Omaha-based rapper Toot's infectious hooks and hard-hitting lyrical style have been his calling card for almost eight years. And with the world of hip-hop music moving steadily toward a state of stagnation between mindless party anthems and "bling-bling" state- ments of mic superiority, Toot's sonic tales of life struggle mixed with an almost spiritual yearning stand out amidst a sea of wannabes.Toot's tracks demonstrate a versatility seldom found in hip-hop music. His best concoctions maintain a tension between sparse instrumentation and flourishes of melodic inventiveness. "Take A Picture Of Me" and "What's Da 412" have harmony and still hit hard. And just when you're about to be seduced by one extreme or the other, Toot's lyrics hit you with a message that elevates you above the street and into a vision of "Sunny Days." Simply put, Toot's original jams bump and bruise and make you think all at the same time.