Meter

Issue date: 11/2/09 Section: Arts & Culture

TSU students have expressed mixed emotions toward this year's Homecoming concert headliners.

Many students said lackluster artists will make the concert less memorable and have wondered aloud about the selection process.
The concert features Yo Gotti, Young L.A., Young Dro and Plies in the Gentry Center Complex Nov. 5.

"I wish it would not have been all rappers," said Kevina Bland, a senior engineering major from Savannah Ga. "Hopefully we can branch out and bring in artists such as Kid Cudi and Asher Roth."

While Bland was not a fan of the artists students like Tayla Blake are.

"I love the artists," said Blake, a freshman business administration major from Hunstville Ala. "Plies is fine, and although Young LA and Young Dro are new to the rap game, they are growing on me."

Bethany Blackmon, chairperson of the Student Union Board of Governors - the branch of Student Government Association that plans student Homecoming events, defended the selection process and explained how artists were chosen this year.

"(SUBG) selects these artists based on random selecting, polling with students and working with different packages with the promoter," said Blackmon, a junior computer science major from Memphis.

Blackmon said SUBG members go through a lot to get artists for the concert.

"I got on the concert committee to voice my opinion and try to get artists I think students would like," she said. "But, we have a budget to work with and the budget comes from the enrollment of students."

TSU's own and Skholar Made Entertainment CEO Sirrelly "Relly Main" Gills will be one of the opening acts performing at the concert.

The senior human performance and sports science major from Memphis approaches the craft of rapping in a unique form of storytelling by using his real life experiences to create relatable music.

"I've been through a lot and that is what influences me to write my songs," Relly said. "I talk about more than the girls, money or clothes. I plan on bringing real hip hop back."

Relly Main has received recent radio play in his hometown with singles I'm Outta Here and Where Dey Do Dat At.

"I was happy about my songs being played and I couldn't believe it, he said. "But at the same time, I was like 'what is next?"'

Skholar Made Entertainment is his creative, yet professional advance into the music industry.

Some students, like Morgan Yette, are excited about the TSU student performing.

"I like Relly Main's music," said Yette, a senior social work major from Knoxville, Tenn. " (His music) speaks about real everyday issues."

Relly Main said he doesn't want his label to be viewed as ghetto.

"I want people to see that although music is what we do, we are educated scholars first.
"No matter what it is, I am always going to be the best at whatever I do," Main continued.

His album The Movement to Move With will be released at the end of this year and his first single was released on Sept. 11.
Blackmon said she hopes at least 60 percent of the Gentry Center will be filled, but she did not disclose the amount the university paid to get the artist.

Tickets are $15 but will increase to $20 after Nov. 3.•

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