Jake Nelson
Staff Writer
Innovators have been a part of Springfield College since its inception. Anyone who has spent a semester on Springfield’s campus surely knows of James Naismith, William Morgan and Amos Alonzo Stagg, among others. Springfield College’s mission of spirit, mind and body is on par with consistent growth and innovation.
This year’s spring concert selection also fully embodies that same growth and innovation.
Lupe Fiasco broke onto the rap scene in 2006 with his debut album, Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor. The album would receive three Grammy nominations and reach No. 8 on the Billboard 200. Later, in 2006, he was voted “Breakout Man of the Year” by GQ Magazine.
To date, Fiasco has released four albums with a fifth in the works. Tetsuo & Youth is slated for release later on in 2013.
Fiasco has had multiple hitalbums and singles. Although his career is in a bit of a transitional period, his complexion as an artist cannot be defined as such. In a fitting reciprocation of Fiasco’s views on free speech, the spring concert is determined by way of an on-campus survey. The selection process involves the students, SC Backstage Club and Assistant Director of Student Activities Annie Warchol.
The ideas for the on-campus survey are put together by the SC Backstage Club. After the survey is completed, a bid must be put in to the performer’s contact information in order to obtain a spring schedule. The Backstage Club decided in September of this year to try and schedule a big name act that appeals to the majority of students.
Fiasco certainly fits the mold of a generally likable act for the college-aged kid.
“Right before the students left for winter break we posted a poster in the Campus Union lobby announcing that the spring concert would be Lupe, and I could hear many students very excited about the news,” Warchol explained. “I was also visited by several graduate students excited about the news as well.”
Fiasco performing on Springfield’s campus is a big event, especially when considering his multiple Grammy nominations in 2008 and 2013. Although he is a loud and free thinker, and is often rebuffed for his personal views.
Warchol also added, “Lupe is somewhat of a controversial rapper. He is very political and can be very outspoken at times, but I have heard nothing but great things about his concerts at other colleges and have heard from fellow colleagues that he is a complete gentleman and true professional.”
By all accounts, Fiasco is an artist in multiple regards and should be nothing short of a hit on Springfield’s campus.
When exactly is our spring concert going to be?