Graduate's tenacity results in musical success

By Megan Finnerty
Features Editor

Without looking, he takes the compact disc in his bear paw hands and settles it against the bottle of Heinz 57.

He does this several times throughout the afternoon, but none of his friends say anything about Chris Lynch's unusual behavior at Harry's Chocolate Shop — because for Lynch, this isn't unusual behavior.

The night before, Lynch, a 22-year-old Purdue graduate, sold about 50 copies of his record company's first album, "Can U See What I See?" by Mikrofonkaos, at a fraternity party.

While drinking and dancing with the friends he rarely sees, he remained a constant business man, promoting his companies — Infinite Intertainment, LLP, his record label; Kartel, his production company; Chocolate Kotton Distribution/Consulting; and Katianna Nichole Publishing.

The rap album by Lynch's business partner and client Mike Cherry goes on sale today and can be purchased at Von's.

He rests a cardboard box of discs on the graffiti-covered wooden table, poised to make a sale should a waitress or fellow drinker inquire about the one leaning against the ketchup.

And they do, smiling and handing over their money.

Manicured nails slit open a disc so he can point out the artwork inside he did himself. His friends, finishing off a pitcher of Killian's, tease Lynch about always being a showman and he's quick to smile.

A large man with shoulders like icebergs, Lynch is an imposing presence with a personality and drive that match his size.

Family friend Dave Dalton, a computer programmer based in Mount Clair, N.J., said he's always known Lynch was going to be a success.

"He is a powerful young man and he can get what he wants," he said. "He is patient and the patient person will have the time management skills to work through a problem or a task and will be able to take care of something the right way. He's had to work hard and work smart."

Lynch started working early in life to overcome the poverty he grew up in while living in the Whitely section of Muncie, Ind., with his single mom and younger siblings.

Lynch's mom, who will receive her bachelor's degree this year, worked long hours and Lynch often would go to classes, run home through sometimes unfriendly streets, cook his own dinner, finish his homework and wait for her. Lynch has never seen his father and never talked to him.

"I tried to find him once because he owes me about $100,000 in child support," he jokes. "But I could care less. My mom worked hard and we didn't need him."

Until he was 15, Lynch lived in a set of projects four blocks from his elementary school.

"My seventh grade year, we got robbed 11 times in 12 months," he said. "One time, I walked in and saw two guys jumping out the window. I swear I knew one of them. They jumped the fence and threw the TV over the fence."

He pauses, obviously still upset 13 years later. "It bothered me because I was young and I was the man of the house; I was in fourth grade."

Lynch couldn't stand having things taken from him then, and still can't abide by it now. That's why he has to be his own boss, creating and serving as CEO for four companies.

Since 1997, all of Lynch's income has gone into his companies. All his time, energy and resources went into them, too.

"Friday night and Saturday nights, people go out and party," he said. "I'm in a computer lab doing homework or I'm in the studio laying down tracks. It's not just something I do; it's a way of life. Things that don't get you paid and don't help you, I don't do because I don't have time."

Lynch has always been this way, though.

One day when he was 12, he went to the dentist, something he describes as rare for a black kid from a poor neighborhood. After he got a good check-up, the dentist gave him stickers of teeth, smiles and toothbrushes.

Lynch took about 50 more and sold each one for 25 cents, netting a $12 profit.

His schedule for an average high school day reads like that of three students. At 6 a.m. Lynch would go to his daycare job and would leave for school by 8:30 a.m. He'd be in class until 3 p.m. and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. he'd be at football practice. From 6 to 9:30 p.m., he sold clothes at the Buckle.

"Can U See What I See?" is the first tangible marker of Lynch's success and he's hoping to sell 15,000 copies.

"To see your stuff go from just a vision, to now, you've got a real product, it's tight. You know? People have been really lovin' the album, sayin' that it's gold, and it's really great to hear that."

Cherry, who raps on all of the album's 22 tracks, said it's a ghetto classic based on his life.

"It is a compilation of my thoughts, pains and disappointments from growing up in Gary where there's a lot of violence and drug usage and gang activity," he said. "Hopefully it will turn to be a map for people who can get out like I did."

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Features editor:
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