Every year the York Federation of Students announces the headline artist for YorkFest, and every year more students are disappointed and alienated by the focus on hip hop and lack of diversity.
There has been a trend over the last 10 years to include more rap acts. However, being inclusive of rap music has seemingly turned into being exclusive to rap music.
Students who look at the history of YorkFest concerts, or even the former CHRY, now Vibe FM’s programing schedule, will find that the musical genres represented are anything but diverse.
B.o.B and A-Trak headlined YorkFest last year to negative reviews.
Meghan DuCille, former vice-president campus life, told Excalibur last year that artists for YorkFest are chosen based on availability and popularity.
The cost of bringing Big Sean to campus has yet to be released by the student union.
However, orientation swag comes in at $165,000. Orientation week costs total $115,000, or $92,356 at the end of August, according to the YFS budget.
The Festival Village includes 300 different sponsors and student organizations along the campus walk.
Not all students at York listen to hip-hop and feel left out as a result, wondering why their student levies are being used to fund something they can’t appreciate.
“As a metal head, I am very disappointed at the rap YorkFest puts out every year. They should change the headline from York Fest to Rap Fest,” says James Zhan, second-year English and professional writing major.
“York has a very good music department, so how about bringing in local bands and bands from York, which at least involves more instruments? I am really sick of hearing the exact same tunes every year.”
Moreover, the YFS have had difficulty in the past managing artists, such was the case in the 2013 fiesko with Brooklyn rapper A$AP Rocky, which led to his immediate replacement, Major Lazer.
The year before that, Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco performed for York students.
“Personally I don’t hate rap music, but I think it is very subjective to have the rappers performing in YorkFest every single year and not give any spotlight for other talented musicians,” says Kouji Aizaki, first year Schulich School of Business international bachelor of business administration.
“I would love to see more bands and artists from other music genres in YorkFest.”
Ryan Moore, News Editor
Featured image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
