UDrop

Corina Corina has traveled all across the country, from the bustling streets of Brooklyn to the southern draw of South by Southwest, and now the contemporary hip-hop artist will make her way to Athens.
“I’m an R&B singer but I’m different than most contemporary artists,” Corina said. “I try and keep it edgy, and I work primarily with hip-hop producers who don’t normally work with singers to have that contrast between a pretty voice and gritty beats.”
The up-and-coming artist is fresh off a SXSW appearance and will join the U-Drop hip-hop showcase Saturday at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 ½ W. Washington St.
Her bio described the singer as a woman with the sexy edge of Aaliyah, the sassiness of Lana Del Rey, and the vulnerability of Frank Ocean, which comes through in her truthful lyrics.
“ ‘I Am Free,’ the last song on the album, is about depression,” Corina said. “I’ve suffered from chronic depression my whole life … I try to be really honest in my lyrics and represent different struggles that may not be discussed a lot, and I really want the song to capture how it feels.”
Her 15-track album displays Corina’s shoulder tattoo on the cover, donning the album’s title, The Eargasm, which is available on Bandcamp on a name-your-price basis.
The fourth single off the album, “Birds,” also shows the vulnerable side to Corina’s music. The track includes a metaphor of birds clipping their own wings, comparing the scene to a friend who wasn’t supportive of Corina when she started to succeed.
“I felt like when I was thriving within my relationships and my career, she wasn’t around very much,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be a negative song where I’m attacking the person; I wanted it to be like, ‘Come with me.’ ”
Troy Gregorino, booking agent for Donkey Coffee, jumped at the opportunity to bring an artist he saw as very innovative in the hip-hop scene.
He added that the back room may seem like an odd place for a hip-hop show but it has been very successful in the past.
“It sounds almost counter-intuitive with the reputation of the back room,” Gregorino said. “But when we have hip-hop shows back there, it really transforms the atmosphere into a really lively fun space, into something bigger than it really is.” - The Post

Corina Corina has traveled all across the country, from the bustling streets of Brooklyn to the southern draw of South by Southwest, and now the contemporary hip-hop artist will make her way to Athens.
“I’m an R&B singer but I’m different than most contemporary artists,” Corina said. “I try and keep it edgy, and I work primarily with hip-hop producers who don’t normally work with singers to have that contrast between a pretty voice and gritty beats.”
The up-and-coming artist is fresh off a SXSW appearance and will join the U-Drop hip-hop showcase Saturday at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 ½ W. Washington St.
Her bio described the singer as a woman with the sexy edge of Aaliyah, the sassiness of Lana Del Rey, and the vulnerability of Frank Ocean, which comes through in her truthful lyrics.
“ ‘I Am Free,’ the last song on the album, is about depression,” Corina said. “I’ve suffered from chronic depression my whole life … I try to be really honest in my lyrics and represent different struggles that may not be discussed a lot, and I really want the song to capture how it feels.”
Her 15-track album displays Corina’s shoulder tattoo on the cover, donning the album’s title, The Eargasm, which is available on Bandcamp on a name-your-price basis.
The fourth single off the album, “Birds,” also shows the vulnerable side to Corina’s music. The track includes a metaphor of birds clipping their own wings, comparing the scene to a friend who wasn’t supportive of Corina when she started to succeed.
“I felt like when I was thriving within my relationships and my career, she wasn’t around very much,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be a negative song where I’m attacking the person; I wanted it to be like, ‘Come with me.’ ”
Troy Gregorino, booking agent for Donkey Coffee, jumped at the opportunity to bring an artist he saw as very innovative in the hip-hop scene.
He added that the back room may seem like an odd place for a hip-hop show but it has been very successful in the past.
“It sounds almost counter-intuitive with the reputation of the back room,” Gregorino said. “But when we have hip-hop shows back there, it really transforms the atmosphere into a really lively fun space, into something bigger than it really is.” - The Post

