Party for Suganuts' latest work boasts long guest list

ALBANY - This week Albany rap artist Suganuts, a.k.a. Danny Morgan Jr., will release his fourth CD, "Re-ality."

A tremendous amount of work has gone into the project despite Morgan's busy schedule.

The 30-year-old works full time at Bed Bath & Beyond in Corvallis. He and his wife, Jenny, have four sons, Dominic, 5, Jaden, 4, Myles, 3, and 1-year-old Thomas. Most of the CD was recorded in Morgan's home studio in the wee hours of the night.

"I do music from midnight to 4 in the morning sometimes," Morgan said.

But the Santa Rosa, Calif., native wouldn't have it any other way.

"My family is why I am here," he said. "It's why I do what I do."

Morgan started writing when he was 13 and performing when he was 16.

"The first song I ever wrote was a country song," he remembered. But, Morgan soon fell in love with rap and hip-hop.

"Rap has helped me express exactly and truly what I mean," he said.

Morgan sees some stark contrasts between his 2008 release "Impaired" and his new "Re-ality."

"Last year's album was a deep dark trying to find out me and my deepest feelings," Morgan said. "Re-ality is every thought. This CD is more fun. This one is truly me."

The CD runs the gamut from party songs such as "F'N Around" to the more retrospective "Fetti Talks."

Morgan's language is cleaner than many rappers', but his CD still earns a parental advisory for occasional curse words and adult themes.

"If I'm truly feeling it, I'm going to say it," Morgan said.

Morgan has made many friends in the local rap scene, since relocating from the Salem area to Albany a few years ago.

"The people in Albany are amazing," he said.

His latest CD features collaborations with Albany's S.O.U.F Side Ink, Poverty's Posterboy, Yung Royal, Bilyeu, Treu, Bent, Yung Royal, Weside and Krossbreed, and Corvallis rappers C-Logic and

Contra, among others.

He found out after moving in that his house was formerly lived in by Albany rapper Mafmatix.

Morgan has lined up many of his friends and collaborators to perform at the CD release party for "Re-ality."

With nearly 20 performers, the concert, which starts at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Bogey's Bar & Grill, should be a highlight of the summer for mid-valley rap and hip-hop fans.

"I'm more excited about the show than the album, right now," Morgan said. "I picked every performer there. I think they are extremely talented."

In addition to performers mentioned above, who will all be in attendance, the night will also feature 684 from Salem and 13-year-old Pynt Size from Albany, as well as Markus Tha Great White, Da Mobstarz and Phonix.

The show is being produced by Turning Leaf Entertainment. Admission is $3.

CHECK IT OUT

WHO: Suganuts and 684, Poverty's Posterboy, Markus Tha Great White, Treu, Bilyeu, Contra and C-Logic, S.O.U.F. Side Ink, Da Mobstarz, Mafmatix, Krossbreed, Yung Royal, Pynt Syze, Phonix, Weside, Tdub and Bent.

WHAT: Suganuts album release for 'Re-ality'

WHEN: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5

WHERE: Bogey's Bar & Grill, 129 First Ave., Albany.

COST: $3 at the door. CDs $10.

INFO: www.myspace.com/mrsuganuts.