Iqaluit (July 21/03) - Sam Ningeok, 20, likes to listen to Eminem on his discman.

He says he likes the rapper's lyrics, which tend to revolve around gaining control over a crazy life, and fighting to be heard and understood.

Cheri Rheaume, 15, likes listening to rap and hip hop. - Kathleen Lippa/NNSL photo

Other themes flowing through the tunes include a troublesome ex-girlfriend, and struggles with parents who weren't there when he needed them.

Andrew Nowdlak, 18, and Cheri Rheaume, 15, like listening to Tupac Shakur, the rap singer who was gunned down in a still-unsolved drive-by shooting in Las Vegas in Sept. 1996.

They admire Tupac's admission of a "Thug life" and songs about being an outsider and having integrity in the face of racism, poverty and brutality from police officers and friends that have turned into bitter rivals.

Tough topics. But the kids are tuning in and cranking them up on discmans that will play MP3s -- discs burned from computer files -- as well as standard discs.

Chris Clark at Radio Shack in Iqaluit knows what the kids are looking for.

They want MP3 players, "and then when they find out the disc players can do it," he said, "then they end up going that way."

They want full ear headphones, too, rather than the "bud" types.

"Those ones aren't that popular. They come with (the player) and they'll be back and buy something that covers their ear. They are more comfortable and you usually get a better sound."

Vince Ningark has noticed kids in Kugaaruk plugged into discmans. But they aren't just listening to rap, he said.

"Rap to any new age music at the moment," said Ningark.

And they don't need to send away for the equipment, either. They've got Koomiut Co-op to get their players.

Disc players that will play MP3s start at $109.

"At first you were looking at $250 a few months ago," said Clark.

Ear phones start at $24.99, depending on brand and bells and whistles like remote volume and adapters for different size headphone jacks.

"I'm really surprised how many we sell," said Clark. "It seems like people just eat headphones up here. They go through them pretty fast.

"You see every kid in town walking around with headphones on."