Image via Nate Waye

By: Erinn Gardner, Staff Writer 

Morehouse Music Group (MMG) blessed many ears hosting an open mic night Feb. 8 at JB’s Record Lounge. With roughly 50 individuals in attendance, Atlanta University Center (AUC) students shared the stage and exhibited their unique musical talents. From rap to soulful R&B, artists performing a variety of genres got the opportunity to freely express themselves. 

Although the organization has only been in existence for two years, president and co-founder Odein Karibi-Whyte has helped form MMG into the diverse musician’s collective that the AUC knows and loves. The senior Psychology major’s inspiration behind creating the group can be credited to the lack of community amongst the artists and creatives on campus. 

Karibi-Whyte noticed that students were independently producing beats and writing songs, but never came together to embrace their common interests. The group is extremely inclusive, as they accept artists, producers, engineers, DJs, instrumentalists and even people who do not identify as musicians but are interested in the industry. 

This year’s open mic carries the momentum from last year’s open mic on the Kilgore Hall steps. . With incense burning and records filling the black-owned lounge, artists felt more at ease through the duration of their performances. The space provided comfortable lounge areas  while the audience watched the  talents on display. 

“We definitely want to start having open mics once every two months, especially now that we have this really cool location. One of our biggest goals at MMG is community, so I feel like it’s an intimate space where people can showcase their talent and just get to know each other,” said Karibi-Whyte. 

To break the ice, MC Princess Onyianta passed around the mic for every guest to introduce themselves. MMG also provided refreshments while remaining engaged with their peers’ performances, along with the live instrumentalists on stage. The first portion of the night consisted mostly of artists freestyling, the second half gave artists the opportunity to sing and rap to pre-recorded karaoke versions of songs.   

“These types of events are important because we don’t really get these types of experiences outside of college. When you’re around creatives your age and people of a similar stature, it’s easier to step on stage because you have support from your peers,” MMG Internal Outreach Chair Morgan Edwards said. 

By the end of the open mic night, a full house was present and several overcame their fear of performing in front of an audience. Furthermore, some even acquired a newfound appreciation for genres that they were not previously familiar with. 

“I was most excited for the encouragement because I know it was someone’s first time performing for a fact, so I just want people to go up there and do their best and just feel that love and warmth from the crowd because that’s what open mics are for,” Karibi-Whyte said. 

Copy Edited by: Hunter Bonaparte, Arts & Entertainment Coordinator & Auzzy Byrdsell, Editor-in-Chief