Eugene rapper and University alumnus E.T., aka “Examine the Truth,” is as casual, cool and laid-back as the Aloha shirt he’s wearing.
When people think of rappers these days, some think of ostentatious bling and Kanye West’s outlandish attitude.
But E.T., whose real name is Aaron Marshall, is a testament to a new kind of rapper with his low-key vibe, classic hip-hop style and raw passion for the music and the industry.
A Wyoming native, E.T. is showcasing the face of Eugene’s hip-hop scene on his 90-day, nationwide tour starting March 18 in Seattle.
To kick off his tour, the 26-year-old, along with his wife, Vanessa, and her dance company Phenomenon, will be performing at “The Takeoff” at WOW Hall on Sunday. Local funk rock band Volifonix is also performing at the show to kick off its Oregon and California tour.
E.T. and Vanessa are touring more than 60 cities and 30 states on their 90-day tour, including stops as close as Portland and as far as New York.
For both E.T. and his wife, this tour is their perfect chance to put their talents out there with the hope that his music career and her dancing career take off.
E.T. got his start in rural Casper, Wyo., where white culture and racism still dominated while he was growing up in the ’80s. As a mixed-race child (he is part-Irish and part-Black Creek Indian) in a Caucasian-dominated city, Marshall said he struggled to identify with his roots and culture, especially in such a sheltered town.
“There’s nothing cultural in Wyoming,” he said. “I decided everything was hip-hop, even Michael Jackson.”
While his father was in jail and his single mom was busy raising four kids, Marshall struggled with the law — and himself — when he was forced to grow up at such a young age.
At age 14, Marshall decided to turn his life around and turned to music. With the limited resources he had (a tape recorder and a keyboard), Marshall delved into the world of hip-hop by freestyling his music and putting out his own albums.
In 2002, Marshall came to the University on a full-ride scholarship, namely to get away from his conservative roots.
“Eugene is a lot of great things,” Marshall said. “I thought it was Mecca compared to home.”
Marshall graduated in 2006 with a degree in philosophy and later turned down scholarships for graduate school in order to pursue music. But two years later, the group he was a part of, “The pHormula,” broke up.
For the past few years, Marshall said he’s been concentrating on his solo career, writing, recording and producing his latest album, “pHone Home,” which was released this past February on iTunes.
The album, he said, strives for “that sweet simplicity of hip-hop.”
It also features guest appearances from such artists as DJ Food Stamp, Zion I and Blue Scholars.
“These cats are making the exact type of music I strive to make, so opening for them and interacting with them is always a much more enriching experience,” Marshall said.
After his national tour, Marshall is excited to be starting up his new entertainment company Green Digi Entertainment, where he will be promoting local artists and offering free downloads of their music.
His experience with music has been humbling and rewarding.
“I’ve made a dream tangible,” Marshall said.
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“The Takeoff” featuring E.T., Phenomenon dance company and Volifonix
Sunday, March 13, 8 p.m.
WOW Hall, 291 W. 8th Ave.
Tickets $5-$15 at the door