Music, poetry, rap, dance and live art were presented at “The Fresh Connect,” the group’s ninth annual event which took place on Friday evening, Nov. 22 in the Conway Center.
FC Titled “The Fresh Connect,” the celebration was dedicated to Parker Lee Williams. He graduated from Columbia in 1990 and was known by his stage name DJ P-Lee Fresh, and brought to fruition by students in the “Events Management: Practicum” class.
Some notable accomplishments throughout his career include helping start STEPPS, one of the first dedicated hip-hop clubs in Chicago in the mid-1980s. It played a crucial role as a formative venue in the city’s early hip-hop scene. Williams also helped start XMEN Crew, which started as a graff-only crew and morphed into hip-hop.
“If you know anything about hip-hop, it is more about community and empowerment than it is about turning up,”Amina Norman-Hawkins, Columbia’s hip-hop club faculty advisor and part-time instructor, told the audience.
The event was hosted by Andre Daniels, a part-time instructor in the School of Audio and Music, who goes by the stage name Add-2.
He said that there’s a connective energy that continues to expand through generations, seeing and hearing how prevalent hip-hop still is.
“It’s just astonishing,” said Daniels.
The event also served as a fundraiser for the “Parker Lee Williams Award for Hip-Hop Excellence.” The scholarship is awarded to students in the hip-hop studies minor with fundraising ongoing until ManiFresh, which takes place in the spring.
Campbell Crose, who also goes by the name Camp Carelli and C2, kicked-off the first of many performances throughout the night. He is a senior music business major who is also a part of the practicum class.
Crose performed two songs, “DOLO,” and “I Bleed Red,” set to premiere in an upcoming mixtape that he produced himself as well.
He said that having the opportunity to create platforms for artists to perform at was perfect as it’s what he wants to continue working on post-college.
“It’s a perfect place to be and as an aspiring artist and creative, this event is a perfect example for sure,” said Crose.
Columbia’s Renegades Hip-Hop Dance Team also performed a medley of songs to show off their moves on the center floor.
One of the team’s members is Melinda Alvarado, a first-year music production and entrepreneurship and innovation double major.
She said that while it was hectic learning the choreography due to only having a few rehearsals, she felt pretty good about the team’s performance.
“I love that we put ourselves out [of] our comfort zone often,” Alvarado said. “You know, always striving to be better.”
Uriel Blunt, a 2025 music business graduate, was invited by fellow students to return to Columbia for the event.
Known by his stage name URI, he performed “Fall Afternoon,” a new song which he released earlier in the week.
His biggest takeaway were the contributions from everyone in attendance through expressions, interest and the liveliness of the event.
“The energy from the elders to the youth, the creativity and flow is very impactful,” Blunt said.
Raymia Jones Fowler, a junior film and television major, came to see her friends perform.
She, like many, grew up listening to hip-hop. What got her into the genre was the combination of sound along with the lyricism, especially if the song is about a topic she experienced herself.
“The lyrics, the rhythm, the beat, it all plays a part in that connection that I just click with and love dearly,” Fowler said.
First-year fashion studies major Malik Belyeu said that the event was a collection of many feelings that went beyond the music.
“It’s a message of connection, of bringing people together and welcoming everyone,” Belyeu said.
An energetic and engaging audience applauded, cheered and responded to the performers throughout the evening.
Daniels said he was amazed seeing how hip-hop’s culture and community continues to help people find themselves as it did for him.
“To see that this thing is still going and still expanding, is just beautiful,” Daniels said.
Copy edited by Brandon Anaya
