Retrospective
Grade school brings back memories of arts and crafts with popsicle sticks, toothless pictures, metal lunchboxes, hair lice checks, Double Dutch, and when you thought the opposite sex was just plain gross! It also brought one of Philadelphia's current creative duo together. Justin aka Happ G, and Anwar aka Scandal make up the outrageous 40th Dimension. Scandal was surrounded by music all of his life. Not only was his father a jazz musician, his sister used to chill with a member of one of Philly's premier Hip Hop groups (don't try to be nosy..I'm not going to tell you), his next-door neighbor was a DJ, and his neighbors included Will Smith. Scandal won a scholarship in third grade that would pay for his private education through high school. Scandal says, "This made my mom so happy." Growing up he would kick cyphers on the block and at various parties around Mt. Airy. Scan eventually landed an internship at Studio 4, and found himself rhyming with a solid group of 10 -14 kids to any type of beat and any type of music. "If it was country music, I'd still kick a cypher." With one older sister, and one young sister, Scandal reminisces about hanging with them, "She used to take me to the studio and leave me there with various emcees. I would listen to the beats and just move my head, and then one of them heard that I rhyme. I really didn't want to rhyme in front of them, but they kept asking, so I delivered." Scan amazed and startled them with his content and skill. After graduating from high school, Scan ventured to Binghamton University in upstate New York with partial help from his basketball talent. Coincidentally, a few miles (well, more than a few) down the road, the other half of 40th Dimension was attending New York University. After many visits to NYU to see Happ G, Scan realized he wanted to musically link up with someone who was serious, had something going on, and ambition to succeed. That desire led to the 1998 birth of 40th Dimension.

There's no place like home
Making the transition from high school to college sometimes isn't healthy on your mind, your body or your soul, especially when you ache and crave to do something else. A combination of things made Scandal realize that school wasn't right for him at that time. "Music is what I wanted to do. I was going to school for the wrong reasons." With that mindset, he packed up and headed back to the Illadelph. Something about this city is addictive and no matter what, everyone comes back. Pride can be beneficial and also harmful. 40D's first release was The Clarence Beeks Project, and their first show was at Northwestern University in Chicago opening for All Natural. "I was a fan far before I was a participant." Scandal wants to stay down with everyone. Scan recognizes that there are way more important things to do then beef with someone. "I welcome criticism. If you don't like what I'm doing, then I ask you why. People need to recognize that when someone hates, it makes that many more people curious."

If anyone has followed Scan's freestyle career, they can surely see the growth in his rhymes and concentration, "I used to worry about every word, getting it out and making sure it was clear." Scan learned that he had to relax, have fun with the lyrics and just flow. The articulation in his words is phenomenal. "Reggae influenced me in writing." Added to the versatile, witty, social conscious and funny lyrics that he writes, he says them with feeling, and a way that makes you listen. It's not preaching, it's spreading what you think, what you know and what you think you know. The Philadelphia Hip Hop scene is just bubbling right now. There are so many people doing their thing, that you don't know who's going to blow." Included among that category for Scan is the Arrakis Records familyamily, Louis Logic, The Roots, and someone who he is thankful to have met and collaborated with, Reef. In describing the Philly scene, Scan says, "There isn't enough ground level support in the Philadelphia Hip Hop scene. No one wants to share and will only support if it benefits them. Unnamed heads don't have an outlet, and no one wants to integrate the successful ones with the unsuccessful ones." It's easy to complain and hard to change, that's why Scan tries to hit all spots, enjoy himself and support whoever is in this struggle with him and Happ G. Scan speaks very wisely when he says, "I am not going to hate on anyone, cause if you don't believe in someone's success, then how do you know it's going to happen to you?"

Contemporary Lyricist
I've painted a picture of such a nice, young, energetic man. A man that any mother would love for their daughter to marry (don't even think about it, he's happily in love). He describes to me his temper, which was unnecessary because I can see it in his hand. Why do men punch walls?, as if it some sign of masculinity! "I always want things to work out, and for there to be no tension. If someone is the cause of that vision, I get tremendously upset." He often let's things build up and all at once, it just blows up, I guess that's why he smokes cigarettes. I ask Happ for an overview of Scandal, he says, "Scan is the sickest writer. He is quick, ill, and easy to produce. He adapts his rhymes to different beats, and has charisma on and off stage."
The first time I saw Scandal, I just laughed and laughed. He has an energetic, funny personality that is very contagious. The relationship between him and Happ G is built strong on a foundation of respect, love, history, the vibe of this culture and music. Scan is not leaving Philly anytime soon. "I want to be an oldhead here in the studio telling people how I used to do all this stuff." 40D plans to expand their talents to restaurants, stores, theaters, basically anything and everything based on Hip Hop. Besides their latest release called, Crop Report, it's impossible for me to cover all the things 40D has up and coming as well as what they have done, stay tuned next week for the other half of 40D, Happ G and check the website for more information. For now, I'll leave you with a quote from Scan that summarizes his purpose and his mission, "If it's called on for me to spit, I'll spit. I will stay true and be an MC to hold it down for anyone."

Article by Deesha
June, 2002