At first glance, Jason Nichols and Ashley Llorens are successes in their respective fields.

Nichols holds a master’s degree in American studies, working toward his doctorate while teaching African American studies at this university. Similarly, Llorens has a master’s in electrical engineering and works at the Department of Defense in Columbia.

But these occupations are merely day jobs. After hours, Nichols and Llorens transform into Haysoos and Soulstice, the hip-hop duo Wade Waters.

The group name is indicative of their intentions. “Wade Waters” is a play on “Wade in the Water,” a spiritual from the 19th century that taught slaves an effective method of escape from their bondage. The reference reflects Waters’ music, Haysoos says.

“We take the same approach, talk about the same issues,” Haysoos says. “But we make it danceable.”

The duo’s first full album, Dark Water, is an outstanding collection of educated lyrics, superb flows and brilliant rhythmic ability. Rapping on issues ranging from struggles of the black community to their own past, Haysoos and Soulstice display their chemistry and skill on all 14 tracks.

But to call them professionals-turned-rappers would be unfair.

“We’re bona-fide artists, so it’s the other way around,” Haysoos quips.

Growing up in Harlem and Philadelphia, Haysoos points to KRS-One’s “My Philosophy” as a source of epiphany.

“I knew then I wanted to be a rapper,” he recounts.

Soulstice got his start in Chicago listening to soul music, but slowly moved toward hip-hop as he grew older. The two became serious about their music and met in the Washington hip-hop scene; friendship and respect drove them to record together. Their product is a an album marked with the distinct aroma of knowledge.

The nexus of society’s history and future is central to the duo’s message. Haysoos brings forth his consciousness on the track “Tread That Water”: “Our settlement’s separate, unequal/ For the black young people/ There’s no colored fountain/ But we ain’t climbed that mountain.” Soulstice counters on “Lifeline”: “Wanna walk the way kings and queens done it/ We stay rockin’ the bells hoping freedom rings from it.”

Even with their university degrees, the duo stresses their unity with other popular hip-hop acts topping the charts.

“Degrees don’t say anything about your desire to learn, or your intelligence,” Haysoos says. “We want to make music that people without master’s degrees can enjoy.”

“I like Young Jeezy, but for every Young Jeezy there has to be a Wade Waters,” Soulstice adds.

Everyone – from fans to students to coworkers – has taken note of the duo’s skill.

“When you do something well, people respect it,” Soulstice says, who adds that listeners have shown “nothing but love.”

Haysoos says his students in AASP100: Introduction to African American Studies have all expressed their resounding approval of his album – and even university colleagues have been equally supportive.

“They want to develop me as a scholar, but they will support what’s positive,” he explains.

The album’s flawless production excellently complements the pair’s intricate lyrics. There is not a single bar wasted, or line thrown in as filler. It is truly bewildering how such a meticulously produced album could have been crafted by two men who already have quite a bit on their plate. “It’s crazy. A fine balance,” laughs Soulstice. The two work hard at their 9 to 5, constantly listen to music, find time to record in the studio and tear down every show. All in a day’s work.

The duo expects more hard work in the future, as they balance their professional and musical lives and try to “make Wade Waters a brand” to see “what we can accomplish,” Haysoos and Soulstice said respectively.

But even as their careers blossom, neither emcee-scholar can imagine dropping either side of their lives.

“I can’t leave either one behind. I actually love doing this,” says Haysoos.

The university, the Department of Defense and music fans everywhere can be so lucky.

Contact reporter Nikhil Joshi at joshidbk@gmail.com.