C.L. Bookerson, also known as Headspinnah from the MP Klik, is a custodian by day, and a rapper by lunchtime.

Recently, Bookerson has created a self-titled mixtape, which he distributes to students to determine if he ‘still has it’, though he has no plans to pursue a professional career in the rap industry.

“My time is up, I’m past my prime, but don’t get it twisted,” said Bookerson. “It only takes one, [if] the right person hears my CD and wants to make a deal, we could do it.”

Many students seem to enjoy the custodian’s mixtape, although sophomore Caleb Ball doesn’t think it’s all it was cut out to be.

“I didn’t think it was great, but it’s alright,” said Ball. “[It was popular] because he made a mixtape, and people like to hear unique people rapping.”

Others, such as sophomore Jacob Roy, believe Bookerson is skillful after witnessing mock rap battles, which Bookerson amuses BHS students with though he doesn’t feel that the students could rival him lyrically.

“I’ve heard a couple of people rap battle with him,” said Roy. “[Bookerson] won.”

One student, freshman Jahmi Brown, has battled Bookerson twice, losing against him both times.

“That’s not rapping, what they do,” said Bookerson. “I told them, ‘if [you’re] going to do this, put your heart into it man. It’s not a game’.”

Desean Cromwell, also known as Lil’ D, set up the rap battle between Bookerson and Brown.

“The [custodian] kind of put a whooping on me, two times to be exact,” said Brown. “It kind of came by surprise, I didn’t know what to do.”

Cromwell’s surprise battle between Bookerson and Brown led to Brown’s defeat, which he described as terrifying.

“[The battle was] terrifying, you know,” said Brown. “I was tasteless after, I spit out my milk.”

Brown looks forward to a rematch, which he hopes is viewed by onlookers from all over the school.

“Hell yeah, I’d battle him again. I’d battle him again, someday before the school year is over,” said Brown. “I want you to witness it, everybody, everybody!”

Bookerson’s first rap battle took place in the Hartford projects where he grew up. Bookerson and his cousin were defeated by a local rap crew, Mighty Mike and the Four MCs.

“They embarrassed us, man,” said Bookerson. “So from that day on, I said ‘this ain’t ever happening again’, that’s when I started writing battle rhymes so I could get at people, really coming at them letting ‘em know I’m taking them serious.”

Bookerson refined his talents, and holds a 30 win, 2 loss record for his rap battles, though he doesn’t count the student battles. Bookerson has been rapping for 36 years. He started out by flipping (the process of turning over a record to play the instrumental) Sugar Hill Gang’s hit, Rapper’s Delight, singing their songs.

“It goes back [to] when I was young, I listened to the music,” said Bookerson. “It started a movement, [then] I fell in love, and never fell out of it since.”

Bookerson’s love for rap was due to the message the music originally contained. He listened to Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five talk about life on the streets of New York, and in 1982, he started writing his own raps.

“I was like ‘wow’,” said Bookerson. “[Now], I’m going to start rapping about the things I see.”

Bookerson carried a philosophy with him, using the things he saw around him to craft his mixtape. Rather than bragging and exaggerating in his raps, Bookerson shaped his music with personal events. However, Bookerson doesn’t take much inspiration from the school around him.

“Everything you heard on that CD is real,” claims Bookerson. “I keep the truth, [and] that’s real.”