2008 Woodie Awards
Freestyle club breaks loose for their debut
Jaclyn Hull
Issue date: 12/8/05 Section: A & E
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The event started with an introduction by MC and club producer, Richard Deecken, who then turned the spotlight over to SHU's own DJ Tristan Levy, who kept the music spinning throughout the night.
This is the first major event that the Freestyle Club has put on this year.
"Our club's goal is to offer venues for SHU students to display their freestyle skills. We've already hosted our first event, a rap battle and dance-off, which over two hundred students attended. It was a huge success and we've already begun planning more events," said Deecken, sophomore, Trumbull.
There are about six original members in the Freestyle Club who are working on scheduling weekly meetings.
The event began with a dance-off; two female students got down on the dance floor in competition against one another, as a few male students showcased their break-dancing talents. The winners were voted by audience applause.
After a few technical difficulties, the mic was handed over to the rap contestants, who freestyled against each other in series of two on two battles. One of the remaining four contestants was senior, Oliver Kranichfeld, who also is a staff reporter for the Spectrum.
"I learned of the rap battle contest through my friends, but I also saw numerous signs throughout the school. If I was here for another year, I'd definitely be interested in joining the club to refresh my old skills," said Kranichfeld, Rye, N.Y.
The walls of Flik were lined with students watching; there wasn't an empty seat in the house.
"I was amazed by the turnout at our event. I was expecting only 20 people to show up, and over ten times that came to the battle," said Deecken.
The battle became more competitive as the contestants were being eliminated, but it only made the crowd yell louder.
"It was very exhilarating being in front of a crowd like that, and I've rarely ever freestyled in front of a crowd that big. It definitely gets your adrenaline going, for better or worse," said Kranichfeld.
The rap battles ended with champion Arie Dixon, a sophomore who has been rapping since the fourth grade. He was awarded a cash prize for coming in first place split with Richard Hua, who came in first place in the dance competition.
Dixon has rapped at some local bars in the area and in his free time, he has put together his own rap group.
"Me and my boy, Ela, are in a group called Physha, and we're talking to some people and working on some things with it right now," said Dixon, sophomore, Beacon, N.Y.
As the Freestyle Club continues, so will their events as they will begin to become more established in the SHU community.