Local alum rapper sets sights high, aims for national recognition

For Lorenzo Fuller, 33, who goes by Donald Profound “aka Xoboi,” music is much more than just a hobby. After partnering with Marcey Yates, 31, who goes by Op2mus, they have transformed music making and rapping into a lifestyle.

Fuller began producing music when he was young and started rapping in the early 2000s. “It was my friends who got me into doing what I do. I have always had support from my family side. The friends I keep are close enough to be considered family, so it is kind of all tied into one,” Fuller said.

Fuller had been a part of another group previously before his collaboration with Yates. “The group I was with before was a local group that was basically a band, but it dissolved, so I am not really into that anymore,” Fuller said.

Fuller met Yates before the band splintered through networking and began working together quickly afterwards. “We just happened to meet, and we lined up afterwards just to continue. He liked what I did, and I liked what he did,” Fuller said. The group Fuller is involved with now, STDNT BODY, is a collaboration between the two.

Since Fuller and Yates are locally based right now, the hardest obstacle they have to overcome is “breaking through the local scene and getting enough exposure.” One of the benefits of breaking away from the local setting would be encountering more “die-hard, core fans” from outside their hometown. Fuller hopes to get to the point where fans are waiting outside just to get into the event they are hosting.

Producing the music is not one of the more difficult aspects for the two artists. “With him and I, how we work is very similar. He does all of the production— he makes all the beats, and he will either send it to me blank, like a blank canvas, or with a concept already in mind,” Fuller said.

The process does not take much time for them. “He has been doing what he does for so long, same with me, so production is like me showing up at the studio, us possibly writing for half an hour or so and then spending another hour recording,” Fuller said.

Yates does all of the post-production on his own. “It’s a really simple process for us, unlike a lot of stuff that I’ve heard,” Fuller said.

STDNT BODY continues to work on projects, and has had one completed for a while, but they are waiting for the right time to release it. They want to get as many visuals and videos as they can for it, with a few videos already made now. A couple of their duo projects they hope to release very soon.

Fuller and Yates are both working on solo projects as well. Also, looking into the future, Fuller admits he wants to “definitely continue” their partnership, but also to try and branch out into other avenues. “We aren’t just trying to make music; we have started filming. The future looks like we will continue to just do creative things together,” Fuller said. Yates acts, attends school and takes drama classes.

In the near future the duo hopes to get the most exposure as they can in their hometown. As for long term, Fuller is not as certain. “I don’t know because I like what’s going on [now]. I’m not into speculating,” he said.

Throughout their experiences so far the group has vowed to say humble. Fuller advises anyone wishing to follow in similar footsteps to do the same. “It’s cliché, but it’s so true,” Fuller said, “[The music business] will either eat you alive, spit you out or you’ll come out a different person. Create and stay humble.”

For students interested, Fuller and Yates’ website is raleighscience.com. The website showcases all of their music they have produced, as well as some of their videos.