The Draught Horse promises to be a hot spot on Friday night, thanks to the work of two recent graduates of Temple and a team of business-savvy undergrads offering Temple students a place to party near campus.
Last Friday’s event, the first of the Black Ice series, featured spins and scratches by DJ Q’nique of Temple’s student-run radio station W.H.I.P, and a live performance by a new Philly rap artist, Kidko Vega.
The party attracted just under 200 people by midnight.
Next week promises to be even hotter, with sponsorship and giveaways from the Cartoon Network and more from Temple’s W.H.I.P.
The men behind the music-mayhem are life-long friends Ivan Lee (CEO) and Ryan Spak (Exectutive VP), founders of the Northeast Philly-based record label Beneath the Concrete Recordings (BTC).
Lee and Spak have incorporated BTC, constructed an industry-standard studio with the help of Temple Mass Media majors, brought a team of producers to the label and signed three artists after only 18 months.
Right in line with BTC’s philosophy, Black Ice allows for diversity offering “something for the heads on the block, the kids in the suburbs, and everyone in between.”
An ’80s night, Cipher Session, Mardi Gras and other themes will attract a diverse audience and give students another party option for Friday night.
Black Ice is only a small part of BTC’s goal to explode on the Philly music scene.
They are in the process of releasing their first album, that of hot new rap artist Kidko Vega, in April.
“That’s Vega,” features the head-banger single “Baller.” Vega first performed at Temple’s Fall Fest 2002 and you’ll be able to catch him at this year’s Spring Fling.
With everything in the works, BTC Recording’s themed Friday night parties are just the beginning.
Though Black Ice is great publicity, Spak described the BTC mission as to give back and fill a long-standing void at Temple for meaningful extra-curricular activities.
“We’re so caught up on Bill Cosby and Hall and Oates,” Spak said.
Black Ice is one way to put college youth, and their talent, back on the map.
Spak sees Black Ice as a big step toward Temple acknowledging the needs and talents of Temple students.
Temple Promotions is also involved in the program as well as the American Marketing Association (AMA).
The AMA’s Executive Vice President Jordan Migneault said Black Ice is a way to raise funds for the organization and give their 125 members an incentive to get involved.
“Now we can use the company’s name,” he said.
“The cost to AMA for this thing is like $92,” Spak said, “and the ability to make money off this thing is unbelievable.
We [BTC] will get our benefit from helping these guys out.”
He looks forward to future mutually beneficial relationships with other groups on campus, namely W.H.I.P FM.
Rob Black of Temple Promotions said he wants “people to know that BTC’s around.
I want them to know there’s somebody in Philadelphia that cares about Philly talent, in their community.”
“I see the Draught Horse as just the beginning,” Spak said. “We’re not going away anytime soon.
If we can break here, with something that nobody’s really tried before, we are all due for a lot of success.”
Kimbery Bowser can be reached at kbowser@astro.temple.edu.
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