Floors shook and speakers rattled as Ace Hood, Jéan P and UDrop performed in the Baker University Center Ballroom in front of 350 fans.
The show was a test for the venue in hopes that more musical acts will book the space. Despite lower than anticipated ticket sales, Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, said the location worked well.
“It’s a viable venue,” Holzaepfel said. “It was good for a first try. I’d still like to see a couple hundred more people out there, but it seems the artist is responding well.”
Security was increased by adding metal detectors at the front and increased personnel on the chance that the venue was at full capacity. Holzaepfel said the costs would likely fall in the normal range of $1,000 to $1,500.
Jéan P said he was impressed with the stage setup at the event and thought it was one of his best performances to date because of how the crowd members reacted and stayed on their feet.
“Ace Hood was good, he shut it down, he did his thing and I respect that,” Jéan P said. “It was a dope show.”
Students have enjoyed Ace Hood as an up-and-coming rapper in the charts, and his performance in the new venue solidified that.
“I like Ace Hood a lot. (My favorite song is) ‘Bugatti,’ everyone loves that song,” said Rashaun Brown, an Ohio University student studying sport management with a minor in psychology. “I would probably prefer (Baker Ballroom as a venue) because it’s more interactive and gets people involved.” - The Post

Floors shook and speakers rattled as Ace Hood, Jéan P and UDrop performed in the Baker University Center Ballroom in front of 350 fans.
The show was a test for the venue in hopes that more musical acts will book the space. Despite lower than anticipated ticket sales, Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, said the location worked well.
“It’s a viable venue,” Holzaepfel said. “It was good for a first try. I’d still like to see a couple hundred more people out there, but it seems the artist is responding well.”
Security was increased by adding metal detectors at the front and increased personnel on the chance that the venue was at full capacity. Holzaepfel said the costs would likely fall in the normal range of $1,000 to $1,500.
Jéan P said he was impressed with the stage setup at the event and thought it was one of his best performances to date because of how the crowd members reacted and stayed on their feet.
“Ace Hood was good, he shut it down, he did his thing and I respect that,” Jéan P said. “It was a dope show.”
Students have enjoyed Ace Hood as an up-and-coming rapper in the charts, and his performance in the new venue solidified that.
“I like Ace Hood a lot. (My favorite song is) ‘Bugatti,’ everyone loves that song,” said Rashaun Brown, an Ohio University student studying sport management with a minor in psychology. “I would probably prefer (Baker Ballroom as a venue) because it’s more interactive and gets people involved.” - The Post

A decade ago, in the Fonosluts’ heyday, Sunday night at Bernie’s was the epicenter of Columbus rap. Not anymore; there were almost as many recent graduates in preppy button-downs playing pool as hip-hop heads looking to vibe out to the music, and the bar books all kinds of music on Sundays these days.

The sparse crowd didn’t stop UDrop from putting on a show with everything they had, from truly performing. The duo’s energy level suggested they were on stage with Obama at Ohio Stadium in front of a rapt, commencement-sized audience. Teuro and O-Mitch had a casual, confident stage presence, not the solipsistic swagger that comes from attention, ambition or delusion.

“When I say UDrop, you say bombs!” went the opening call-and-response. Simple enough, but also accurate: These were better than your average small-time rap shout-alongs. The song that repped different parts of Ohio felt cliché, as did the one where they rap about doing it 24/7/365, but they typically kept their choruses lean and effective: "Show some love, show some love/ And after the show we can have some fun.”

There was no mumbling, thank God. Actually, a lot of lyrics were yelled, but not beyond comprehension in the way that plagues so much live hip-hop, just forcefully enough to make sure they were audible over the music.

Speaking of which, one of the best elements Sunday was UDrop’s beat selection. They rhymed over Little Dragon samples, electro-rap befitting Graduation-era Kanye, tweaked string sections and triumphal brass.

That last one was the basis for closing number “Big Blk Girl,” for which they were apparently filming a video at the show. They built a nimble chorus around the graceful blasts and breaks, and in the end they let it ride for a minute or two. When you don’t wear out your welcome, an extended outro makes for a fine victory lap.

“Victory” is relative, though. After the set, DJ Cook Stuntz dropped a seemingly pointed selection, Drake’s “Started From the Bottom.” He must mean it as a predictor of UDrop’s trajectory because for the meantime, this felt very much like the bottom. But if they keep this up, they might actually get somewhere that merits shouting “Now we here!” - Columbus Alive

A decade ago, in the Fonosluts’ heyday, Sunday night at Bernie’s was the epicenter of Columbus rap. Not anymore; there were almost as many recent graduates in preppy button-downs playing pool as hip-hop heads looking to vibe out to the music, and the bar books all kinds of music on Sundays these days.

