2009 Step Show

It is homecoming week and with wonderful events such as the pep rally, comedy show, fashion show, and concert, there is nothing like the step show. As people fill the stands, the energy becomes so overwhelming as Greeks from Aggie Land rip the stage. Known for their powerful performances, the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma have won the last four homecoming step shows. During an interview with Talvin Davis, he sheds light on the experience.

Q: Are you excited about this year's Homecoming Step Show?

A: I am very excited. We have been practicing extremely hard and I can't wait for us to perform. I'm just ready for it to be over with.

Q: Can we expect anything different about this performance than ones in the past?

A: With our performance this year, we will bring a little bit of humor along with precision and a higher level of difficulty within the steps. Nothing will change. We strive for each show to be better than our last.

Q: How did you guys prepare for this Step Show?

A: We practiced extremely hard. Very extensive practices that started in the evening and lasted until early morning.

Q: There are some new Spring 09' initiatives within the chapter. Will they be participating?

A: They will be there in full support of the Phi Beta Sigma step team, our sister organization Zeta Phi Beta, and the Pan-Hallenic Counsil as a whole.

The Future of Hip-Hop

There is some hip-hop that is terrible, opulent, and disrespectful to the genre's more plugged-in roots. Then there are sharp intellectuals who strive to keep hip-hop honest with intelligent analyses on the culture and everything that it consists of. Brandon Sutton talks about the future of hip-hop during a sit-down interview.

Q: Briefly tell me about yourself.

A: I am a 23 year old hip-hop artist coming from North Carolina. I am also a student going to school for animation.

Q: When did you first fall in love with hip-hop?

A: I first fell in love with hip-hop when I heard Dr. Dre and Snoop Dog's "Aint nothin' but a G thang". The whole West Coast movement back then was too unreal for me.

Q: Who is your favorite artist and why?

A: Andre 3000 because he is an all-around artist. He can do anything he wants and he is nice at everything he puts his mind to.

Q: How do you feel about artist with no lyrical substance, such as Soulja Boy?

A: I can't hate on Soulja Boy. I actually like him. He's all about business and he has drive to prove that he's not this "one hit wonder" that disappears. As far as lyrical content, it's Southern, so I can't get mad. If that's what people are used to, why talk about anything else? You can't expect a fish to fly.

Q: Where do you think the future of hip-hop is headed?

A: The future of hip-hop is headed towards a more educational audience. With people like Drake, Kid Cudi, J. Cole, and Asher Roth, hip-hop is going super mainstream. People that didn't like hip-hop will have no choice but to like it because it is no longer all about drugs, sex, and violence anymore.

NC State Fair

As the North Carolina State Fair kicked off just a few days before fall break, it has been deemed the place to be as students of NC A&T enjoy a brief intermission.

As the air becomes cooler and the leaves start to change, summer abruptly fades to fall. It's October and in Raleigh, N.C. the 2009 State Fair has broken ground. The smell of funnel cakes, turkey legs, and other wonderful foods fill the air. The fairgrounds are swarmed with people of all ages from morning till midnight in anticipation of the many attractions.

Some local residents make this annual event one of the top priorities. Whitney Page, a resident of Raleigh, enjoys the fair with her co-workers. "The atmosphere is fun, friendly, and festive. I love everything about the fair!" Along with great eatery and rides, there is an abundance of different vendors and entertainment.

Even in a down economy, the State Fair offers a day of entertainment and provides an opportunity for a fun outing with family and/or friends.

Homecoming Game

With Homecoming fastly approaching, the football players of North Carolina A&T State University prepare for one of the biggest, most anticipated games of the year.

The Homecoming game is a very big deal as Aggies look to celebrate a win against Bethune-Cookman College. The players are more than excited and have been working extra hard in preperation for this game. With a fairly good winning streak, the football team has promised a victory that would not only make students proud, but alumni as well. "The team as a whole has a tremendous upside. We are learning and getting better everyday", says sophomore teammate Will Pettiford. As practices become more strenuous, the team believes in working hard and playing harder.

With a new coach and different fundamentals, the Aggie football team has done some things this year that have not been done in past years. Pettiford believes that this goes back to trust and belief in each teammate and in the coaches. "It's a team effort. We can do anything when we are trained and taught properly."

Along different routes, this game will not only be interesting, but also authentic as students and alumni await the outcome of a potential win that would top what is known as "The Greatest Homecoming on Earth."

Football Q & A

As North Carolina A&T students continue to make progress in academics, the football team also continues to make progress in athletics with a winning streak of 3-1 so far. During an interview with Justin Ferrell, he elaborates on his life as a football player for A&T.

Q: Tell me about yourself.

A: I am a Business Management major from Danville, VA. I am a humble young man who just wants to be the best in whatever I do. I am a 3-sport athlete (track, football, and wrestling) and a scholar athlete.

Q: How does it feel to be on a winning streak?

A: It feels really good to have a winning record at this point, but we can not be satisfied with where we are now. We have to continue to get better week in and week out in order to become MEAC champs.

Q: What was different about last year that made it difficult to win?

A: Last year's team really didn't believe we could win and gave up when things got rough. This year's team believes we can win and works hard every day at practice. Even when we find ourselves in bad situations, this year's team works together and gets the job done.

Q: What are the strengths of the team?

A: We have a dominant discipline defense that loves facing adversity. We have a freshman punter who has contributed to the kicking game in a major way and we have coaches who preach discipline and are students of the game.

Q: Who is the most challenging team and why?

Florida A&M will be the most challenging team to me because they have a dangerous punt returner/kick returner in Leroy Vann. They have a dual threat quarterback and playmaker receivers. Also, they have a very good defense.

Q: What do you think the record will be at the end of the season?

A: At the end of the season, I believe we will be MEAC champs.