716 Spotlight Showcase
Excited chatter fills the lobby of the Shea’s 710 Theater, while many of Buffalo’s hip-hop fans patiently wait for the show to start. The only issue? The headliner can’t make it.
On Friday night, April 12, 2019, WBLK 93.7 put together a show branching off of their radio segment “716 Spotlight”. Hosted by DJ Steel of WBLK, 716 Spotlight is a radio segment that shifts the focus to the emerging artists across Buffalo, allowing us to get to know these Buffalo artists. To help aspiring up-and-coming Buffalo hip-hop artists get recognition and love, the radio station put together the 716 Spotlight Showcase.
The showcase featured rising star rapper Megan Thee Stallion as the headliner, along with eight other local artists. After learning that the headliner, couldn’t make the show, the spotlight shifted all of its focus towards the emerging Buffalo hip-hop artists. The artists couldn’t have been more ready.
Method Baba, a founder of Method Boyz and a member of the Good Neighbors Club, knew that they needed to step it up after they heard Megan Thee Stallion wouldn’t be able to make it. “Soon as they said that I was like ‘Damn we gotta turn up crazy now, gotta put ourselves on watch’,” says Method Baba.
Most of the performing artists were also aware that many of the concertgoers were likely there to see Megan Thee Stallion, however they were just as excited to see the local products. Method Dulla, the videographer for Method Boyz, recalls that “when they said the Buffalo rappers were coming out, everybody was hype. Everybody started wyling. So we knew, it was over.”
Although some groans could be heard through the crowd following the announcement she couldn’t make it, a majority of the crowd was excited to see what Buffalo has to offer. “We knew more of the show being sold out wasn’t really because of us, it was because of her.” says Method Retro, another member of Method Boyz, “I respected that though that still stayed after they found out she wasn’t coming.”
“I mean, Megan thee Stallion didn’t show up. People were showing up for us but like not really for us cause they wanted her” says Yung Ceasar, a NYC native who once briefly lived in Sweet Home, has reintegrated himself back into Buffalo and the emerging hip-hop community while attending Buffalo State College. “I feel like it was a blessing and a curse.” says Yung Ceasar, “it was a blessing because I got a better time but it was a curse because the crowd wasn’t there. I needed Megan to bring the crowd and then I could steal the show.”
The show featured a slew of talented artists from WNY, all with their own unique styles. There was definitely no shortage of originality, with each and every act having their own type of sound. The show gave much deserved love to Buffalo artists who have been trying to make it for awhile as well as booking hot emerging artists.
The radio station is attempting to establish a platform for aspiring Buffalo hip-hop artists, bringing them to the forefront and the artists appreciate it. “That was damn near the best thing that could ever happen for Buffalo artists” says Method Baba, “there was never a time where there was a lot of Buffalo artists on the same stage as some industry artist before, if you really think about it. They got us out there with Megan Thee Stallion.”
Buffalo was never a city known for its hip-hop and that is in part due to the lack of venues that are willing to book hip-hop shows. The folks at WBLK recognize this and took it upon themselves to give local hip-hop artists the love they deserve. “I guess you could say they are trying to build up a platform. It’s about like, definitely helping the artists. That was the whole purpose of it,” says Method Baba, “We were talking to the radio and they was telling us ‘this is to help you out for real for real’. Get the city involved, they see the talent. They know we got the same potential as mad people who are in the industry.”
716 Spotlight provides the artists with the experience of performing while getting their name out there. Yung Ceasar, who arguably had the best performance, walked into the crowd during one of his songs and the people absolutely loved it. “When I stepped out into the crowd when I was performing. I was low-key scared,” says Yung Ceasar “I wasn’t like scared like ‘oh they gon boo me’, I was scared cause I was anxious myself. I didn’t know what the fuck I was doing, I was just walking.” Without the 716 Spotlight, who knows when Yung Ceasar would have taken that step into the crowd, which paid off in the end and improved his performance.
During the last performance, the crowd was given a gift, in the form of a surprise guest performance. Present at the show, but not meant to perform, was XXL Freshman nominated rapper Benny the Butcher. Towards the end of Rick Hyde’s set, close friend and collaborator of Benny’s, the Butcher got onto the stage “because he had drank too much” and started performing. The crowd erupted and the few who had stayed for the entire show got quite the treat.