The sparse crowd didn’t stop UDrop from putting on a show with everything they had, from truly performing. The duo’s energy level suggested they were on stage with Obama at Ohio Stadium in front of a rapt, commencement-sized audience. Teuro and O-Mitch had a casual, confident stage presence, not the solipsistic swagger that comes from attention, ambition or delusion.

“When I say UDrop, you say bombs!” went the opening call-and-response. Simple enough, but also accurate: These were better than your average small-time rap shout-alongs. The song that repped different parts of Ohio felt cliché, as did the one where they rap about doing it 24/7/365, but they typically kept their choruses lean and effective: "Show some love, show some love/ And after the show we can have some fun.”

There was no mumbling, thank God. Actually, a lot of lyrics were yelled, but not beyond comprehension in the way that plagues so much live hip-hop, just forcefully enough to make sure they were audible over the music.

Speaking of which, one of the best elements Sunday was UDrop’s beat selection. They rhymed over Little Dragon samples, electro-rap befitting Graduation-era Kanye, tweaked string sections and triumphal brass.

That last one was the basis for closing number “Big Blk Girl,” for which they were apparently filming a video at the show. They built a nimble chorus around the graceful blasts and breaks, and in the end they let it ride for a minute or two. When you don’t wear out your welcome, an extended outro makes for a fine victory lap.

“Victory” is relative, though. After the set, DJ Cook Stuntz dropped a seemingly pointed selection, Drake’s “Started From the Bottom.” He must mean it as a predictor of UDrop’s trajectory because for the meantime, this felt very much like the bottom. But if they keep this up, they might actually get somewhere that merits shouting “Now we here!” - Columbus Alive

Corina Corina has traveled all across the country, from the bustling streets of Brooklyn to the southern draw of South by Southwest, and now the contemporary hip-hop artist will make her way to Athens.
“I’m an R&B singer but I’m different than most contemporary artists,” Corina said. “I try and keep it edgy, and I work primarily with hip-hop producers who don’t normally work with singers to have that contrast between a pretty voice and gritty beats.”
The up-and-coming artist is fresh off a SXSW appearance and will join the U-Drop hip-hop showcase Saturday at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 ½ W. Washington St.
Her bio described the singer as a woman with the sexy edge of Aaliyah, the sassiness of Lana Del Rey, and the vulnerability of Frank Ocean, which comes through in her truthful lyrics.
“ ‘I Am Free,’ the last song on the album, is about depression,” Corina said. “I’ve suffered from chronic depression my whole life … I try to be really honest in my lyrics and represent different struggles that may not be discussed a lot, and I really want the song to capture how it feels.”
Her 15-track album displays Corina’s shoulder tattoo on the cover, donning the album’s title, The Eargasm, which is available on Bandcamp on a name-your-price basis.
The fourth single off the album, “Birds,” also shows the vulnerable side to Corina’s music. The track includes a metaphor of birds clipping their own wings, comparing the scene to a friend who wasn’t supportive of Corina when she started to succeed.
“I felt like when I was thriving within my relationships and my career, she wasn’t around very much,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be a negative song where I’m attacking the person; I wanted it to be like, ‘Come with me.’ ”
Troy Gregorino, booking agent for Donkey Coffee, jumped at the opportunity to bring an artist he saw as very innovative in the hip-hop scene.
He added that the back room may seem like an odd place for a hip-hop show but it has been very successful in the past.
“It sounds almost counter-intuitive with the reputation of the back room,” Gregorino said. “But when we have hip-hop shows back there, it really transforms the atmosphere into a really lively fun space, into something bigger than it really is.” - The Post

