Campus life returns to College with CUB’s first concert since the break

By Jordan Galan
Corresponding

Since the pandemic, events on campus have been limited to what is acceptable under strict Covid guidelines. With restrictions finally eased, allowing large numbers of students to attend for free as long as masks were worn, the College Union Board (CUB) seized the opportunity to organize a concert to bring the student body back to life. Tuesday, August 31 at 8 p.m., the Brower Student Center was electrified by HDBeenDope’s breathtaking performance with the thrilling opening of ISO Indie that left the crowd wanting more.

From the start, students flocked, eager for the event to begin. As soon as ISO Indies stepped onto this stage, the students knew they were going to experience something special. As the crowd began to enter the contagious groove of nods and punches, everyone knew it was time to finally release the main event, HDBeenDope himself.

“When he started rapping it really made the crowd come alive,” said Kiandry Minaya, a freshman in biology. Minaya is no stranger to big concerts and crowded events. Back in his hometown of Patterson, New Jersey, the concerts are common and very varied. Performers always appear from the shadows to get a taste of the coveted big stage, blinding lights, and the incessant roar of the audience below. However, the HDBeenDope concert brought something different from the concerts of other artists.

“I really liked his flow, I’ll be honest,” said Minaya. “His flow was pretty solid and he was able to be extremely versatile with his flow. He went from mild to high. He was also preaching in the middle of his concert – he talks to people, he doesn’t just rap with them, he talks to them.

Not only did HDBeenDope exuberate such skill in his performance, but he had the means to make the concert a personal experience for everyone there. As an artist, HDBeenDope not only puts a lot of thought and effort into his work, but he is also extremely invested in every type of audience he meets in each of his shows.

HDBeenDope said that during his tour with Portugal the Man he was immersed in a multitude of different people at each of their shows. Crowds ranging from 13 to 60 year olds allowed him to truly understand and adapt to the people around him.

“Talking about crowds that don’t care is the ultimate test – it’s always fun for me,” said HDBeenDope. “The challenges (are) how I’m going to involve people. When it comes to a younger audience, you know what they’re looking for. They just want to be excited. But when you are on tour, Portugal is 13 to 60 years old. An older lady came to me after a show and told me she felt the music, but to be able to have someone that age – to make sure she enjoys it, and 18 and under appreciate it, it forces you to learn different ways of playing and engaging people, and I can’t thank them enough for that.

Being a performer is more than just the content of your music – it’s how you deliver it to others that sets one artist apart from another.

Interpreters are very diverse, but those who are successful are those who are willing to learn and adapt from other places that may be outside of their level of expertise.

“Trust yourself, always be open to learning, just taking different things. It is very easy to stay in your box, ”said HDBeenDope. “It’s like you’re trying to be in a certain world, you’re kind of studying in that world. It’s understanding that there are so many things in different worlds that can positively affect everything you do.

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