“To be honest, I’ll perform anywhere, anywhere that has a good crowd, ya feel me?” says Yung Ceasar, “you don’t even have to pay me or nothing cause at the end of the day, it’s benefiting me. Cause you just putting me front of a crowd and I’m gonna attract the crowd.” The Buffalo hip-hop scene has definitely arrived and isn’t going anywhere; give them a platform and they will soar.
On Friday night, April 12, 2019, WBLK 93.7 put together a show branching off of their radio segment “716 Spotlight”. Hosted by DJ Steel of WBLK, 716 Spotlight is a radio segment that shifts the focus to the emerging artists across Buffalo, allowing us to get to know these Buffalo artists. To help aspiring up-and-coming Buffalo hip-hop artists get recognition and love, the radio station put together the 716 Spotlight Showcase.
The showcase featured rising star rapper Megan Thee Stallion as the headliner, along with eight other local artists. After learning that the headliner, couldn’t make the show, the spotlight shifted all of its focus towards the emerging Buffalo hip-hop artists. The artists couldn’t have been more ready.
Method Baba, a founder of Method Boyz and a member of the Good Neighbors Club, knew that they needed to step it up after they heard Megan Thee Stallion wouldn’t be able to make it. “Soon as they said that I was like ‘Damn we gotta turn up crazy now, gotta put ourselves on watch’,” says Method Baba.
 |
| Good Neighbors and Method Boyz pictured above (Left to right); Method Cozuh, Method Baba,Method Benz, Bank Bee, and Method Retro |
Although some groans could be heard through the crowd following the announcement she couldn’t make it, a majority of the crowd was excited to see what Buffalo has to offer. “We knew more of the show being sold out wasn’t really because of us, it was because of her.” says Method Retro, another member of Method Boyz, “I respected that though that still stayed after they found out she wasn’t coming.”
“I mean, Megan thee Stallion didn’t show up. People were showing up for us but like not really for us cause they wanted her” says Yung Ceasar, a NYC native who once briefly lived in Sweet Home, has reintegrated himself back into Buffalo and the emerging hip-hop community while attending Buffalo State College. “I feel like it was a blessing and a curse.” says Yung Ceasar, “it was a blessing because I got a better time but it was a curse because the crowd wasn’t there. I needed Megan to bring the crowd and then I could steal the show.”
The show featured a slew of talented artists from WNY, all with their own unique styles. There was definitely no shortage of originality, with each and every act having their own type of sound. The show gave much deserved love to Buffalo artists who have been trying to make it for awhile as well as booking hot emerging artists.
The radio station is attempting to establish a platform for aspiring Buffalo hip-hop artists, bringing them to the forefront and the artists appreciate it. “That was damn near the best thing that could ever happen for Buffalo artists” says Method Baba, “there was never a time where there was a lot of Buffalo artists on the same stage as some industry artist before, if you really think about it. They got us out there with Megan Thee Stallion.”
Buffalo was never a city known for its hip-hop and that is in part due to the lack of venues that are willing to book hip-hop shows. The folks at WBLK recognize this and took it upon themselves to give local hip-hop artists the love they deserve. “I guess you could say they are trying to build up a platform. It’s about like, definitely helping the artists. That was the whole purpose of it,” says Method Baba, “We were talking to the radio and they was telling us ‘this is to help you out for real for real’. Get the city involved, they see the talent. They know we got the same potential as mad people who are in the industry.”
 |
| Yung Ceasar, pictured above, performing during the 716 Spotlight Showcase |
During the last performance, the crowd was given a gift, in the form of a surprise guest performance. Present at the show, but not meant to perform, was XXL Freshman nominated rapper Benny the Butcher. Towards the end of Rick Hyde’s set, close friend and collaborator of Benny’s, the Butcher got onto the stage “because he had drank too much” and started performing. The crowd erupted and the few who had stayed for the entire show got quite the treat.
“To be honest, I’ll perform anywhere, anywhere that has a good crowd, ya feel me?” says Yung Ceasar, “you don’t even have to pay me or nothing cause at the end of the day, it’s benefiting me. Cause you just putting me front of a crowd and I’m gonna attract the crowd.” The Buffalo hip-hop scene has definitely arrived and isn’t going anywhere; give them a platform and they will soar.
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