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October 2001
NEWS
Students unite to form one voice of hope
WAC gives audience better understanding
IMPRESSIONS
Editorial: We need to
set higher standards
Letters to the
editor:
Da playas gonna play
Men are from the "O" and
women are from "Starbucks"
Court approves peaceful minute
SPECIAL FEATURE
Americans face their
toughest challenge
Proud beyond words to be an American
Rude awakening just the
beginning
People wait for shock to settle
Students react to attacks
FEATURE
Finding the sweetest pad
in Pittsburgh
ENTERTAINMENT
Review of Slaughterhouse by Gail A.
Eisnitz
Street musician is on
prowl in Pittsburgh
EXPRESSIONS
Evangelistic dorm talk with Thomas B. Grosh IV
regarding the events of September 11,01
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October online edition
ENTERTAINMENT
Street musician is on the prowl in Pittsburgh
Kelly Kesslar
Pittsburgh Standard
How many times
have you heard someone say, “All hip hop sounds the same”? If you are bored with
today’s generic, played-out rap and dance music, I urge you to check out two
local groups.
The first is the
The Fine Arts Department, a hip-hop group that produces a unique brand of music,
blending elements of hip-hop, jazz, drum and bass, experimental instrumental,
and Beam, a funky drum and bass ensemble.
I happened to find master MC, Akil Esoon, vocalist for
both groups, performing live on the corner of Forbes Ave and
South
Bouquet Street on Sept 15.
Akil
and his synthesizer were surrounded by a group of approximately 30
enthusiastic listeners and participants. The MC entertained the crowd by
rapping freestyle to mixed beats of his own creation. This was not your average
hip-hop--a fact especially apparent when the crowd went wild for Akil’s hip-hop
remix of the Charlie Brown theme song.
Not only did Akil entertain the crowd musically, he also proved to be quite
an amusing comedian. Audience participation was a
huge part of the curbside show, with a dance contest and a freestyle rap
contest. Several passersby displayed their freestyle talent while Akil supplied
the beat. Up-and-coming hip-hop artist, Buc Nasty, was present and stole the
freestyle show, hands down. Nasty’s new album, Buc Nasty, will be coming
to stores soon.
It was an uncommon pleasure to hear laughter, applause, and music in the
street. Albert Lucini, a member of the crowd, put it best when he remarked,
“This is real, live Pittsburgh right here; you’ve got the
Pittsburgh people here just having a good time.”
Unfortunately, around midnight, the Pittsburgh Police showed up and cut the
show short. Four squad cars reported to the scene, blocking an entire lane of
traffic on Forbes Avenue. At one point, a Pittsburgh police officer was
threatening the nonviolent crowd with mace. Officer Wolfe of the Pittsburgh
Police explained that Akil had broken city ordinances prohibiting obstruction of
sidewalks, amplified music in the city, and holding public meetings and
processions without a permit.
After the show’s abrupt end, I was lucky enough to talk to both Akil and
Justin Straw, owner of the Shadow Lounge, which is located on the East End of
Pittsburgh. Straw explained that the Shadow Lounge, which features vivid,
local, underground music, gave The Fine Arts Department their start by featuring
the group every Thursday night in 2000. “At the Lounge, we feature artists that
go against the grain,” explained Straw.
A live CD
of The Fine Arts Department’s
performance at the Shadow
Lounge will be available in stores soon. I asked Akil what his motives were for
setting up a risky, live, and free show along the side of the road. He
explained that providing the public with a free show is a positive way to
introduce your artistic work to a wide range
of potential fans.
Esoon proudly proclaims himself as the
“working man’s rapper.” who provides music, for the people. He says that in his
shows he hopes to blend studio, circle, and stage performance. “I am an MC
first” he says, “and I work to move the crowd.”
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Volume I: Issue II
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