Amateur and professional beats alike were thrown down last night in the Schine Underground. The Student African-American Society and Black Artists League sponsored a Hip-Hop Showcase, featuring a freestyle rap session, rapper Immortal Technique and hip-hop group Dead Prez.

The showcase began with individual battles between seven amateur student artists. First-round competition was limited to 30 seconds, but the final between rappers Fat Free and Heat was extended to two 45-second rounds. Fat Free appeared to be the winner at the outset, but by the end the audience was jeering both rappers.

‘The hostess is the winner?’ asked Amina Brown, hostess and president of the Student African-American Society. ‘OK, they both lose.’

Dead Prez was the featured act and brought the audience to life with smooth, thumping beats and messages about equality, voting, education and changing the system. The group, headed by rappers Stic man and M-1, first appeared on the Loud Records compilation ’97 Set Up. The two met in a traveling national activist organization and began writing their material, which supports the teachings and practices of social defense parties like the Black Panthers.

Many audience members were familiar with the group’s lyrics and messages, chanting along to lines such as ‘I’m an African and I know what’s happenin” and ‘Know your enemy, know yourself.’

The group also sampled from Pink Floyd’s hit ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ during its rap about education. The duo flashed facts about minority education in the background, and encouraged the audience to shout ‘Fuck this school!’

The performance was backed by projected images of blacks in America and discrimination statistics, as well as group members waving red, black and green flags and handkerchiefs.

‘I’m a longtime fan from the first album they dropped,’ said Justin Williams, a senior television, radio and film major. ‘They’re putting out a message that other rappers aren’t putting out. It’s fresh. It’s new and different. It’s also rare that artists like this come to SU.’

Independent artist Immortal Technique opened for Dead Prez and brought with him a thorough knowledge of gangster and street life – he said he spent a year in jail. He spoke against racism and said it is becoming more and more subliminal. He believes that people can’t have a revolutionary discussion unless they go to conservative places and talk to the most conservative people they can find.

‘Just because you don’t wear a white sheet doesn’t mean you’re not a racist,’ Immortal Technique said.

Immortal Technique also spoke out against the corrupt practices of the government and its past monetary support of terrorist groups.

‘It doesn’t matter what race you are,’ he said. ‘The government tries to argue with the ads that say ‘If you smoke weed, you’re supporting terrorism.’ No, when you pay your taxes, you’re supporting terrorism.’

Immortal Technique drew upon his past experiences in his raps, talking about his life in a gang and growing up in Harlem. He believes that social problems such as rape need to be solved and not glorified.

‘We need to invest in our community,’ he said. ‘You can make the future, but it starts with leaving the past.’

Published on March 28, 2004 at 12:00 pm