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  Phranchyze - AustinSong
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When Zeale 32 and Phranchyze step onstage, they do it in style, laced-up in limited-edition Nike Dunks that would make the most dedicated sneaker freak envious. The duo takes shoe fashion seriously. Phranchyze even penned a sneaker-pimp anthem.

Zeale (Valin Zamarron), 24, and Phranchyze (J.J. Shaw), 23, have also built a buzz with high-energy live shows and next-level beats. Zeale rides futuristic soundscapes with the swagger of a young Jay-Z, while Phranchyze adds relentless energy and comedic timing. In separate interviews, Zeale said he's been listening to Tool and Radiohead, while Phranchyze mused about the qualities of great frontmen like Axl Rose and Smokey Robinson. No wonder these guys don't sound like typical Texas screwed-and-chopped fare.

The pair knew each other growing up in South Austin and reunited several years ago at a UT rap battle. Though they remain solo artists, they've been collaborating ever since. Zeale was a 2005 semifinalist at the famed Scribble Jam battle, and the two recently joined forces for the 2-on-2 World Rap Championships. In the Houston regional division, the duo steamrolled the competition, handing out verbal beat-downs on their way to an undefeated record. In January they'll compete for $50,000 in the finals in Las Vegas. While Zeale is a more polished MC, Phranchyze's energy and theatrics make him a rap-battle beast. Take this extemporaneous knockout punch leveled at Houston's Versa Jay:

"I'll take this reverse albino Smurf and power-bomb him on this fine-stone earth until his spine don't work and he needs Terri Schiavo's nurse. ... You the only black dude that rocks a rhinestone shirt!"

Zeale and Phranchyze each roll out independent albums in coming months that might just ride the momentum from the World Rap Championships.

"I think it's good for the game that Texas has some representatives," Phranchyze says. "The question is, 'Can Texas come with a different flavor?' because all they're projecting is one side of Texas right now."

Here's hoping the game is ready for Texas hip-hop with a South Austin twist. – Thomas Fawcett