3rd Degree heats up in East Rockaway

Hip hop and rap fans, be on the lookout for an up-and-coming East Rockaway group called 3rd Degree.

Made up of six talented local 18- and 19-year-olds — Erik Barton, Enrico Magliocchi, Danny Misir, Tanner Robinson, Tom Taglianetti and Nick Yacovelli — 3rd Degree has recently started to gain a local following.

  Yes, the subject matter if definitely for the younger crowd (but what hip hop music isn’t?) but the group is full of talent — each with a different style and tempo.

“We were each singing with other people, and we heard each others’ styles, and decided to do this together,” said Barton. “For now, we enjoy making music, and our friends enjoy listening to it.”

  “B Man,” “Ruga Rio,” “Mizz,” “T Rob,” “Toker T” and “ Edogg,” who all attend either Nassau Community College or Kellenberg High School, use producer mixes that they get from the Internet. “They do the tunes, and we add the lyrics,” explained Misir. “We see who sounds the best on which song, and that’s who sings it.”

  The group usually rehearses at Barton’s Bay Park home, and held a party there to introduce their sound. They also performed at the VFW on Main Street. Their YouTube video of “Cartwheels” impressively has almost 3,500 hits.

  “We want to get our music out to as many people as possible,” said Robinson, “and YouTube is the best way to do it for now.”

  Taglianetti said that they’ve been interested in this style of music since the ninth grade. “We found a sound that we like, working together.” Magliocchi said that now that college is back in session, they hope to earn some fans on the college circuit.

“We’re up for anything now,” said Barton. “We’re trying to get our names out there as much as possible. We just want people to listen and to like our music.”