What’s in a name? Well when you are talking about up and coming hip-hop superstar “The Astronomical Kid” his name says it all. “Astro” as he is known to friends and fans epitomizes many if not all of the correlations attributed to his name. Prodigious, epic, massive, are all perfect descriptions of Astro’s appeal and talent. This kid is a monster when it comes to writing and rhyming!!! Yes, he writes his own rhymes!!! Anyone having had the opportunity to experience an “Astronomical Kid” performance or have had the privilege of owning an “Astronomical Kid” CD can testify to the monumental impact this kid is sure to leave on the world of hip-hop. In an industry many fear is disintegrating because of a lack of true emcees, Astro brings forth a new energy with his versatile flows and straight from the gut deliveries. He has revived the hunger for true hip-hop in the souls of rap fans everywhere. At just fourteen years old he has established himself as more than just another child rapper, he is a respected lyricist.

Born and raised in New York where he resides with his mother, Astro attends high school in the Bedstuy area of Brooklyn. What sets this young emcee apart from other rappers is his ability to conceptualize and convey his thoughts over any track, in such a way that evokes nostalgia in the hearts of old school hip-hop followers, all the while providing a fresh new sound that is sure to get the heads of the new hip-hop generation bopping. A contradiction in and of himself, Astro is a diehard old school rap fanatic. He spends much of his time studying the lyrical styles of artist in the likes of Rakim, KRS1 and Run DMC, just to name a few. Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls and Nas also serve as sources of influence for Astro. His greatest musical influence however, is Jay-Z, to whom he is often compared.

Astro has developed into a force to be reckoned with, ensuring that all who attends his shows will leave feeling thoroughly entertained. The kid is a beast on the stage!!! After years of hard work or “paying his dues” as they say in the industry, 2010 proved to be the breakout year for Astro, gaining him much deserved recognition. Never a disappointment, Astro continues to wow audiences along the east coast, performing a medley of his hits at events such as; the Kiss 101.7 2010 Spring Jam, where he opened for B.O.B, Fat Joe, Melanie Fiona and Cali Swag District, The Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, The City of Wilmington Delaware, The NYC Board of Education, the legandary Webster Hall in MYC and the Alabama Family Fest in Birmingham, AL where he opened for Chrisette Michelle, Kelly Price and J. Moss. All of which was just the beginning! Following the release of his first music video “Stop Looking at My Momz” aptly named after his single, Astro has joined the ranks of fellow Youtube teen sensations turned superstars; Justin Beiber, Diggy Simmons and Soulja Boy.

Astro’s undeniable talent has garnered the attention of everyone within earshot of his microphone, earning him a ¾ page write-up in the New York Daily News, an invitation to speak at the NYC Council against Street harassment of girls and women, mentions on all of the major hip-hop blog sites, including multiple features on Thisis50.com. Astro also gained the approval of one of the air ways’ most controversial personalities, Imus of the “Imus in the Morning” radio talk show. “Not stopping for a second” as the young phenom says in one of his rhymes, Astro is intent on world domination, saturating the media with features on BET’s “106 and Park” as well as dual features on MTV’s newest hit show “The Seven.” WPIX 11, Fox 5’s Good Day New York and Brooklyn News 12 are only a few of the programs on which Astro has made appearances. He is also featured in the December 2010 issue of The Source Magazine in their “Unsigned Hype” segment as one of rap’s burgeoning up and comers.

At fourteen years old Astro feels blessed by the manifestation of his dreams. With each performance he takes one step closer to becoming the artist he was born to be. His rapidly growing fan base reflects just how true to the game he is. In an era where getting up on a stage and just spitting a hot sixteen bars doesn’t cut it anymore, Astro gives a show that no one will soon forget, it’s an experience that cannot be explained, only felt. Dubbed “The Hip-hop Resurrector, “The Lyric Perfector” Astro is in two words… The Truth!!!

For everyone who knew hip-hop when she was about raw lyrical skillz and flaming deliveries, before she became the guinea pig for every wanna-be emcee across the board, dust off your boom box, lace up your Adidas and let The Astronomical Kid take you back to hip-hop. Buckle up and enjoy the Astronomical ride!

Chris Sullivan 33 is following