By Lauren Proctor

Termanology knows the odds. And he knows what he’s up against. But if anything, the Lawrence, Massachusetts native is an opportunist. “There are a million and a half rappers so you have a one in a million chance that you’re even gonna get on,” Termanology explains about his career as a rapper. “When it’s time and you got it, you gotta grab it and go. You can’t be slacking because no one is going to do it for you. You gotta do it yourself.”

Termanology, who deems his hometown suburb of Boston “the 978,” has been dropping rhymes since the age of nine. Born Daniel Carrillo before later developing his rap persona, Term spent a lot of time battling on the streets with whoever would dare take the risk of getting torn apart verbally by a mere boy. By age 14, Termanology released his first album and left high school to go on tour and pursue music full time. It seems now, in 2006, his time to “grab it and go” has come.

Now 23, the Massachusetts rapper has already worked alongside some of the industries greatest, such as Guru of Gangstarr, Method Man, Fat Joe, Mobb Deep, Tony Sunshine of Terror Squad, and many others.

RCA Records stood at attention recently when Carrillo remixed Christina Aguilera’s “Back in the Day” from her most recent album, Back to Basics. The remix, which is a conglomeration between DJ Premier and Termanology, with an appearance from Ludacris, is getting radio play and national attention. “I didn’t really know if it was going to really be anything or not but then it just kind of took off,” Termanology casually recalls about his remix.

Term is currently released through ST. Records, a small label in Lawrence, but his dream is to get signed on for a joint effort between him and one of his role models, Jay-Z being among them. Determined to make it whether a legendary artist takes him under his wing or not, Carrillo is willing to continue independently as long as he needs to, provided he has the budget for him and his friends to produce what they want.

Having recently scored a spot in The Source’s “Unsigned Hype” column, an honor previously bestowed upon rap sensations such as Eminem, Notorious B.I.G., DMX, and other major artists in the industry, The Source states that “Termanology shows he could be the leader of the new school.”

Term released his album Hood Politics Volume 2, on Dec. 23, 2005, just two days after The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter was presented to the public. In the first week, Term’s album sold 800 copies in the Bay State, exceeding sales of the B.I.G. Duets tribute album on the local level, which has since shot to certified platinum.

Appreciative of the local support he receives on the East Coast, Termanology says “we’re 20 cars deep with five people in every car everywhere we go.” Term’s most recent CD release party was at Boston’s Bill’s Bar, and all 20 cars in Term’s caravan of family and close friends made the 30-minute drive south to Boston. Upon arriving, Bill’s Bar filled to capacity quickly. Boston had something to celebrate. Their hailed young aspiring rapper was one step closer to making it with the industry’s finest.

“He is the artist that is most ready to take it to the industry level,” DJ Deadeye describes about Term, who he’s been working with since the first Hood Politics album came out in 2003. Deadeye and Term both grew up in Lawrence and knew about each other by reputation. After working on a few tracks together, they decided their working relationship was effective and continued together on their voyage toward recognition.

Whether working on a rhyme or just hanging out, Deadeye and Term are always found in each other’s company. They’ve evolved from recording part of Hood Politics I in Deadeye’s basement to spending an average of eight hours in the studio every other week.

“He’s easy for people in the industry to like and relate with,” Deadeye says about his friend. Carrillo is mannerly, approachable, and honest about whom he is as a person. His easy laugh and helpful nature make him unlike most egocentric artists in the genre. It’s only when he raps that Term gets really serious. He develops a bombproof shell so he can spit his rhymes and prove to the public with every beat and word that Termanology belongs at the top.

Like most big names in hip-hop, Termanology loves his sneakers. Born in 1982, the same year that Nike released their Air Force 1 line, Term explains that his timing for entering the world may be part of his disposition for staying loyal only to Nike.

“Every time I get a check I gotta buy a new pair of sneakers or two, one for me and one for Aaliyah,” Carrillo admits about his habit for buying sneakers every opportunity he gets. Before his daughter Aaliyah was born, she already had 35 pairs of Nike’s to her name. Now, at 2 1/2, she boasts a collection of more than 100 pairs.

“We’ve got matching chains and matching Jordans,” Termanology says about his daughter, the object of his affection. So far, Termanology has made an attempt to keep his daughter away from his rap lifestyle. Instead, they go to Chuck E. Cheese’s, one of Aaliyah’s favorite places, play with toys, or watch shows like Dora the Explorer together.

Well aware of the consequences of raising a child in gang-ridden Lawrence, Term and his family moved to nearby Haverhill. “I’m all over the place. I’ve got videos, but I’m still in the hood,” Termanology says about his hometown. Caught in a place where people admire his work and others want to rob him for his chains, Carrillo is famous around town, but still approachable.

Known for letting people come into the studio with a pad of paper and a pen to take a stab at being on the record, Termanology recognizes the help that the industry has given him, and is more than willing to return the favor to aspiring rappers. But most importantly, Carrillo is putting Lawrence, the 978, on the map. He’s becoming the voice of Massachusetts.

“When people see I’m from the Boston area, they don’t even want to hear me,” Termanology states. But as soon as he lays down his innovative beats and clever rhymes, they always change their mind.

Claiming that where he’s from has made him a better rapper, Termanology has had wide and varied success. He’s graced the pages of all the area’s major newspapers (from The Boston Globe to the Herald), had press in magazines like XXL and Pound, acted on MTV’s The Shop, and even featured as a guest emcee on BET’s 106 & Park Freestyle Fridays.

Carrillo didn’t take the battle, but claims that he’s alright with losing, because 52 million people saw him onstage that night. “It’s like when you hit somebody and they hit you a little harder,” Termanology explains about his efforts as a rap artist. “You still feel good because at least you hit them.” There’s no doubt, Termanology has hit a lot of people with his rap. He’s constantly gaining notoriety, and before long he’s sure to come out on top.

The highly anticipated release of Hood Politics IV is expected at www.undergroundhiphop.com soon. Termanology and DJ Deadeye have also already begun production for a compilation album due for release in the spring of next year. As to be expected from the leader of the new school, the album will be mostly hip-hop, but will also incorporate rock and jazz influences.

In the meantime, Termanology can be found in New York or near Boston, with his

daughter in Chuck E. Cheese, in the studio, buying a new pair of Nikes after payday, or on the radio.

There’s only one thing that’s certain: Termanology is bound for ubiquity. It’s his time to “grab it and go.”

www.myspace.com/therealtermanology