Hip-hop artists Kendrick Lamar and Busta Rhymes will perform at NSU’s Shark Jam Winter Concert, sponsored by the Pan Student Government Association, on March 23 at 8 p.m. in the Arena at the Don Taft University Center.
Tickets may be purchased by NSU students, faculty and staff, as well as students of any other university or college. Schoolboy Q, a rapper from California, will be the concert’s opening performer and DJ.
Lamar was crowned the “Hottest MC in the Game” by MTV this year and his album, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City”, was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in December 2012. Many of Lamar’s songs, such as “Poetic Justice” and “Swimming Pools (Drank)”, have made the Billboard Hot 100.
Rhymes, who is known for his distinct fast rapping technique, has earned eleven Grammy nominations since 1997. He has been referred to as “one of hip hops greatest visual artists” by MTV and placed on “The Source”’s list of “Top 50 Lyricists of All Time” in 2012.
According to Christina Rajkumar, assistant director for special events and projects, over 400 students participated in voting for the Shark Jam performers, through campus events like SEA Thursday.
Lamar and Rhymes were the fifth and sixth performer choices on the voting results, following Pit Bull, Big Sean, J. Cole and Ludacris, respectively. None of those artists were available due to scheduling issues or cost, but Rajkumar is still optimistic about the concert.
“Students are extremely excited and keep talking about how great of a show and good of a combination of artists this is,” said Rajkumar.
Marine biology major Shannon Aldridge, who had already purchased tickets, said, “I’m looking forward to a great night with my good friends and listening to good music.”
However, some students, such as sophomore psychology major Lauren Usherwood, expressed mixed feelings.
“I think Nova did a good job at getting performers a lot of people want to see,” Usherwood said.
However, she added, “I feel that it was probably poor planning on Nova’s part that the concert was set up for the weekend of Ultra Music Festival, as many students go to Ultra,” referring to the electronic dance music festival in downtown Miami.
Tickets will be on sale until March 22 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Arena Box Office, ranging in price from $20 to $30, depending on location. Tickets on the day of the concert will be $35. The Arena can hold a little about 4,000 people, according to Rajkumar.
A university ID is required to purchase tickets and enter the concert, though ticketholders may bring guests. Doors open at 7 p.m.
