Always sing singing about bling blinging, and the quality has plummeted, especially with Hip Hop. The ingredients of a successful emcee consists of a sprinkle of Hip Hop history, a dash of its present, and a cup of its future, all mixed with attitude, determination and talent oldheads claim that "young buls" don't know nothing 'bout no good music. Let's not forget the ability to stay humble. How many MC's can you name that have that proper formula? Still thinking? I'll give you a few more seconds.... Well, I got at least one for you right now.

Understanding the past
As a child, Rashad aka '6-Mill' faced struggles that later etched his sketch for rhyming. He was born in North Philadelphia, but remained a rolling stone, living in every part of the Philadelphia region from Southwest Philadelphia to Germantown. His mother died of cancer when he was young, which caused him and his brother to be placed with their grandparents. Things became hectic around the household, and his grandparents sent them to Scotland School in Scotland, Pennsylvania (in the Greater Pittsburgh Region). 6-Mill was in fourth grade when this transition took place. He explains the journey, "Scotland was good for sports, but it was 95 percent African American, and our caretakers were Caucasian. They didn't understand anything about city kids, so they placed some unnecessary restraints on us." While at Scotland, he befriended Elixir, a fellow emcee. Elixir was a residential assistant in the dorms, which catapulted 6-Mill to realizing his hunger for Hip Hop. "Although we were younger, Lix used to have us all in his room just freestyling," he says.

Upon his graduation in 1999, 6-Mill went on to Bloomsburg University to play football. In college, he took every opportunity to perform in talent shows and emcee battles. People started to notice his passion for music. He struggled with many decisions, one being the choice between football and Hip Hop. He explains, "I loved football, and I loved music. I couldn't have my heart here and soul there, or body here and mind there." He let music take control of his life, and left his football career at Bloomsburg. Even knowing that football had the possibility of proving to be successful, 6- Mill has no regrets, "Football was seasonal, but Hip Hop was all year around. It seemed like a rational decision." This was a chance he wasn't going to debate; he left college, and ran with being an MC, proving that life is not only about chances, but choices.

Living in the present
6-Mill became motivated when he noticed others putting their time, money and efforts into his musical career. "I thought to myself about all the people that had that much confidence to put their all into me, and I realized that I should have the same faith in myself," he says. With a hard working manager and friend (Miz) and focused producer (DJ Surv), 6-Mill recognized that it was time to get to work. The end result of his first efforts proved victorious with the completion of a mixtape last summer and a demo that gave him a good buzz in the streets. 6-Mill stayed busy constantly impressing people with his ill freestyle ability by battling within different ciphers in various cities.

He performed with Elixir on different occasions serving as his hype man, but in this city, being a hype man isn't enough to gain respect in the Hip Hop arena. Everyone knows that in Philly, you don't get respect easily. 6-Mill is on a mission to not let the struggle or climb break him. The beast inside his belly is aching and raging to be released. You'll have a chance to witness that beast on his upcoming mixtape that is going to bless the world in January, 2004. The mixtape is a little bit of everything from party tracks to the typical ode to the beautiful beings known as women. He wants to be the voice for the people while providing an escape for them. An escape that takes you inside his life, bar by bar.

Understanding the future
Like his namesake the 6-Million Dollar Man, 6-Mill identifies with the sense of being indestructible. He says, "I want to be on a level above everyone else. I know where I want to go." 6-Mill definitely spreads the love. Often he takes cats from his neighborhood to the studio with him, so they can see the realistic side of the business, including the hard work and sacrifices that have to be made. He wants them to explore and see possibilities even if they don't execute the dream. He understands that environment is a factor, but never wants anyone to use that excuse to limit themselves. He recognizes that it's nurturing the competition, but that is what gives you strength and motivation. Emphasizing wordplay, 6-Mill wants to manipulate you into thinking the opposite of what you thought it was going to be. Pay attention, and think about that again. You'll eventually get it.

When it boils down to it, 6-Milll wants to inspire people through the inspiration that Hip Hop has given to him. He knows all about failure, but won't let that influence this chance that he's been given. He admits that he still must grow within and that will direct his future. Spoken like a true MC, "What I have to bring to the game has yet to be seen; I'm still discovering myself."

***For more info on 6-Mil contact his manager Miz at 215-828-9956