Blowin' Up

The group began developing its following with sets at Tremors' now-legendary Thursday hip-hop night. Fans rush the stage at every performance, excited by the Squad's manic rock-and-roll-style energy. "We make music people can feel," Skitzo says. "I like to see the crowd going crazy. It hypes me up."

Hyping the industry is now the group's biggest challenge. Eight-times-platinum-selling St. Louis native Nelly has caused a lot of industry folk to notice the talent in the Midwest, and Coo-Coo Cal (Milwaukee) and Hi-Tek (Cincinnati) have placed other previously ignored cities on the hip-hop map. "I love Nelly," Clacc says. "I'm glad he opened the door for us, but we still gotta work hard to be able to walk through the door."

The Bomb Squad still hasn't signed on the dotted line, but Loneker says it's just a matter of time. "You gotta have patience," Ten-10 adds. "Nothin' happens overnight." In a promising early development, the group's single "What" appeared on Guilty 'til Proven Innocent, a compilation featuring middleweight rappers Killa Tay, C-Bo, Yukmouth and B-Legit.

"There really is no pressure on us because we ain't supposed to win," GQ says. "The last thing the industry is expecting is for a rap group to come from Lawrence, Kansas, and represent, and that's what we are about to do."