Ohio University students and Athens residents will be able to start their 2018 spring break with live hip-hop performances and spoken word renditions.
As part of the Midwest Ambassador Promo Tour, Suge B will come to Athens to perform songs from his latest album Hustle Big.
The Columbus-based hip-hop and rap artist will perform live at Casa Nueva Restaurant and Cantina, 6 W. State St, at 10 p.m. Friday. Admission is $5 and the event is only open to people ages 18 and above. Tickets are available for purchase through the event’s Facebook page.
Suge B is influenced by West Coast rappers such as Tupac Shakur, N.W.A., Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar. West Coast rap dominated charts in the ’90s.
Suge B has produced two other full-length albums: Checks and Balances and Live from the Bophouse.
Suge B will be accompanied by HotboyReem & Tjsteves, Darwin Evolution Music, Prodical and Earl Maxxin.
The accompanying acts were chosen through a competitive selection, Chris Moss, press contact for Suge B and promoter of the Midwest Ambassador Promo Tour, said. Music submissions by various artists were provided to a panel of highly selective music listeners who then put together a list of the most engaging performing acts.
“We want to just be able to connect to the music fans and put on a great show for them,” Moss said. “I’m pretty confident that it’ll be entertaining for Athens.”
The show will feature genres of hip-hop, rap and spoken word. Moss said the team decided to include spoken word as a way to produce a more diverse show and pay homage to the origins of hip-hop.
“Rap seems to get a bad rep,” he said. “We want to lighten that by mixing in a variety of genres … to get a diverse and interactive crowd.”
David Schnell, a senior studying management, said he doesn’t usually go to hip-hop or rap concerts. If he does go to a live concert, it’s usually for country music.
But Schnell said he listens to various rap artists like J Cole, Kid Cudi and Biggie and Tupac.
“I’m not a big fan of live concerts, but I would consider it,” he said.
Samson Clemens listens to hip-hop and rap music a lot and said he enjoys listening to the bass and the beat in those songs. Clemens, a freshman studying pre-dentistry, said he might go to a hip hop or rap concert depending on the artist.
The Midwest Ambassador Promo Tour aims to build connections with people and music fans. The ultimate goal of the tour is to expand the overall music and hip-hop scene in Ohio through those connections, Moss said.
At the end of the day, Moss hopes that students and residents of Athens will “show up and show out.”
“OU is known for not having any issues with putting their hair down and enjoying themselves. We want to be part of that energy. We want people to come and enjoy the show,” Moss said. “It’s an opportunity to inject some energy and … let this be a kick off to their spring break.”
