Image via Zeke Rabb

By Hunter Bonaparte, Arts & Entertainment Coordinator 

A wide range of artists were given a chance to showcase their talents Thursday during Nyla Symone’s Pass Da Aux Live – Pluggin in the AUC event. Symone, a DJ and frequent collaborator with Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, hosted the live show –giving great exposure to a plethora of young talent.

The event, taking place at Culture Lab Atlanta, was in collaboration with Morehouse’s very own Morehouse Music Group.

“This is an event to highlight up and coming artists, especially students in the AUC,” MMG’s President, Odein Karibi-Whyte said.

The event consisted of several performances, followed by Q&As of artists Domani and Reuben Vincent. Out of the performances, K-Lu’s bilingual genre-blending performance was a standout.

“When you’re up on stage it’s like you’re performing a part of you, so you’re not alone,” K-Lu said.

Artists Diz, Audi, Ray Rags and Nay Speaks also contributed incredible performances that rocked the audience. Nay Speaks’ interweaving of classic hip hop songs with her original rhymes was a crowd favorite.

The Q&A portion of Pass Da Aux gave powerful insight into the artists’ creative points of view. Domani, son of rapper T.I., got candid about the ways in which his unique upbringing does and does not affect his artistry. Reuben Vincent made a point to include how his Charlotte, North Carolina rearing paired with his Liberian ancestry serve to shape his approach to rap.

Thursday’s turnout was extremely impressive, Culture Lab Atlanta was jam-packed with wall-to-wall attendance. This was a good sign for Morehouse Music Group’s president Odein Karibi-Whyte. Despite the success, it is one of the first events MMG has attached itself to, but the organization has no plans of resting on its laurels.

“So, we want to do a lot more of everything. To be honest, this is a performance opportunity but we’re also really big in the development of your business mind, networking opportunities, and collaborative opportunities. Short films, too!” Karibi-Whyte said.

Symone, the host of Pass Da Aux, wore many hats throughout the night. In between stints of crowd work, announcing, interviewing and Q&As, Symone could be seen taking pictures and interacting with the energetic audience members.

“This is the first Pass Da Aux in Atlanta, which we’re super excited about. Clark Atlanta, Spelman, Morehouse for our openers – so we’re going to have them open for Reuben Vincent and Domani. So, it’s just a night of real hip hop,” Nyla Symone said.

Burgeoning stars from the AUC and elsewhere came together Thursday to provide an amazing exposition for those who attended Pass Da Aux. Morehouse Music Group, Culture Lab Atlanta and event host Nyla Symone came together to create an environment that both the artists and audience will never forget.

Copy Edited by Colin Royal, Managing Editor of Print