2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeOne man, one mic
Nas' sold out show rocks Goldstein audience
By Kelly Outram
Posted: 4/20/08, 10:46 PM EST Section: Feature
Alvin Kumar, a sophomore biology student, sat on the floor in the Schine Atrium outside Goldstein Auditorium for about two and a half hours listening to his iPod, waiting for an indication that they were ready to let people inside.
Outside and down the steps from Kumar, Chrissy Jacobs, a sophomore information studies and African American studies major, stood behind a steel barricade itching to get her promised floor seat and possibly even an autograph.
"I love the diverse turnout," said Cassandra Medard, parliamentarian for the National Panhellenic Council and junior bioengineering major. "When an artist is able to pull people from all different backgrounds, that's great."
The concert started with comedian Roberts. With his foul language, there wasn't one button that Roberts didn't push during his act. He made fun of gender, race and periodically broke out into freestyle raps, where he talked about anything from his gangster grandmother to paternity tests on the Maury Povich show.
His material that seemed to draw the most laughs was when he made fun of those in attendance and put some hecklers antsy for Nas in their place.
The Kid Fresh and the House Party gave a highly energetic performance next with its hip-hop/reggae/funk style that resembled Sublime superimposed with rap lyrics. The band members looked like they were having the time of their lives on stage, especially the two guitarists who played amazing solos during the set. D.C.-based MO CHIPS followed, and got everybody loose and dancing in preparation for the main act.
The star, of course, was Nas. During his performance, the audience members rushed to the front of the stage and stood on chairs to move closer to the rap luminary. At one point, the rapper threw his shirt into the audience, and several hands popped up frantically swiping for the once-in-a-lifetime souvenir.
"(The turnout of the concert) shows how hip-hop unites people," Henry said. "Whole different races, religions and creeds can appreciate the power of words as long as they're using positive words."
kaoutram@syr.edu
Outside and down the steps from Kumar, Chrissy Jacobs, a sophomore information studies and African American studies major, stood behind a steel barricade itching to get her promised floor seat and possibly even an autograph.
"I love the diverse turnout," said Cassandra Medard, parliamentarian for the National Panhellenic Council and junior bioengineering major. "When an artist is able to pull people from all different backgrounds, that's great."
The concert started with comedian Roberts. With his foul language, there wasn't one button that Roberts didn't push during his act. He made fun of gender, race and periodically broke out into freestyle raps, where he talked about anything from his gangster grandmother to paternity tests on the Maury Povich show.
His material that seemed to draw the most laughs was when he made fun of those in attendance and put some hecklers antsy for Nas in their place.
The Kid Fresh and the House Party gave a highly energetic performance next with its hip-hop/reggae/funk style that resembled Sublime superimposed with rap lyrics. The band members looked like they were having the time of their lives on stage, especially the two guitarists who played amazing solos during the set. D.C.-based MO CHIPS followed, and got everybody loose and dancing in preparation for the main act.
The star, of course, was Nas. During his performance, the audience members rushed to the front of the stage and stood on chairs to move closer to the rap luminary. At one point, the rapper threw his shirt into the audience, and several hands popped up frantically swiping for the once-in-a-lifetime souvenir.
"(The turnout of the concert) shows how hip-hop unites people," Henry said. "Whole different races, religions and creeds can appreciate the power of words as long as they're using positive words."
kaoutram@syr.edu
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