HIP-HOP Music
Standout or sit-down – Breaking into Atlanta’s hip-hop industry
by: Shane Peaster
Just 250 miles apart, Nashville and Atlanta serve as two of the most famed “Music Cities” in the United States. Country artists know that Nashville is the place to go to be discovered, and hip-hop artists know that Atlanta is the place to go to be discovered.
The hip-hop music industry can be described as a “dog-eat-dog” business, where only the best artists survive in Atlanta.
In a business where only the best artists survive, and in a city where only the best go to be found: what does an artist need to “make it big?”
Atlanta has been a home to the hip-hop music scene since the 90s, when it housed early hip-hop groups such as Outkast, Andre 3000, Cee Lo Green, and many other southern-hip-hop style groups. The 2000s came, and new styles of hip-hop emerged with the new generation.
The trend has followed ever since, leading to many of today’s popular hip-hop artists and rappers setting base in Atlanta.
Why Atlanta?
Damién Henderson, an Atlanta based rapper that goes by the name Damez, said it’s no wonder that Atlanta generates so many hip-hop artists.
“Atlanta is the black Hollywood of the south,” he said. “So many great artists and music has come out of that city, so it's expected that you have so many aspiring artists.”
The great artists that Henderson are referring to include: Usher, Gucci Mane, Lil Jon, B.o.B. and countless other standout artists from the Metro Atlanta area.
Many of the mainstream artists go on to create record labels or recording studios to help upcoming artists find a home in the industry, like Gucci Mane did with 1017 Brick Squad Records.
“Music is bled through the streets of the city and there are a lot of opportunities there for rappers as well,” Henderson said.
Getting Noticed
Daniel Watson, recording engineer for Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta, works with established acts like Iggy Azalea and Rick Ross, and also works with local artists who are trying to break into the business.
In other words: Watson knows what qualities a local artist needs in order to standout.
“Well, you have to be good for sure,” Watson said as he laughed. “But really being a good person and keeping good relations with the people you meet and work with. There are so many people in Atlanta with the industry…and just being a cool genuine person helps them remember you. It makes them want to work with you.”
Watson believes that the good relationships and networking are the main qualities that separate a standout hip-hop artist from any other artist.
He especially believes this because he knows Atlanta’s industry isn’t like other cities’.
“The one thing I know about the difference between Nashville and Atlanta is that they have so much structure up there, much more old-school and corporate,” Watson said. “The Atlanta thing is more focused on the social media aspect and the internet. Not that they don’t do all of that too, but it’s just a whole different beast here.”
Migos Spring Bling Concert Review
By: Angelina Reyes
STATESBORO- Over 2000 guests and students occupied Hanner in anticipation to watch the Migos perform on Saturday, April 18. The Migos were set to perform at 9 p.m. and wrap up the show at about 10:30 p.m. However, the Migos were nowhere to be found at the start of the set.
It is not uncommon for a celebrity to arrive ‘fashionably late’ to an appearance. But after over an hour with thousands of people waiting on a performance it becomes inconsiderate.
The show started off with several performances from talents including Dyverzion dance team, Alpha Delta Pi and popular Georgia Southern DJ, DJ Nino, who kept the crowd entertained and excited while waiting for the Migos to arrive.
After the long wait the Migos finally took the stage and you could almost feel the energy of the room transform.
The Migos performed six hit songs and the crowd loved it, however, the fun was cut short when Bulloch County police instructed the manager to shut down the show after the 30 minute performance.
The Migos were arrested following their performance on several possession charges including marijuana possession, a firearm on a school campus and possession of a schedule II controlled substance. – link to trevor’s story on the arrest.
Georgia Southern students felt robbed of their time and money due to the carelessness and unprofessionalism displayed by the Migos.
“I pretty much paid to see a bunch of dancers; a sorority and a DJ perform all night. That sounds like a regular Friday night to me,” said Daunte Bryant, a Georgia Southern senior.
“I had more fun turning up with DJ Nino than I did when the Migos actually got there, by the time they came I was already over their performance,” said Lauren Williams, a senior public health student at GSU.
The contract that was signed for the performance was for $33,000. However, at this time the university is investigating whether or not the Migos breached the contract because they ended the show before the time specified in the contract which was a show no less than 45 minutes.
“I was really disappointed in the show. The Migos have lost a fan. Clearly they do not value their fans if they can’t even do us the simple luxury of arriving on time for a college spring concert,” said Ayja Culliver, a senior early childhood education student.
Migos Perform GSU Spring Concert
By: Angel Reyes
STATESBORO- Migos are the first Hip Hop artists to perform at a spring concert at Georgia Southern in years.
There have only been three Hip Hop artists to perform at a GSU spring concert in history, the last was Ludacris in 2007, now the Migos will claim the fourth spot.
The Migos were one out of seven artists who were on the ballot to headline the Spring Concert.
“The Migos received 821 votes which were more than half of the votes for the other artists on the ballot that included Rich Homie Quan, Magic, We the Kings and many others,” according to Tyler Flaim, UPB President of the Special Events Committee.
According to Flaim the Migos were put on the ballot to appeal to the student body’s musical interests.
