By Shanda Block/reporter

Stephen Dillard-Carroll is quite a strange fellow.

Having been from and still residing in the Midwest, Dillard takes the rap genre to the next level. The Midwest just doesn’t have much in the way of rap, so Dillard is trying to change that.

This recording artist’s style is a mixture of funk, hip-hop and dance-pop. The debut album Introducing … ME has 11 songs and displays this unique artist’s voice. A majority of the album is upbeat and gives a positive message to the listeners.

The song “Introducing … ME” is the best on the album. One of the lyrics says, “For the first time I’m really living my life. Doing it my way here today ain’t got no time for games.” It tells listeners that Dillard is coming to the music industry and wants to be heard. The song has a catchy tune and lyrics.

“Shine” gets listeners feeling happy and in the “can-do” attitude with this song’s motivational lyrics. One part of the song says, “We’re gonna shine, this moment is ours. We’re gonna shine like the summer sun.” These lyrics allow listeners to connect with Dillard and get the song’s positive message.

Dillard definitely brings his own voice to the table, and his persistence to never fail shows through his songs.

Overall, Introducing … ME encourages happiness and reaching goals put together with a positive attitude, which seems just a little strange for a career in rap, but Dillard pulls it off well.