The sound of heavy bass filled Witherspoon Campus Theater Saturday night as an array of hip-hop artists stood on stage spitting lyrics.
Flow, a hip-hop duo from Tennessee warmed up the audience. Other opening acts included N.C. State sophomore, J-Read who is best known for the school anthem “Go State!” a song about representing the red and white.
Along with J-Read was University alum Cesar Comanche, a well-seasoned rapper who has toured around the world performing in 16 different countries. Comanche is also co-founder of the hip-hop group The Justice League, which he represented Saturday night.
“The Triangle was my incubation area. I think it will be cool to perform at my old stomping grounds,” Comanche said before the show. “Witherspoon was one of the first places I performed. It’ll be like a homecoming.”
Once the crowd was pumped up and ready to go, the opening acts welcomed the feature performance group, Whose Rhyme is it Anyway? The hip-hop trio consisted of Playdough, a rapper from Texas whose skills have won him countless mic battles in the Lonestar state, and Heath McNease, a jack-of-all-trades MC who “raps, sings, plays guitar and juggles.” Completing the trifecta was newcomer, CookBook, an artist who is best noted for being part of the L.A. Symphony, a well-known underground rap group.
Whose Rhyme is it Anyway? used a lot of elements from the famous Drew Carey hosted show, Whose Line is it Anyway? and integrated it with hip-hop freestyle.
“My name is Heath McNease/I look like a character from Dawson’s Creek,” McNease spat in an improv introduction exercise.
One improv activity the group included was a game that involved each MC taking a personal item from an audience member and doing a brief freestyle about it.
Another activity involved each member freestyling about different occupations suggested by the audience. The occupations were as tame as being a Spanish teacher, to as wild as being a pornstar. At one point, CookBook freestyled about his occupation as a Pokemon trainer.
“Pokemon I choose you!” CookBook said, ending his freestyle and sending the audience into uproarious hysterics.
It was games and constant interactions like these that kept the audience engaged with the group.
The event did not just promote the MCs, but encouraged people to join the cause Food for the Hungry, a charity organization designed to provide food and clothing to those in extreme poverty.
After the event the audience was encouraged to attend the after party held at Ruckus Pizza and Bar.
“My biggest pleasure is that I had helped someone have a great time,” Comanche said. “They came out and got to listen to some great hip-hop.”
