Hip-hop hits Athens with Golden, Code Red
By Lisa Wakeland, Staff Writer
May 10, 2007 | 4:32 p.m.
A dash of hip-hop comes to Appalachia on May 10 with Golden and Code Red at the Blue Gator, courtesy of the University Program Council (UPC). From comedians to speakers to musicians, UPC is responsible for bringing top-notch entertainment to OU.
Breaking away from the pop rock and singer/songwriters of past UPC concerts, Golden and Code Red are different from most acts brought to Athens. Many people associate hip-hop artists with inner city bred musicians schooled in the hard ways of the streets, but the label can be misleading. Code Red and Golden are from Louisville, Ky., and Reading, Pa., respectively. Despite the Midwest upbringing, the music packs as much punch as any established rapper.
Golden is the Black Eyed Peas' newest artist and their influence is unmistakably present in his music. Layered instrumentation and pop melodies flow over heavy beats throughout his debut Peddling Medicine. Released on iTunes April 17, the album's lead single, "Elevator Music" with Fergie, is downloaded more than 30,000 times a day in 27 countries.
He acknowledges his suburban upbringing in his biography on MySpace, but became interested in hip-hop through music videos, including Kool Moe Dee's "Wild Wild West." However, it was Nas's Illmatic that cemented Golden's passion. "That record literally changed my life," he said. "Right then and there I was like, 'Wow, I want to rap forever. I want to be an MC.'"
His first group was S.U.S.P.E.C.T.S, with Golden at the mic. The band played parties around Reading, and the singer was frequently threatened. "I'm the only white guy rhyming and the only white kid in the crew," he said. "I would be threatened to be killed because Vanilla Ice ruined it for a generation."
Eventually the group broke up, but Golden's hip-hop opportunities did not end. After opening for the Black Eyed Peas at Minnesota's Macalester College, Golden made connections that eventually led to a record deal. His debut was crafted over four years with Bucky Jonson, the Peas' backing band. Golden is proud of his hard work on Peddling Medicine.
"If you're going to put a record out, it's going to last hundreds of years. It's a record of what you believe and what you think," he said. "Whatever you put down on record you're going to have to be proud of that for the rest of your life."
Code Red's Manfred echoes that sentiment. He said in his MySpace blog that he is not ashamed of being thought of as strange or eccentric because he won't pretend to be someone he's not to make money.
"I am so myself that it is unreal, at least compared to what is going on with hip-hop right now," he writes. "Why does everyone feel the need to be so goddamn hard all the time. Like damn homie, you never smile?? You don't have some kind of fun? You've never cried over a good passionate movie or event??? Shit, you might not be human."
Manfred's carefree disposition is reflected in Code Red's music. The band mixes hip-hop with reggae to create an intriguing blend of club hits and dancehall. Their songs caught the ear of ESPN executives and three songs were remixed for the NCAA tournament.
Kentucky is better known for horse racing than producing hip-hop stars, but Code Red – Manfred, Watz, Jr. Dread and El One – took top honors at Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit and opened for the Ying Yang Twins in Panama City, Fla.
"Diversity is one of the core values of UPC," UPC President Allison Hitchner said in a press release. "We strive to meet the demands of all students. Golden and Code Red are unlike any artist we've brought this year."