It."

A major marketing plan also is planned for the release. Write-ups are slated from publications ranging from URB to The Source.

"We will have distribution not only in the mom and pops [record stores], but also in Virgin and Tower," Rude One says. "And, thanks to George's Music Room, we''re getting a billboard on I-290. "

In the end, though, G Rap says, the ultimate key to Single Minded's success will be their dedication to hip-hop.

"We''ve got to keep real hip-hop going, so it's important to work with cats who have that as their goal."

Source: SunTimes