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Student rapper writes about 'Oxford Girls'

Sylvie Turner, For The Miami Student

Miami University junior McCrea O'Haire was in geology class sitting next to a student scribbling on a sheet of paper.

"I noticed he was writing lyrics on a piece of paper, so I asked if he had heard the song ‘Oxford Girls,' and he laughed and said, ‘I wrote that,'" O'Haire said.

Sitting next to her was first-year Ryan Wheeler, who is perhaps better known as Revolution.

It was the purchase of a new, high-quality MacBook Pro with all of the necessary accoutrements and a bit of creativity that put Wheeler in the spotlight.

"I've been recording since 7th grade," Wheeler said. "It wasn't until I got a new computer that I was able to produce a high-quality track."

A computer alone doesn't create a song like "Oxford Girls," it also takes some creativity, a little bit of knowledge and a sense of humor. Miami is known for its stereotypes and this song plays on them.

"Before even going here, I knew that Miami was ‘J. Crew U' and I loved it," said Wheeler, a Columbus native who embraces the stereotype of Polos, Sperrys and pastels.

"It's cool to hear a song where you recognize what's mentioned in it … it's kind of like it was written for you," sophomore Sarah Lafontaine said.

"When a song talks about every little thing around you, from past resident halls, and where you've eaten dinner, it's hard to hate it," she said.

Wheeler is part of GDI Records, a label based in Oxford.

"They have artists from all around Ohio, and it's nice getting to work together," Wheeler said, referring to his Nov. 10 performance at The Wood's Bar.

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His happiest moment while performing was realizing that his audience knew all the words, he said.

"That's a really cool moment in an artist's career," Wheeler said.

Wheeler has no plans of forfeiting his education for his musical career.

"I like to say I'm a student by day, rapper by night," he said.

Wheeler has plans to drop his first album on his birthday, Feb. 25.

Wheeler said to expect mellower songs that bring in more classical elements and will focus more on what Wheeler is thinking, not just Revolution.