Hip-hop group opens for weekend event
Alysson Cwyk
Issue date: 1/23/09 Section: News
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"It doesn't make sense to wait until you graduate to start pursing what you want. It makes sense to do it now using the resources you have at Drexel," Noah Beresin, a freshman music industry major and member of Chiddy Bang, said.
The group includes Beresin on beats, keyboards and vocals; Zach Sewall on drums and rapper Chidera Anamege. They met during the first few weeks of fall term 2008.
"I was pretty impressed and thought that we should really do something. I talked to Chidera and a few weeks later, we were in the studio," Sewall recalled.
Beresin described Chiddy Bang's sound as if one took Ratatat and other electronic artists and combined them with rock, jazz and afro beats.
"Really eclectic electronic rap rock," Beresin said.Using samples from famed musicians like Weezer, Radiohead and Tom Waits, Chiddy Bang completely alters the tracks, making a number all of their own.
"When we started thinking about playing live, we definitely realized we were going to need a fourth person," Beresin said.
Guitarist Pat Braciszweski fulfilled that transition from samples to actual instrumentation through heavy guitars. The group agrees that he "kills it" on guitar.
"My sounds are smooth like velvet," Anamege, the rapper, said. His rhymes are influenced by hip-hop heavy hitters like Jay-Z, Kanye West and Biggie.
Sewall said the first time he heard Anamege, he thought of Jay-Z.
"Chidera is one of the only rappers I know where almost every single bar is quotable. Like, there is no filler. It's all substance, which surprised the crap out of me," Bruce Easley, a sophomore entrepreneurship major and Chiddy Bang's publicist, said.
Mentioning everything from the economy to Drexel being an institute of technology, Chiddy Bang's songs hit home to University City listeners. Although the group only has a few songs, Chiddy Bang is focused on getting their name out to the public and select tracks are free to download via PureVolume, which can be linked from www.myspace.com/chiddybangphilly.
"I discovered them at a party [last autumn]. My friend Ari Winkelman and I were discussing doing a big Homecoming event since last year. We came together once school started and was like 'Let's do it.' It kinda exploded, and I said that this would be the perfect opportunity for Chiddy Bang to be exposed to the Drexel community on a large scale," Easley said.
The Drexel Homecoming Dance Party kicks off at 8 p.m. Jan. 24 with Chiddy Bang opening and will run through 11 p.m. According to Easley, 3,000 college students are expected to attend. Admission is free with your DragonCard and $10 with an ID. from any other college.
"We achieve this unbelievable intensity. What we have recorded is nothing like that. Live - it takes on a life of it's own," Braciszweski described.
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