ANYBODY KILLA

The turkey is all gone, even the measliest of scraps. The calendar is about to flip to December. And that one radio station has started playing nothing but incessant Christmas carols. Yes, it truly 'tis the season. And what better way to start the holidays off right than by stopping in at The Underground Dec. 3 for an extensive lineup of live acts topped by Detroit rapper ABK?

What, you didn't think a concert headlined by a hardcore rapper who goes by the moniker Anybody Killa would be high on the Christmas spirit? Think again.

"ABK's home for the holidays," the headliner recently pronounced in an interview with Funcoast.com. To show Sandusky he's feeling just as holly and jolly as anybody, ABK is planning to have on hand at The Underground what he calls a "two-song single jingle."

One-half of the jingle is a remake of the Christmas camp classic "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." Under the watchful eye of ABK, that holiday favorite has become "Grandma's House Got Robbed For A Case of Warm Beer." The B-side, if you will, is "Holiday Ho," which could quickly become a seasonal classic thanks to its catchy, alliterative title.

"It's about this guy who's in a relationship with this girl and she broke up with him right after he bought her all of this stuff," ABK said of the song. "He's just mad at her."

If ABK were a little mad himself right now, he could be forgiven - he went through a bit of a breakup himself earlier this year. For nearly half a decade, dating to 2001, ABK had been signed to Psychopathic Records, home to musical and face-painted brethren such as Insane Clown Posse, Twiztid and Blaze Ya Dead Homie. ABK had been on 13 separate national tours with Psychopathic.

But in February of this year, ABK and Psychopathic officially parted ways. While ABK admitted to minor disagreements with some of his label mates, the separation ultimately boiled down to contract differences, and ABK decided to get out before things got too ugly.

"It was starting to be a mixed vibe with everything, so I decided it was better to move on and it keep it at a good relationship," ABK said. "I didn't want to be staying there if people were going to be unhappy or I was going to be unhappy."

Which is not to say that ABK's departure left everybody content. The Psychopathic crew is known for its devoted fan base, and in the wake of his departure, ABK felt some of that zealousness turn against him. Time has healed the wounds for some, though, and many more of ABK's "Warriors" were there for him all along.

"There's a few fans that have turned their back a little bit, but some are slowly coming back," ABK said. "And a lot of them were always down with me 100 percent, having a good time, and I'd rather have the ones that were there for me anyway."

Ramifications of the departure from his former label have been felt in more tangible ways as well. While with Psychopathic, all ABK had to worry about was getting in the label's studios and laying down his tracks in the time allotted to him.

Now, with help from a much more intimate support staff, ABK is handling all aspects of the business himself as he prepare his next full-length CD, "Mudface," for a prospective early 2007 release. It can make for some long hours, but it also allows ABK a new level of involvement with his own projects.

"(At Psychopathic) they had the whole warehouse full of guys, shipping, getting phone interviews, booking shows," ABK said. "I have just a small crew now that does it ... It's more hands-on."

Taking a more active role in the musical side of things suits ABK just fine, as he's been immersed in music for as long as he can remember. ABK is of Native American descent, with his family belonging to the Lumbee tribe. During his formative years, ABK participated in powwow competitions and was well-versed in the art of Native American dance.

Add in the fact that ABK's father was a preacher whose son was inevitably seated alongside the piano on Sunday mornings, and you have the makings of a man destined to be in the music business.

"I went to regular Detroit schools Monday through Friday, Saturday I was at the Indian school downtown and Sunday I was always at church," ABK said. "I was dancing, doing something musical and always learning something."

It's now been 11 years since ABK put out his first CD, and he has never quit learning. One of the lessons he picked up along the way is that Ohio is a great place to put on a show, which is why the Michigan native is spreading the holiday spirit throughout Ohio in the month of December - starting at The Underground.

He's even going to be in town a little early, helping judge the wet T-shirt contest at the bar Dec. 2. "Every time we go there we have a great time," ABK said. "I'm looking forward to it."

Concert information

HEADLINER: Anybody Killa
OPENING ACTS: disturbed Mindz, Dale Baker, Shadowcaster, Unforsaken, Infamous O Boys, Suburban Assault, Frosted Gallows, Hydro
WHEN: 6 p.m. Dec. 3
WHERE: The Underground, 224 E. Water Street, Sandusky
COST: $8 presale, $11 day of show
INFO: www.myspace.com/anybodykilla or www.thehatchetwarrior.com

Chris Nida is Funcoast.com's rap expert, largely because of his dad, Steve Nida, who goes by the moniker "The Professor of Freestyle." E-mail Chris at hello@funcoast.com. Written by Chris Nida