Two white suburban guys from Cleveland are not typical in the rap scene. But Matt Penttila, former Kent State student, and Alex Fitts of Kick Drums Productions break this stereotype.

They have produced a song on the soundtrack for 50 Cent’s movie Get Rich or Die Tryin‘ soundtrack.

Even though they aren’t the stereotypical rap members, they still try hard to fit in, and they don’t change for anyone.

“A lot of people stereotype quickly with rap music, and we make music that we really like. Now we’re working with big rap artists,” Penttila said. “We make a beat, and we give it to our manager. And they give it to an artist, and they write lyrics to it.”

Growing up with up-and-coming Cleveland DJ Joey Fingers has hooked them up with the right managers to direct them to artists such as 50 Cent, Jay-Z and Slim Thug.

“It has a lot to do with being at the right place at the right time,” Penttila said.

Writing beats may seem easy, but Penttila and Fitts said it’s hard and takes skill. He said it is also a hard business to get into.

The beat they wrote for 50 Cent only took them 30 minutes to write, but Fitts said he still put a lot of work into it.

Now that they have had this opportunity to make beats for high-profile rap artists, they plan on making as many beats as possible and becoming the next big beat makers.

“People keep telling us that we’re the next best thing,” Penttila said.

Contact ALL reporter Erika Kreider at [email protected].