Newspapers / Daily Tar Heel (Chapel … / Sept. 21, 2000, edition 1 / Page 6
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6 Thursday, September 21,2000 Hip Hop Nation Makes a Bid for a Renaissance The student group's first performance in two years showcased UNC hip-hop and spoken-word talent. By Shindy Chen Staff Writer For two years, the existence of UNC’s Hip Hop Nation was in limbo. Many former members graduated, and if they didn’t graduate, they went AWOL, leaving die group temporarily inactive. Hip Hop Nation never went defunct, its most recent leaders just failed to make Carolina students aware of UNC bred hip hop, usually showcased at its Union Cabaret events. Luckily, former Hip Hop Nation President Briana Parkins smartly passed the torch to Charles Vakalla, a sopho more from Charlotte. An excited newcomer, Valkalla is determined to bring Hip Hop Nation out of its recent hibernation. “With the new Hip Hop Nation, it’s going to be about the expansion of hip hop as a culture,” Vakalla said. “It’s going to stress hip-hop music as an art form, like any other major form of music, with its own unique culture,” he said. Vakalla also expressed the need to address the scope of hip-hop issues among future Hip Hop Nation mem bers, from its fashion to its socioeco nomic origins. “I want to stress reconstruction,” Vakalla said. t Their Chef J Our Chef I tfcc eit~ or UNC Student ID CUuIM on Dinner Buffet! | 1, 968-3488 University Square NEWS MSB * Papa John's Pizza Now Accepts UNC OneCard Better Ingredients + UNC OneCard = Better Pizza rlwllllS Pdpd John's Pizza Mon-Wed 11am-2am 607-BW, Franklin St. Thurs-Sat 11 am-3am 932-7575 Sunday Noon-2am pwq One 16" Extra Large! ! One Large ! ! Two Large pizzas! 2 topping Pizza jjUP TO 3 FREE TOPPINGS j J t topping j s lo^ii s lo”ji $ 16 ? -i I Expires 11/30/00. | I Expires 11/30/00. I 1 Expires 11/30/00. * Not valid with any other offer. * * Not valid with any other offer. * * Not valid with any other offer. * I Valid only at participating loca- I I Valid only at participating loca- I I Valid only at participating loca- | ■ tions. Customer pays all applica- ■ * tions. Customer pays all applica- * ■ tions. Customer pays all applica- ■ I ble sales tax. Additional toppings | I ble sales tax. Additional toppings I * ble sales tax. Additional toppings I I extra. Good for carry-out or deliv- I I extra. Good for carry-out or deliv- I I extra. Good for carry out or deliv- I Limited delivery area. Limited delivery area Limited delivery area. The energetic president also said he is planning on staging late-night parties and fashion shows and is working with the Carolina Union Activities Board to bring rap artists like Mos Def and Common to perform at UNC. Quick to show that he’s serious about it, Vakalla staged the first Hip Hop Nation show in two years at the Union Cabaret SepL 14. Aptly titled “Reconstruction,” the capacity crowd was treated to a lively mix of hip-hop elements, combining bangin’ performances by Reignmen and Vakalla’s group Brazen, Hip Hop Nation co-founder Kevin Thomas, a.k.a. Kevikaze, and a slew of spoken-word and open-mic performers. “It took about two weeks to orga nize,” Vakalla, a.k.a. Cocoa Sarise, said of the show. Reignmen set the mood of the show with its raw, underground sound. Member Jason Weathers, a.k.a. Stelar, kept the crowd pumped with his strong presence as he spit on the mic, while partner Brandon Jones, a.k.a. Illizit, accompanied with Jay-Z influenced rhymes. “The campus vibe is basically that they don’t support you ’til you’re estab lished,” Weathers, a sophomore from Washington, D.C., said, calling for strong student body support for all of Hip Hop Nation’s currently unsigned performers. Reignmen, with its Director of Marketing and Promotions Calvin Matthews, a sophomore from South Orange, NJ., said they hope to establish themselves with their own start-up label, Chozen Records, with Weather’s DIVERSIONS lUk "'will DTH/SEFTONIPOCK "Cocoa," of the group Brazen, performs an original verse at Hip Hop Nation's show in the Student Union Cabaret last Thursday night. upcoming album Pagemaster as its next project. This business sense is also shared by Vakalla and fellow Brazen members Arkitek and Emperor, who established Brazen Records. “We’re ready to get it,” Vakalla said, with hopes