Not too often are the words hip-hop and Ames found in the same sentence. Or on the same page, for that matter. But that is something Iowa State’s student radio station 88.5 FM KURE is trying to change.

DJs Tricky Tre, Brendan Foster and a host of DJs at the non-commercial station put forth more than 15 hours of hip-hop programming each week.

“People want to hear [hip-hop] and we’re the only place they can go to hear it,” Foster said.

Traveling from Chicago, a city which easily caters to the hip-hop radio market, to Ames, where hip-hop fans must search high and low to find the music they love on the radio waves, Tre wants people know that there is hip-hop music to be heard in central Iowa.

Tre would like to see hip-hop taking more of a center stage on the radio. “A lot of people don’t even know that there are hip-hop shows on KURE,” said Tre, whose show “Keepin’ It Real” is featured on Wednesdays from 12 to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from 12 to 3 p.m.

Touching upon mostly popular hip-hop for, Tre does his best to bring variety and a little bit of culture to Ames.

“I like to focus on groups like Black Eyed Peas, Outkast, Timberland and Magoo, Brandy and Monica and other groups of that style,” Tre said. “Also anything that Master P and Bad Boy Records puts out is a winner.”

On Monday nights, hip-hop can be heard from the hours of 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., said Brendan Foster, who in addition to being a DJ, fills the position of assistant music director and director of hip-hop at the station.

“Since there isn’t anyone else around who offers [hip-hop] music, we’re basically the only source,” Foster said. “I guess we sort of have a monopoly.”

Foster said KURE offers “knowledgeable and skillful DJs who love what they do.”

B Foster’s show is broadcast every Monday from 9 to 12 a.m. He said he likes to play mostly “underground” hip-hop from indie labels and from people who deserve to be heard but aren’t because of the record industry bureaucracy.

Nationwide, hip-hop has seen tremendous growth.

With its roots in the late ’70s and early ’80s, hip-hop has taken over the mainstream airwaves in the 90s. With MTV recently devoting one third of its air time to hip-hop, commercial rap and R & B is growing in popularity.

Another category of hip-hop that has gained popularity and continues to grow is gangsta rap. Because of its violence-promoting lyrics, and negative attitudes towards women, Tre tries not to embrace gangsta rap in his shows.

“Hip-hop isn’t about shootin’ people or smackin’ your bitch,” Tre said. “Hip-hop is, and should be, an art form. Gangsta rap has had a negative effect on the nation and on hip-hop in general.”

As a college town, Ames is a melting pot of cultures and lifestyles.

While the station’s hip-hop DJs are doing their best to build up support for the music, some issues do arise.

“I’m not gonna go as far as to say that Ames doesn’t have a hip-hop scene altogether,” Tre said. “But it is definitely lacking in the hip-hop area.”

Despite these issues, hip-hop radio will continue to broadcast in Ames.

Hip-hop fans can tune into the following shows on KURE: John Solarz can be heard from midnight to 2 on Tuesday mornings. DJ Ice plays hip-hop 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesdays. Friday and Saturday mornings from 12 to 3 are the times for “Quiet Storm” with Rebel X. “MHz” with Jack the Lad can be heard Wednesdays from 9 p.m. to midnight.

With all of these hip-hop shows to choose from, KURE is keepin’ it real.