Ying Yang Twins Headline Spring Weekend Concert
Kaine and D-Roc Set to Perform Alongside Ozomatli
The crunk rap duo Ying Yang Twins will headline this year's Spring Weekend concert on April 27 in the Johnson Athletic Center. Also performing that evening is Ozomatli, a ten piece Los Angeles based group specializing in "hip hop, salsa, cumbia, dub, and Middle Eastern funk," according to their Web site.
The performers were chosen based on results from a survey released last November which drew more than 2000 responses. Unlike previous years, the survey did not ask for a specific ranking of artists, but rather polled interest in various performing groups, according to Patrick Raymond, program coordinator of Student Activities.
"We got a lot of great feedback," Raymond added.
More than half of the students who responded to the survey expressed an interest in the Ying Yang Twins, who were also the most popular hip hop choice, according to Thomas E. Robinson, assistant director of Student Activities. Ben Folds Five was the overall top survey choice, with Jimmy Eat World rounding out the top three. Ben Folds Five was not available to perform during Spring Weekend.
Bringing the Ying Yang Twins to MIT will cost between $20,000 and $25,000, according to the concert planning Web site, Pretty Polly. The Institute contributes about $80,000 to Spring Weekend, part of which draws from the Student Life Fee, according to Robinson. Last year's Spring Weekend ticket sales of $16,700 will also contribute to this year's Spring Weekend budget. The ticket sales from this year's concert will be used as seed money for Spring Weekend 2008, according to Robinson.
Other activities slated for Spring Weekend are Friday's iFair, with presentations from over 40 cultural student groups, the annual Alpha Chi Omega Lip Sync Contest on Saturday, and the graduate student brunch on Sunday, Robinson said. The AXO Lip Sync will be held in Kresge Auditorium, according to Lip Sync chair Jessica A. Harpole '07. Get Spring, a hip-hop event planned by SaveTFP, is likely to occur this year, according to Raymond.
The Spring Weekend committee is composed of between 10 and 20 students, mostly undergraduates, who help with publicity and planning for the event. While many details including ticket price and complete weekend schedule have not been finalized, the committee will be meeting as soon as next week to discuss logistics, according to Robinson.
Cake, an alternative band, performed with indie-pop group matt pond PA at last year's Spring Weekend concert.
Based in Atlanta, the Ying Yang Twins' first single, "Whistle While You Twurk," reached number one on the US rap chart in 2000. They are also known for their song "Salt Shaker" featuring rapper and producer Lil John, and "Wait (The Whisper Song)."
Ozomatli, whose song "Saturday Night" was featured in a commercial for the Apple iPod, released their self-titled album in 1998. Their next album, "Don't Mess With The Dragon," is scheduled for release in April.