To carve their own niche in the world of urban music, the members of Repeat Offenders pride themselves on humility and their ability to captivate audiences with their “throwback” hip-hop. These artists feel a deep obligation to the community, and music in general, to avoid the overused song content of misogyny, violence, wealth, and drug use. Instead, on a quest to change the hip-hop landscape, Repeat Offenders’ emotional lyrics and performances attempt to expand this musical genre and address personal and social struggles that they and members of their community face. The history of this group traces back to the Pennsylvania dormitories of Millersville University during the fall of 1993. Through their love and knowledge of many musical genres, Shawn Jacks (aka S.L.) and Matthew Kolb (aka Thrill) met and formed an instant bond. Soon after their introduction, Shawn introduced Matthew to his lifelong friend, Chris Hammond (aka Hip Hop), and the seeds had been planted… Months after first meeting, their musical endeavors began. Matthew secured a hip-hop disc jockey position at Millersville University’s radio station, 91.7FM WIXQ. Shawn backed Matthew’s radio show with pensive vocals and live freestyles. Off the strength of listeners’ reactions to Shawn’s words, he began writing rhymes and arranging them into verses, and he later collaborated with other Millersville University students who shared his love for hip-hop. As a student at the University of Delaware, Chris gained experience in the music industry by completing promotional work as a College Representative for Def Jam Recordings. He also became a staple at many of the on-campus music studios, spending countless hours producing his own, original pounding hip-hop instrumentals. Through these efforts, a variety of tracks were laid down and edited in Millersville’s recording studios to form the group’s first album, Lyrical Incarceration. Repeat Offenders then produced and directed the video for the album’s first single, “Slugfest.” While lacking the financial backing and airplay push of a major label record, Lyrical Incarceration laid the foundation for the realness that was to come. As a unit, their achievements continued to expand after their undergraduate degrees were completed. Repeat Offenders created quite a local buzz by distributing mixtapes and hosting campus parties, with Matthew on the turntables and Shawn on the microphone. Chris and Shawn continued to build and perfect their lyrical skills, each identifying and molding his own style, while Matthew secured several jobs in the music industry, including promotions director for Rite-Off Records in Selinsgrove, PA and studio assistant at Boyz II Men’s Stonecreek Studios in Gladwyne, PA. To date, Repeat Offenders has reached out to audiences in Costa Rica and rocked live shows in PA, NJ, CT, and MA, including an award-winning performance at the Rock Solid Pressure Showcase in Danbury, CT. The first single from By Example, “I Found Her,” was included on the Feoh Records’ 2004 compilation, Summer Dying Fast, while other Repeat Offender tracks, like “Bounce To This” were included in the independent film project, Mary/Jane. Their work has been reviewed and written about on several internet websites, and they have conducted several interviews with the media, including hip-hop’s UNDEVCO magazine. The group has established firm relationships with other hip-hop artists nationwide and traveled to collaborate with them for live performances, including PA’s first ever hip-hop festival, Poramor. Most recently, the group has been teaming up with other artists for various shows and promoting their latest album, entitled "By Example", recently listed on Indie-Music.com as one of the "Top 25 CDs of 2006". "By Example plays to its strengths -- diverse tones, heartfelt words about hip-hop...straight-forward, no-nonsense rhyming patterns focused on story-telling..." -Richard Guerrero, TFC Records "...there are some nasty beats on this joint - beats that show precision, innovation and time well spent, with a throwback appreciation for what has come before..." -okayplayer.com "Loaded with positive vibes and lyrics that don't require a Parental Advisory label, Repeat Offenders make throwback music for throwback folks." -Derek Blackmon, Indie-Music.com "The lyrics are just as witty and clever with bouncing rhymes that take charge of each song’s direction...By Example is a favorable suggestion that the best players in hip-hop aren’t found on BET or MTV." -J-Sin, Smother.net "...with poetic and conscious lyrics, Repeat Offenders manages to create a positively-vibed context-rich album that gives the listener an enjoyable relaxed feel." -www.hiphoplinguistics.com