Rhyme Time


CMU students free-style in celebration of Hip Hop Week


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Taryn Wattles | Assistant Photo Editor Detroit transfer student Nicos Phoenix out-rapped his fellow competitors during the Rap Battle Thursday in the UC Auditorium. For winning, Nicos won the title of CMU's top emcee, fifty dollars, and a meet-n-greet with Ludacris.

Fighting for dominance as Central Michigan University’s top emcee, $50 and a meet-and-greet with hip-hop icon Ludacris, eight students flowed and free-styled during a rap battle event in celebration of the university’s Hip Hop Week.

Hosted by Program Board, Collective Action for Cultural Unity (C.A.C.U), and Men About Change, the battle of words and wits was held in the Bovee University Center auditorium before a crowd of more than100 people.

Nicos Phoenix, a transfer student and communications major from Detroit, signed up after hearing about the event from another artist.

“I sing, and I thought it was a good way for me to find new artists,” Phoenix said.

Nicos has been singing for a year and wanted to showcase his style in a venue that would help him gain notoriety.

“It’s just a good way to come out so people can see my face, and meet new people,” he said.

Students who chose to participate signed up before hand, yet the event had two drop out at the last minute. This prompted more students to sign up on the fly, and even allowed two other students to participate outside the confines of the competition.

Daryl Wallace, a Detroit freshman majoring in communications, was one of those students who jumped in on the battle.

Wallace said he used to sing before he rapped and came after hearing an extra person was needed.

“I was in a pathways room and they said they need an extra person so I said I guess I’ll do it,” Wallace said. “I’ve been rapping since I was 10, but this is my first time free-styling.”

Keeping his skills sharp, Wallace said reciting poetry has helped him concoct more intricate rhyme schemes. In addition, his religion has played a major role when deciding which musical direction to move in.

“Listening to Christian rap is what got me into it, because of how they could say positive things without cursing and having a positive image,” he said.

One of the things that excited Wallace about performing at the rap battle was the number of people attending.

“I’ve performed at a few open mic nights, but there weren’t as many people there,” he said.

Wallace was happy that CMU decided to do the rap battle and Hip Hop week this year.

“I’m glad because being at a radio station and being around Moore Media Records they focus more on alternative and rock,” Wallace said.

Tamika Taylor, a mechanical engineering major and Chicago senior asked to participate last minute.

Taylor attended the event because she has been rapping since she was young.

“I’ve been rapping since I was little and when I came to Central, I kind of stopped so that’s why I took the opportunity to come to this rap battle,” Taylor said.

Taylor was pleased with the creativity the rap battle showed.

“I guess it shows creativity in a different way,” Taylor said. “Usually it’s in a drawing or writing, but now it’s in your lyrics because rap is a form of art.”

Jazmyne Saltmarshall, vice president of C.A.C.U. and a 21-year-old Detroit native, and was pleased with the turnout of the event. Saltmarshall also thought the rap battle was a good way to end Hip Hop week and would like to see the event again next year.

The winner of the rap battle was Phoenix and he was thrilled to win.

“It felt real good because these boys were talented,” Phoenix said.

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