of performing in Charlotte, Raleigh and beyond. “Hip Hop Nation started in ’96 as a forum for hip-hop performers,” said Thomas, who founded Hip Hop Nation with UNC alumnus Niko Cunningham. He recalled the spotlight Hip Hop Nation efforts gave to such groups as Crimson Guard, Samadhi Manifest, Sankofa and Tyfu. This last band hopes its second album, Out of Control, scheduled to be jONglll^ WHERE WE APPRECIATE OUR GUESTS WITH SPECIALS ALL DAT!!!!! Sunday Thursday Margarita made with Huge Frosted pitchers of GOLD TEQUILA for only $2.00 Domestic Beer $5.99 MonfiaV or a pitcher of our Famous $ 1.00 12oz cold mug Housc Matari,a chosen from our list of drafts on the rotks Hr frozen onl >' *7.99 Tuesday '"Texas Tea only "s3.oo*** Sunday thru Thursday spu to Bpm ’Wednesday Wings over Mexico $2.50 per dozen Mexican beer (with lime ... _.. , „ , if you like) only $2.00 As Always Chips and Salsa LIVE MUSIC STARTS AT BPM FREE to our Guests Oak Creek Shopping Center • 4600 Chapel Hill Blvd. • Durham NC 27707 • (919) 493-5092 released Sept. 26., will achieve wide spread recognition on a national level. “I’m glad the new guys are trying to restore Hip Hop Nation,” Kevikaze said. “Its downfall wasn’t really attributed to administration. “All the old, main people just gradu ated.” The reconstructed Hip Hop Nation seeks anyone who loves hip hop, and membership has never stricdy consisted of performers. “If you’re interested in hip hop, then join,” Vakalla said. With his fresh out look, Hip Hop Nation’s longevity looks secure. The Arts & Entertainment Editor can be reached at artsdesk@unc.edu. g © t t h air Join the family! POSITIONS AVAILABLE - security - bartenders - register - coat check - membership check Apply on Wednesday Sept. 27 from 1 pm to 4pm at Treehouse -157 E. Rosemary St. - Chapel Hill, NC Have some fun at your next job! POSITIONS AVAILABLE - security - bartenders * register - coat check - membership check • ’ ’ ■ r ' ■ ' ' • Apply on Wednesday Sept. 27 from 1 pm to 4pm at Treehouse -157 E. Rosemary St. - Chapel Hill, NC ■ Queens of die Stone Age, Vast, Like Hell, Today at Cat’s Cradle. The Queens make sludgy stoner root, but it’s intelligent ’cause they use a xylophone. Call 967-9053 for information. ■ 8.8. King Bines Festival, Friday at Alltel Pavilion. Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi, Corey Harris and the man himself play the blues to get some of your green. Call 831-6666 for information. ■ Latin Dancing, Friday at El Chilango restaurant and cultural center. DJ Juvencio spins salsa, cumbia and merengue. Free instruction before dancing. Baile, baile! Call 960-0171 for information. ■ Allman Bros. Band, Saturday at Alltel Pavilion. Southern rock dinosaurs continue to blur the line between good ol’ boys and hippies. Call 831-6666 for information. ■ Sunday Showcase, Sunday at Cat’s Cradle. Eight local bands, $2. What a deal! Call 967-9053 for information. ■ Joan of Arc and Malabaster, Sunday at Go! Studios. Chicago hipster Tim Kinsella and Joan of Arc make weird, pretty noises. Malabaster, from Winston-Salem, sounds like Sonic Youth and Trans Am got in a train wreck and lost their keyboards. Call 969-1400 for information. ■ Dr. Madd Vibe, Tuesday at Cat’s Cradle. The wacky alter ego of Fishbone frontman Angelo Moore presents a spoken-word performance where anything goes. Call 967-9053 for information. ■ “Girl Fighti” Wednesday at Carolina Union Auditorium. Sneak preview of new drama about girls boxing. Girls boxing ... Yes! Call 962-1157 for infor mation. ■ Third Annual Rumi Festival, starts Wednesday at the Carrboro Arts Center. Poetry, lectures and music celebrate Rumi, an ancient Sufi poet. Call 929-2787 for information. ■ “School For Wives,” through Oct. 1 at the Paul Green Theatre, UNC campus. Play Makers Repertory Company presents Moliere’s slapstick verse comedy in the first show of its 25th anniversary season. Call 962-PLAY for infor mation. H % / of*S \ * ) JM %. Jb % o . S' / If SV/ 409 Eul Main Sinai a. Blue Hand ( fffl <** </> J A ” 2. q) \ j \ \ www.bkMbandatort.com £*■ lAA f / \ 1 ') I V / ; -iV U 9 ecuuizj jnoiuv <2b? Batiy (Ear BM „
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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Sept. 21, 2000, edition 1
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