In preparation for Machine Gun Kelly’s visit next week, a select number of local rappers will take the stage to compete for the chance to share the spotlight with the headliner.
“I’m just mentally preparing and practicing on my performances,” said local rapper Jean P, last year’s Battle of the MCs champion and opener for Big K.R.I.T. “I’m going to bring my A-game and, Lord willing, take home the title again.”
Tuero, or Terrence Robertson, who made it to the finals in last year’s competition, is similarly preparing for the event Saturday. He said he understands the importance and publicity of the opportunity.
“I know so many people are huge fans of MGK, along with myself,” he said. “This show is going to have a lot of great things and opening for him will be a great opportunity with a lot of publicity.”
Though the competition is an annual event, its organizer, the Black Student Cultural Programming Board, has made a few changes in its format.
“This year will bring a few changes that I think OU will really like,” said Seyi Odunaiya, the board’s president. “We added an a cappella round, a cipher and our judging criteria is a little different.”
Odunaiya said that the event will include four judges: professor Akil Houston and students Kelly Davidson, Shelby Gilgoff and Savannah Hogan.
“This year we wanted to focus a lot more on lyrical content and delivery as well as creativity and stage presence,” Odunaiya said. “We’re not holding back with this one; everything counts.”
Overall, BSCPB is searching for musicians who are serious about their craft and familiar with the way the music world works.
“When you’re opening for someone like MGK, we expect the winner to be on top of everything,” Odunaiya said. “That includes timeliness, maintaining their appearance at performances and conducting themselves professionally when corresponding with (BSCPB) or the concert artists. … If you’re slacking off, you’re sending (BSCPB) a very loud message about your work ethic.”
Overall, Odunaiya said that the board expects the event to be a positive experience for everyone involved.
“We want the show to be an experience for the artists as well as the audience,” she said.
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