Rap / Hip Hop

Big Tuck bears a heavy burden on his burly shoulders, a sense of responsibility and duty that propels his major-label debut.
Big Tuck is one big ball of contradictions. On his CDs, the Dallas rapper spits out gritty tales about the thug life.

But in real life, he's a college-educated music major who loves Miles Davis and Nirvana. CREEPIN' ON A COME-UP: Thanks to his million-selling 2004 debut, Aliaune Thiam, a.k.

a. Akon, has gone from derelict to dignitary status in his native Senegal, and has ridden shotgun on hits with Young Jeezy, Gwen Stefani and the Pied Piper himself, R. Kelly.

Konvicted continues to provide music for the streets and in between the sheets, with some heavy-hitting collaborations and introspective moments about the pros and cons of thug life.
THE REAL EMO: Like the Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and the late Jeff Buckley, Damien Rice sings as though shepherding heart and soul through a world that means them nothing but harm. At the same time, Mr.

Rice expresses unprotected emotions, embracing kisses and punches with equal ardor. That bruised quality isn't exactly available on demand, which might explain the three-year gap between his debut album, O, and its follow-up, 9.

2006, Published by The Providence Journal Co.

, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.