Racial issues shape lyrics, audience reaction to local rap group

Black men have generally dominated the rap scene with only a few white acts like Marky Mark and Eminem snaring a bit of the spotlight.

Now Arizona is making its contribution to musical diversity with Shawn "Pale" Carlily, a white member of the rap group The Hated.

"When people see our band perform live, after hearing us, they are like 'Oh shit, he's white,'" Carlily said.

The three-person southern Arizona-based group including Carlily, Tyrone "Skeet" Harrington - a 1997 University of Arizona graduate and former member of the UA football team - and Bobby "Booz" Brown, open for rappers Ice-T and Evil E at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St., Saturday night.