BY: NADINE ANTIONE
SC Staff Writer
“Hip-hop star Drake is coming to Stroudsburg’s Sherman Theater” made headlines around the area during the month of March only for the May 27th show to be cancelled. Because tickets sold out quickly, the theater added an additional show. Excited to hear that such a large artist was coming to the Poconos, it was no surprise that weeks later news broke out that it was a hoax. So, when flyers began surfacing around that rappers Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Jadakiss and Sheek Louch would be performing at the Sherman Theater, many were skeptical that such a big event would happen.
October 8th came and the concert and artists were still scheduled to appear. The line outside proved that many still did not believe that the event would ensue. Doors opened at seven and the show was listed to begin at eight. Four opening acts, including New Jersey rapper Kazzie Pop and Whitney Peyton from Philadelphia, kept the crowd occupied as the main artists were yet to arrive. Host Jonathan Martin came out onto the stage to assure everyone that all four artists will performed. “We promised to have Jim, Juelz, Jada and Sheek here and they are. They are all in the building right now.”
The main show started at 9:30 PM. Jadakiss and Sheek Louch, two members of rap group The Lox, as the night’s first performers. The room erupted, fans shouting and yelling after hearing Jadakiss’ signature laugh. The Yonkers rapper soon appeared, performing hits from 1994, such as “Money, Power Respect” and “We’ll Always Love Big Poppa”, a tribute to Brooklyn rapper, The Notorious B.I.G. to “U Make Me Wanna”, a song featuring Mariah Carey and “By My Side”, one of Jadakiss’ most popular songs.
After their thirty minute set, Harlem rapper Juelz Santana was next to perform. He seemed to be a crowd favorite. Rapping his verses on Cam’ron’s 2002 hit singles “Oh Boy” and “Hey Ma”, the crowd screamed the lyrics in unison receiving a smile from Santana as he held the microphone out to the crowd. Almost back to back, the rapper performed several verses from various songs he was featured on, past to present.
Jim Jones, also from Harlem and apart of rap group The Diplomats alongside Santana, ended the show. Hours before the show Jones posted on Twitter his excitement to be coming out to the Poconos as well as being fatigued after performing the night before in Washington D.C. Nonetheless, Jones peformed hits from his 2005 album “Harlem: Diary of a Summer” to 2006’s summer anthem “We Fly High (Ballin)”. Jones performed one last song, featuring Juelz Santana who reappeared on stage to join the fellow Dip Set member.
For rappers known to perform in bigger venues and the small amount of people who did attend, the rappers all performed as if in front of their largest crowd.
Jadakiss is currently working on promoting an R&B artist signed to his label D-Block named Emanny. Juelz Santana is in the studio with rap superstar Lil’ Wayne on an album collaboration entitled “I Can’t Feel My Face” and Jim Jones can be seen on VH1 show “Love and Hip Hop”.
Contact Nadine at na4798@live.esu.edu