Corina Corina has traveled all across the country, from the bustling streets of Brooklyn to the southern draw of South by Southwest, and now the contemporary hip-hop artist will make her way to Athens.
“I’m an R&B singer but I’m different than most contemporary artists,” Corina said. “I try and keep it edgy, and I work primarily with hip-hop producers who don’t normally work with singers to have that contrast between a pretty voice and gritty beats.”
The up-and-coming artist is fresh off a SXSW appearance and will join the U-Drop hip-hop showcase Saturday at Donkey Coffee and Espresso, 17 ½ W. Washington St.
Her bio described the singer as a woman with the sexy edge of Aaliyah, the sassiness of Lana Del Rey, and the vulnerability of Frank Ocean, which comes through in her truthful lyrics.
“ ‘I Am Free,’ the last song on the album, is about depression,” Corina said. “I’ve suffered from chronic depression my whole life … I try to be really honest in my lyrics and represent different struggles that may not be discussed a lot, and I really want the song to capture how it feels.”
Her 15-track album displays Corina’s shoulder tattoo on the cover, donning the album’s title, The Eargasm, which is available on Bandcamp on a name-your-price basis.
The fourth single off the album, “Birds,” also shows the vulnerable side to Corina’s music. The track includes a metaphor of birds clipping their own wings, comparing the scene to a friend who wasn’t supportive of Corina when she started to succeed.
“I felt like when I was thriving within my relationships and my career, she wasn’t around very much,” she said. “I didn’t want it to be a negative song where I’m attacking the person; I wanted it to be like, ‘Come with me.’ ”
Troy Gregorino, booking agent for Donkey Coffee, jumped at the opportunity to bring an artist he saw as very innovative in the hip-hop scene.
He added that the back room may seem like an odd place for a hip-hop show but it has been very successful in the past.
“It sounds almost counter-intuitive with the reputation of the back room,” Gregorino said. “But when we have hip-hop shows back there, it really transforms the atmosphere into a really lively fun space, into something bigger than it really is.” - The Post

Floors shook and speakers rattled as Ace Hood, Jéan P and UDrop performed in the Baker University Center Ballroom in front of 350 fans.
The show was a test for the venue in hopes that more musical acts will book the space. Despite lower than anticipated ticket sales, Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, said the location worked well.
“It’s a viable venue,” Holzaepfel said. “It was good for a first try. I’d still like to see a couple hundred more people out there, but it seems the artist is responding well.”
Security was increased by adding metal detectors at the front and increased personnel on the chance that the venue was at full capacity. Holzaepfel said the costs would likely fall in the normal range of $1,000 to $1,500.
Jéan P said he was impressed with the stage setup at the event and thought it was one of his best performances to date because of how the crowd members reacted and stayed on their feet.
“Ace Hood was good, he shut it down, he did his thing and I respect that,” Jéan P said. “It was a dope show.”
Students have enjoyed Ace Hood as an up-and-coming rapper in the charts, and his performance in the new venue solidified that.
“I like Ace Hood a lot. (My favorite song is) ‘Bugatti,’ everyone loves that song,” said Rashaun Brown, an Ohio University student studying sport management with a minor in psychology. “I would probably prefer (Baker Ballroom as a venue) because it’s more interactive and gets people involved.” - The Post

Floors shook and speakers rattled as Ace Hood, Jéan P and UDrop performed in the Baker University Center Ballroom in front of 350 fans.
The show was a test for the venue in hopes that more musical acts will book the space. Despite lower than anticipated ticket sales, Andrew Holzaepfel, associate director of the Campus Involvement Center, said the location worked well.
“It’s a viable venue,” Holzaepfel said. “It was good for a first try. I’d still like to see a couple hundred more people out there, but it seems the artist is responding well.”
Security was increased by adding metal detectors at the front and increased personnel on the chance that the venue was at full capacity. Holzaepfel said the costs would likely fall in the normal range of $1,000 to $1,500.
Jéan P said he was impressed with the stage setup at the event and thought it was one of his best performances to date because of how the crowd members reacted and stayed on their feet.
“Ace Hood was good, he shut it down, he did his thing and I respect that,” Jéan P said. “It was a dope show.”
Students have enjoyed Ace Hood as an up-and-coming rapper in the charts, and his performance in the new venue solidified that.
“I like Ace Hood a lot. (My favorite song is) ‘Bugatti,’ everyone loves that song,” said Rashaun Brown, an Ohio University student studying sport management with a minor in psychology. “I would probably prefer (Baker Ballroom as a venue) because it’s more interactive and gets people involved.” - The Post