2008 Woodie Awards
Busta Rhymes dazzles crowd at William and Lee debut
Kelly Evans
Issue date: 1/24/07 Section: News
It's 4:00 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon that feels more like a weekend night. Inside W&L's student pavilion, the atmosphere is thick with anticipation but everyone is surprisingly quiet. A dozen freshmen boys are on stage, helping a Harrisonburg production company unload speakers, lights, and equipment off two trucks under senior John Allgood's watchful eye. The freshmen speak to him only when necessary.
At the front of the pavilion, senior Hartley Meric is setting up the ticket lines and cash boxes, trying to keep all the numbers straight in her head. Allgood crosses the floor and asks her about getting $650 worth of change for concessions and tickets.
"You're being highly anal," he says, after some discussion.
"It's my job to be anal!" she retorts.
Meric is treasurer for the Generals Activity Board, the group that paid $55,000 to bring Busta Rhymes to campus last Wednesday night. Allgood, the group's president, booked Rhymes after working with Virginia Beach-based booking agency More Music Group to bring a "big name" to campus.
Margo McClinton arrives, straight-faced but exuding nervous energy. She's had a stressful day - just hours earlier, as director of the University Commons, she helped execute the annual "Commons Celebration" honoring former W&L President John Elrod. She helped GAB bring Busta Rhymes to campus and also chose the night's opening act, Bassline.
One of the handful of Lexington Police Officers who are helping campus security handle the concert is ribbing on her in the corner.
"You picked these guys? That scares me a little," he says.
"You don't trust my judgment?" she counters. "I know the manager very well."
Lieutenant Miller laughs at that, too. He's excited to see Busta Rhymes even though he has to be on duty tonight.
"I was gonna be off duty," he says, "until we heard about the battle of the rappers."
Only a couple of guys have even signed up for the freestyle competition, and it's already after 6:00 p.m. But the night is guaranteed to draw a diverse crowd, with not only W&L students but also fans from Lexington, Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Harrisonburg making the trip. The local police don't expect any problems, though, beyond traffic and parking concerns.
Over by the concession counter, some GAB officers are picking at a spare deli tray and waiting for an update on Busta Rhymes's location. Allgood confirms that the hip-hop artist, traveling from New York City, is already two hours late. But Eamonn Byrne, the onsite guru from More Music Group, isn't worried.
"I've worked with him maybe a dozen times," Byrne says in his English accent. "It's easy. He's a very nice guy."
Onstage, Bassline is beginning their sound check. The nine-member group from Wilmington, Delaware is dancing around and generally having a good time, but their rapping and harmonizing proves they are serious about their music.
As Bassline's manager, Tone, is yelling "articulate!", a group of soon-to-be-security guards walks in. The guys - Kappa Sig upperclassmen, for the most part - don yellow "SECURITY" shirts and head over to the steel barrier between the crowd and the stage that they'll be
At the front of the pavilion, senior Hartley Meric is setting up the ticket lines and cash boxes, trying to keep all the numbers straight in her head. Allgood crosses the floor and asks her about getting $650 worth of change for concessions and tickets.
"You're being highly anal," he says, after some discussion.
"It's my job to be anal!" she retorts.
Meric is treasurer for the Generals Activity Board, the group that paid $55,000 to bring Busta Rhymes to campus last Wednesday night. Allgood, the group's president, booked Rhymes after working with Virginia Beach-based booking agency More Music Group to bring a "big name" to campus.
Margo McClinton arrives, straight-faced but exuding nervous energy. She's had a stressful day - just hours earlier, as director of the University Commons, she helped execute the annual "Commons Celebration" honoring former W&L President John Elrod. She helped GAB bring Busta Rhymes to campus and also chose the night's opening act, Bassline.
One of the handful of Lexington Police Officers who are helping campus security handle the concert is ribbing on her in the corner.
"You picked these guys? That scares me a little," he says.
"You don't trust my judgment?" she counters. "I know the manager very well."
Lieutenant Miller laughs at that, too. He's excited to see Busta Rhymes even though he has to be on duty tonight.
"I was gonna be off duty," he says, "until we heard about the battle of the rappers."
Only a couple of guys have even signed up for the freestyle competition, and it's already after 6:00 p.m. But the night is guaranteed to draw a diverse crowd, with not only W&L students but also fans from Lexington, Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Harrisonburg making the trip. The local police don't expect any problems, though, beyond traffic and parking concerns.
Over by the concession counter, some GAB officers are picking at a spare deli tray and waiting for an update on Busta Rhymes's location. Allgood confirms that the hip-hop artist, traveling from New York City, is already two hours late. But Eamonn Byrne, the onsite guru from More Music Group, isn't worried.
"I've worked with him maybe a dozen times," Byrne says in his English accent. "It's easy. He's a very nice guy."
Onstage, Bassline is beginning their sound check. The nine-member group from Wilmington, Delaware is dancing around and generally having a good time, but their rapping and harmonizing proves they are serious about their music.
As Bassline's manager, Tone, is yelling "articulate!", a group of soon-to-be-security guards walks in. The guys - Kappa Sig upperclassmen, for the most part - don yellow "SECURITY" shirts and head over to the steel barrier between the crowd and the stage that they'll be