Union College News

Nappy Roots to Hold Concert at Union College

Kentucky hip hop group, Nappy Roots, will be in concert at Union College on Friday, November 11, 2005. The concert will be held on campus at Robsion Arena beginning at 7:30 p.m. The $20 tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by calling 1-800-489-UNION.

Nappy Roots' roots date back to 1995 when group members came together on campus at Western Kentucky University. Since those days as struggling college musicians, Nappy Roots has seen huge success in the hip hop music industry.

Now, this Kentucky group has a day named in their honor, was the number one selling hip-hop group of 2002, received a bundle of award nominations, and receives continual words of praise from fans and industry insiders. However, the group says that none of it has tainted Nappy Roots' view on life and music.

"We're still ballin' on a budget," Nappy's Skinny Deville says about the six-man collective, which also includes Ron Clutch, Scales, R. Prophet, B. Stille, and Big V. "We're not materialistic. We're still working and have to earn that check."

"We're still hungry like we don't have anything," adds Stille. "We're keeping an eye on every penny."

Nappy's relentless work ethic and ever-evolving musical adeptness are displayed on "WOODEN LEATHER," the follow-up to their groundbreaking, RIAA platinum-plus Atlantic Records debut, "WATERMELON, CHICKEN & GRITZ."

"Lac Dogs & Hogs" not only pays homage to some of the Kentucky rhyming wildcats' favorite vehicles, but also unveils a sampling of how the group is dealing with their newfound fame and status.

"Nappy Roots are more than just southern boys," says Big V of his group's beloved down home personas. "This time we want to express that a little more in our music. We're still the voice of the po' folks, we're still country folks, but we've seen more now. We can't just rap about that po' corner. We've seen the world. That's making us more diverse as MCs."

Produced by dirty south representative David Banner, "Nappy Holiday" not only relives the group being honored by Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton with "Nappy Roots Day" on September 16, 2002, it also reminds us all about the importance of being happy with our everyday lives.

"Nappy Roots Day" was one of the plethora of honors bestowed upon the group after the 2001 release of "WATERMELON, CHICKEN & GRITZ," which spawned the smash singles, "Awnaw" and "Po' Folks."

In early 2003, they garnered a pair of Grammy Award nominations: for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Po' Folks," and for Best Long Form Music Video for their DVD, "THE WORLD ACCORDING TO NAPPY." Those honors came on the heels of their American Music Award nominations for Favorite New Artist and Favorite Band, Duo or Group - both in the Hip-Hop/R&B category.

The group also gave back to their fans and the community, completing a television PSA in support of the PAX organization's "SPEAK UP" campaign against weapon-related school violence.

In June 2003, Nappy Roots were invited by the U.S. Government to perform for the American troops in the Persian Gulf as part of the USO's Project Salute 2003, the first large-scale entertainment tour to the region since Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"It was just an honor to even have gotten that call," Skinny said. "Of course we had to go over there and perform. This was a once in a lifetime experience."

October 19, 2005

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