Photo Courtesy of University Relations
Hofstra students gather in the Intramural Fields on a Saturday afternoon, some laying on blankets letting the sun beat down on their backs, others in lines for beer and burgers. A clump of people huddle close to the stage where 99 Neighbors, the up and coming hip-hop/rap band is performing. As the song comes to a close, Sam Paulino, a vocalist and songwriter, yells into the microphone, “When I say ninety-nine you say neighbors. Ninety-nine!”
“Neighbors!” thunders the groups of students, pumping their fists in the air.
After two years of isolation, Hofstra Concerts hosted their first live Music Fest since the pandemic began on April 30. Big names like 99 Neighbors and 24kGoldn performed, as well as smaller Long Island based performers like Ice Man Mir and Weird America.
Ice Man Mir, a junior music business major at Hofstra, enjoyed performing at Music Fest and said that it was a great opportunity to network with the other people who performed.
“It was a blast,” he said. “It was sensational. Just being on stage and just having the crowd captive like that and just feeding off the energy was amazing.”
99 Neighbors had not performed at a college show since before the pandemic. “In general, being able to perform is just a privilege, because the last couple of years it has not been so easy to do it safely,” said Hank, also known as HANKNATIVE, a vocalist and songwriter for the band. “It’s just been real nice to get back out.”
The band consists of six members: Hank, Paulino, Aidan Ostby, a vocalist and songwriter, Jared Fier, a DJ, producer and engineer, Juju, a producer, instrumentalist, composer and engineer and Caleb (Somba), a producer, engineer, composer, songwriter and videographer (or as he puts it, “I do beats and stuff”).
Originally from Burlington, Vermont, 99 Neighbors started by playing smaller gigs, but since signing with Warner in 2019, they have been traveling all over the country playing larger festivals and concerts. “We all came together and were like, ‘Let’s make songs together,’” Paulino said. “And five years later, here we are.”
Following a lineup of back-to-back rap-style songs with high energy and lots of jumping from the crowd, the stage quiets. Aidan Otsby, a bandana covering their mouth and nose and bangs hanging in front of their eyes, takes the microphone and stands center stage. The crowd slowly muffles from the thunderous roar as Otsby pulls the bandana off their face. “I feel nervous about showing my face sometimes,” they say, a nervous smile spreading across their face. The crowd erupts with applause. Settling the mic into the mic stand they say, “I wrote this song about being queer,” and begin to sing a capella, their melodic voice wrapping around the hushed crowd. “This feels like the end of everything I’ve ever wanted,” they sing. “Looking back, if I ever go, it’s weighing heavy on my conscience.”
Music Fest jumpstarted spring and introduced students at Hofstra to a number of artists who are beginning to emerge from the pandemic with new music and an excitement to share their art with anyone who will listen.
