There is virtually no such thing as "one-of-a-kind" in hip-hop. An art form that once prided itself on ingenuity seems to have reached its creative limits. Enter IOMOS MARAD (pronounced "eye-yo-mahz" "mu-rod"). IOMOS found his musical niche the hard way...by rocking shows in Chicago's over-crowded underground hip-hop scene. However, what clearly sets him apart from the pack in Chicago and the world is his ability to play the drums and rhyme, simultaneously. IOMOS began to take the big city underground circuits by storm in the 1990s. Touring nation-wide from NY to LA, he mesmerized audiences by kicking clever, poetic freestyles while delivering crisp strikes on the kick and the snare. Over the years he has acquired a reputation of stealing the show while heading up various renowned rap acts. Ultimately he hooked up with the All Natural Inc. label in December of 1998, and within one month of meeting, IOMOS and capital D recorded IOMOS' debut single "Deep Rooted." I-O's momentum was just beginning, soon thereafter he appeared on All Natural's club-friendly single "Elements of Style." This was then followed up by IOMOS' second single "L.I.F.E. (Living in Foul Environments)," As shown on the first song on IOMOS' full-length album "Deep Rooted" (released September 9, 2003 on All Natural Inc.). This album equipped with 16 banging tracks, was ranked ..4 in the Chicago Sun-times Notes From the Underground national review in December 03. Kicking flows in a seemingly effortless and natural cadence, IOMOS places his signature on every song on which he rhymes. An individual in the truest sense of the word, I-O was raised in Chicago's infamous "Wild Hundreds' by his mother. On the song "Show & Prove," I-O pays deserving homage to his mother & to the positive example she provided. The activist, God-fearing spirit instilled in IOMOS shines through on a number of his songs, but never more brightly than on "Each One, Teach One," his banging single that preceded I-O's debut album. IOMOS is eager to use his rhyming ability to speak the truth about God, Family, and Integrity, as he knows it. Both in terms of his artistic and personal life, IOMOS effectively uses solitude to reflect on self and the world around him. The result is a seasoned artist and individual who embodies much of hip-hop's best attributes...creativity, uniqueness, perseverance and flavor. Standing 6' 3" IOMOS casts a long shadow both literally and figuratively. He walks tall through the worlds gritty streets to the beat of a different drum...his own. All-to-often what is touted as the next big thing is no more than a rehash of the old. However, in his ability to defy and remake 'laws' governing talent and creativity...and in the simultaneous performance of a singularly original act...IOMOS MARAD single-handedly breathes life into a dying art form. Listen and Learn. the simultaneous performance of a singularly original act...IOMOS MARAD single-handedly breathes life into a dying art form. Listen and Learn. Personal Statement IOMOS MARAD is an acronym that stands for Infinite Options Manifesting One Solution and Massive Abundant Rhymes Always Directing. My first encounter with the musical expression of hip-hop was just to get exposure and to become a star like 95% of rappers of today. But as a human being you grow physically, mentally, & most importantly spiritually and as I grew my motives for doing this musical _expression changed. I decided that as a Master of Ceremonies (MC), GOD could use me to inform, teach, and guide listeners of all ages. I believe its very important to show young people that there is more to being a "rapper" than being a pimp, a hustler, or a gangster. My campaign resounds the fact that I do not advocate any of these characteristics or growing stereotypes. This is what separates me from my creative counterparts. My purpose lies in the promotion of truth, and the exposure of deception. In a world where the music industry is invited to numb our moral sense of social responsibility, I entertain my audience by appealing to the often- untapped consciousness. I find that people love to think of, listen to, and learn from good music - a powerful ministry. IOMOS MARAD Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.