Author: Ella Fornari
The eerie tree scape of Sycamore Glen was the ideal backdrop for KOXY’s Hip-Hop Halloween show Friday. The show featured artists Zeroh, Ras G. of Brainfeeder and Poo-Bah Records and Jonwayne of Stones Throw Records. The showcase introduced students to lesser-known artists while providing a dance-worthy environment free of alcohol related incidents.
“Stones Throw is a really cool up-and-coming record label, so we thought it’d be cool to do a Halloween show with costumes,” KOXY Online Promotions Director Soraya Sebghati (sophomore) said.
Most students donned costumes, and the KOXY staff got into the Halloween spirit as well, supplying candy to the 300 or so students in attendance. Sebghati dressed as Icelandic pop-star Bjork.
Zeroh opened the show with a mellow hypnotic quality to his beats. Ras G., who SPIN Magazine has described as an “L.A. beat genius channeling the spirit of Sun Ra,” followed and picked up the tempo to a more danceable pace.
Students and KOXY staff seemed most excited for Jonwayne, who came out with a new album on Oct. 29. Dressed in basketball shorts, a worn t-shirt and hiking sandals, Jonwayne rapped throughout his entire set, at times rhyming so quickly it sounded as if he had been mechanically sped up. Although the show was originally scheduled to end at midnight, Jonwayne started his set at 11:45 p.m. and performed well past the 12:00 a.m. mark.
In light of the recent prohibition of dances, KOXY has an opportunity to supplement on-campus events. “It’s a chance for us to step up, and we’re embracing it,” KOXY Station Manager James Gallagher (senior) said.
After KOXY’s last showcase – which had about 30 attendants and was shut down early by Campus Safety – the success of Hip-Hop Halloween provides KOXY the opportunity to continue bringing quality alternative programming to campus.
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