“The Migos were selected because of the budget available to us, their availability to preform, and what the Programming Board felt would most appeal to the students, it was kind of expected that the students would vote for the Migos because they are very hot artists right now ,” stated Flaim.
Seniors at GSU, Dyonna Gooden and Allyson Griffin, shared their excitement for their last college spring concert.
“I have been a big fan of the Migos since their very first song “Bando” was released in 2013 and I’m very proud that GSU is finally bringing a hip hop artist to Southern to perform during my college career,” said Gooden.
In comparison to Gooden, Allyson Griffin said, “I voted for Migos because they’re just really turned up artists. I felt I would have the most fun watching them perform and plus I like a lot of their music.”
UPB member, Kyle Smith, expressed his eagerness for the concert his anticipation of the performance.
“When I first learned that Migos won the vote I literally almost freaked out. They are among the top ten of my favorite artists I like right now and It’s gonna be a hell of a night,” stated Smith.
The spring concert is an ongoing Georgia Southern tradition where a sum of about $30,000-$500,000 would be spent on concert costs and paying the artist, which is paid partially through student fees.
According to Flaim, concert tickets are expected to sell out soon due to limited space in Hanner Field House which is where the concert will take place on April 18th. Doors will open at 7pm and the show is set to start at 8pm.
Tickets can be purchased online at etix.com or on Georgia Southern Campus at the Rotunda.
For more information of GSU Spring Concerts and events, visit the UPB webpage at http://students.georgiasouthern.edu/student-activities/upb/ .
For more information about Migos and their music you can visit their social media pages listed below:
Twitter.com/Migos
Facebook.com/Migos
Instagram.com/MigosATL
Orange Crush Hits Savannah
By: Trevor McNaboe
This weekend thousands of people will descend upon the Savannah and Tybee area for a two-day event that is known as Orange Crush.
While this shares the same name as the popular soda brand, it is completely different.
“I’ve never heard of this before but after learning more about it seems pretty cool and I’ll have to go sometime” said Brent Neal, a junior exercise science major.
Orange Crush that officially began in 1988 as a weekend celebration for students of Savannah State but over the years has become a mecca for African American students to relax for a weekend on the beach with music acts and partying.
This year according to the website orangecrushsavannah.com events will include a picnic followed by the headline artist Peewee Longway to perform on Friday night.
“My friends and I went to Orange Crush last year just for the experience since we’re so close to Savannah, ” said Alli McInerney, a junior biology major.
This event has drawn thousands of individuals through word of mouth and also through social media and has become so popular that Rich Homie Quan made an appearance last year.
“I was raised in the Savannah area and Orange Crush is a big deal every year getting more and more popular”, said Ronnie Alt, a senior general studies major.
With an excess of 10,000 people descending upon the southeastern Georgia beaches entertainment is at a premium.
Peewee Longway, a native of Atlanta and member of Gucci Mane’s 1017 Brick Squad Records, headline Orange Crush.
Longway is most known for his collaborations with Young Thug and their hit singles “Sneekin and Geekin” and “Servin Lean”.
“One of the main reasons my friends are going is because of PeeWee, they’ve been huge fans since he signed with Gucci’s label” said Matt Kamph, a sophomore finance major.
Orange Crush has transcended from a small school gathering into a weekend that continues to gain more popularity every year as more and more people attend.
Hip Hop at Georgia Southern
By: Trevor McNaboe
Georgia Southern University is located in the Southeastern corner of the state of Georgia. While hip hop originated in New York City in the 1960’s there has been a trend of it coming down South.
Mainstream artist such as Ludacris, T.I., and Waka Flocka Flame all hail from the capital of the Peach State.
The trend of hip hop infiltrating the South has made its impact here at Georgia Southern with the explosion of student population in the past ten years that has the school boasting more 20,000 students.
While the school is well known for it’s down south country music, hip hop has come on the scene with multiple organizations and places that feature its genre.
91.9 the Buzz is one organization that plays a variety of music, hip hop being one of them. When student organizations go rent out space at the Rotunda in the Russell Union, 91.9 the Buzz is one that sets up playing music to draw a crowd.
“We play a variety of music but we’ve noticed that people gather around where we are set up when we play popular music, “ said Pietro Caneo, a junior economics major and a newcomer to the radio station.
Another organization that has integrated hip hop recently into their organization is the University Programming Board after booking Migos for the university spring concert.
“We’ve noticed that a lot of the student population has enjoyed more and more hip hop and that resulted in the school getting Migos this year instead of as in previous years where we’ve had artist such as the The Band Perry and The Fray”, said Sydney Jordan, who has been actively involved in SGA for the past two years.
Another activity that goes on is Unplugged which happens on Tuesdays in the Union. This allows students the opportunity to share their music and poetry.
“I’ve been to Unplugged and enjoyed hearing a bunch of other students share some of their work that they’ve been developing and to have the ability to display their talents in front of peers is pretty cool, “ said Tyler Sills, a sophomore finance major.
Not only do organizations on campus play hip hop but a popular spot that hip hop music can be found is local establishment Club 125. Waka Flocka made an appearance there for a concert that was hosted last semester and Club 125 has made it known that they play a heavy dose of hip hop for the increased interest in hip hop.
“There’s no question that organizations here at Georgia Southern University will continue to integrate hip hop into events that they host, “ said Caneo.