The Omnibus

Issue date: 2/23/07 Section: Gallery

Media Credit: Zach Henderson Hype is a student outreach progream aimed towards students with many struggles. They use the arts to bridge the gap and meet the students at their level. Hype has proven to be very sucessful in reaching kids with many different needs, including the need for salvation. After their performance at SBU, Hype will begin a tour in Germany.

Hype, a rap / dance group from Oklahoma City, gave a concert Monday, Feb. 19 in Pike Auditorium follwing a performance earlier that day in Chapel. Hype is comprised of young, talented individuals who have been on the wrong side of the fence at one point or another. They have all found a place within Hype, and they have brought different types of influences to create a very original sound and generalized appeal.
Hype started the concert just like they did in Chapel, with dancing. All in a certain place, all offering up different lyrical stylings, but the night turned around. Halfway through, some members came up to the stage, one by one, to explain how the road of life brought them to the Lord and what it meant to them personally to leave the sinner's world behind and follow God's plan.
One group member brought a moving piece. He was mentioned in Chapel as being posed with the challenge of taking care of his mother and sibling at a very young age. He talked of suicide at the young age of 7 years, but the most unique part about his testimony was the delivery. It was in the form of a rhyme. It was not just freestyle. There was pain in his voice; the strain on his words could be felt throughout the auditorium, and after he finished, he wiped the tears from his eyes.
Then another Hype member elaborated on the story of his friend, Chief. The story played out like any tale from a party would: alcohol, peer pressure and mindless activities. The worst part about it was Chief never got the chance to accept college scholarship offers, he died that night.
As a closing performance, which preceded a closing prayer, the group acted out Chief's story. The performance showed a dramatization of Chief's funeral in the middle of the stage, and flanking the funeral scene was a family scene on stage right and the party scene on stage left. The lone observer at the funeral was screaming in silence towards both scenes. This was moving, and the emotion was genuine.
The members of Hype have talent and great stories to tell. Mix that with some secular rap, and you have a Chapel service that leaves no nap undisturbed.

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