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Life & Arts

Students seek hip-hop success

by ELI JABBE
The Daily Cougar

It's a weekend afternoon at the University of Houston. The latest music can be heard coming from a laptop. The student working the laptop is busy doing a WebCT math practice test but is listening enthusiastically to the tunes. It's clear this person has a great passion for music. 

The person is Emeka Obika, a nursing sophomore and an aspiring musician. Though he has hopes of success in music, it's clear that he is a fan of music first. 

"Family is my inspiration," he said. "My friends supporting myself also inspire me, and above all, God is my inspiration because without him I wouldn't be here." 

Obika has big plans to make a name for himself with the stage name of Mek Swagga. He hopes to be a success as a part of the SB Click. The group, whose initials stand for Serious Business, has been together for two years. 

Obika, Marquis Bryant (The Message) and Jared Grandberry (Ghost) are the members of the young group. Obika and his friends go way back.

"I met the other members in my senior year of high school," Obika said. "However, I didn't rap seriously until I met Marquis. We started off by battling people for money, and gained some recognition, but eventually realized we had to start making music, not simply freelancing."

The three, along with a street team that handles promotions, are poised to put their stamp on the music world. 

"We are currently working on a mix tape/demo because we are trying to be heard," Obika said. "It's not easy going to college while also making music, but we are dedicated working on each 50/50. We hope to get a record deal. In the past, we've passed up offers with independent labels because we want to be patient and wait for the right deal."

The hard work has started to pay off. The SB Click recently opened a concert for Houston veterans Swishahouse and Trae.

In a world where so many are aspiring for success in various fields, it's hard to stand out. When asked to explain why fans should check out the SB Click's music, Obika discussed the group's uniqueness. 

"We don't sound like other people from the South: We are lyrical, but at the same time entertaining," Obika said.

Bryant, a Houston Community College student who cites music legends 2Pac and Nas as influences, hopes to bring a poetic style to the music world. 

"I wrote poetry before I decided to make music, so my style is more poetic than anything else, which is rare," Bryant said.

For more information, visit www.myspace.com/sbclick.

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