Jim Meek | Courtesy Fade Dogg is hoping San Antonio's rap scene is on the verge of national notoriety like Houston and Dallas.

HE IS: Fade Dogg

THE SOUND: Rugged, country-flavored rap music. Fade Dogg grew up in San Antonio and puts many of his life experiences into his music. “My sound is like country, thuggish, rugged, cap and slap a hoe type of music,” he said.

THE ORIGINS: Fade Dogg, who was born in Galveston but raised in San Antonio, took up rapping at age 14 and quickly decided to make a future out of it. In the past few years, he has displayed his skills all over the country, including gigs in Nebraska, Idaho and Seattle. He also opened for Paul Wall at Randy's Ballroom on April 29.

SAN ANTONIO'S TURN: Fade Dogg said it's only a matter of time before San Antonio gains similar notoriety to Texas cities like Dallas and Houston, where the local rap scenes hit nationally in recent years. He says that notoriety will come from unity among area rappers, rather than perpetual conflict. “A year ago, there were a lot of rappers out there hating each other, wanting to fight each other. But now we're starting to see everyone come together and work together. It's a really good thing.”

THE NEW ALBUM: With a pair of solo albums under his belt, Fade Dogg is currently putting the wraps on his latest release — The Best Kept Secret — which he hopes to have out by the end of the summer.

THE WEB: myspace.com/officialfadedogg

CLINT HALE | 210SA