more than just higher education began in the Mae Smith dormitory during 1997.

Deep Impact, a hip-hop/ R&B trio consisting of one former and two current SIUC students has recently finished its first album, expected to be released to stores sometime this month.

The trio began with two SIU students from Chicago, who had the same appreciation of fluid sounds. Floor 16 was the home for Rolfe Clay and Jawaad Kirkwood. It was between the hallways, laundry rooms and elevators that they were able to find the talent in one another that would soon become one.

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The duo entered a talent show in 1997 offered by the Black Affairs Council. Masakama Cooper heard their performance, searched them out and produced the band’s first material.

It was only a short time before Rolfe’s younger brother Ali danced his way into the group with his on key beat abilities. Ali, a freshman at SIU this year, moved to Carbondale his senior year of high school to spend more time working on their album.

“It was worth it. I wanted to graduate with the rest of my class, but it was worth the move,” said Ali.

Deep Impact’s music sounds like no other. Labeled as both hip-hop and R&B, the CD is a compilation of music ranging from reggae to jazz, stepping, hip-hop and R&B.

“Everything is hip-hop because hip-hop is a culture, an expanding culture. New styles are created daily,” Jawaad said.

Ali has gained musical experience from playing the piano for years. The new album is an eye-widener showcasing his musical capabilities. His style and interests have expanded to endless limits.

“I used to play in class. I got used to music by getting an ear for it,” Ali said.

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Jawaad labels himself as a natural entertainer, and Deep Impact can be thought of the same way. It is the utmost respect the group holds for each individual who has done anything to encourage Deep Impact’s musical career. The artists love to embrace those who have helped them along the way. A caring nature is held deep within the voices of Deep Impact. The music allows a relationship between the body of the listener and the heart of the artist.

“The experience and familiarity with ourselves help us along,” Jawaad said.

It is inspirational to get love and support from all of our people. We have a lot of blessings and a spiritual guardian.

It was last September that the group began working on their album. One song, “The Crisis,” has to do with the tragedy the world was forced to deal with and understand on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. The song begins with an announcement, “The two Twin Towers have just been hit by a commercial airliner.” The song gives acknowledgement to “the soldier that died in the war zone, to the mother that doesn’t have a child coming home, to the wives of the men who defend the nation, stay strong, keep movin’ on.”

“Ninety-five percent of poetry is about life. Music comes from experiences and dreams,” Jawaad said. “It paints pictures.”

The song “The Crisis” is a home run for Ali, who had to deal with his brother Rolfe performing the duties of an officer in the National Guard.

According to Deep Impact, SIU’s own Digi Dawg Record Label is the vehicle that got this team moving.

“I want them to succeed. The messages they send, they really believe,” said Phyllis Johnson, faculty advisor of Digi Dawg.

“The big dream together. We have nothing but love and support for them (Digi Dawg Productions). We’ll holla at them at the Grammy’s,” Jawaad said.

Deep Impact and Digi Dawg Records have worked closely together, both striving for a big break in the music industry.

“This is all a growing experience,” Jawaad said.

The first step was having a song on a CD. The second step was hearing their words out of the mouths of their friends. The third step was performing with celebrities, such as Twista at the SIU Arena in 1998.

The team has recently heard its music play through the speakers inside Carboz, The Barn and The Sports Center. During the song, “Too Young,” each band member watched the empty dance floor at Carboz become flooded with listeners dancing to Deep Impact.

“It was the coolest feeling. It was like, they are really dancing. It’s the first time they heard it and they liked it,” Jawaad said. “We were like spies. No one knew it was us who was singing, so we just watched them enjoy our music.”

Right now everything is fun for the group. With one mountain already climbed, the CD is finished. The next adventure is finding a national record label, such as Universal, Epic, Def Jam or Jive to sign with. They are currently meeting with different record A&R representatives and have gotten a lot of good feedback.

“We are feeling our socks to see which is most comfortable,” Jawaad said.

Deep Impact is currently played on 101.5, WCIL-FM, and nationally on Top 40 radio stations. There is no profanity in the lyrics, maybe because their mothers are their biggest fans.

According to the group, “Our parents have to hear our music.”

Reporter Jackie Keane at [email protected]