After a scheduling conflict last semester, the ‘demanded’ Ying Yang Twins will perform at Matoaka Amphitheatre in March

Combined efforts by the UCAB and online voting by passionate student fans will provide the College with a unique and highly anticipated performance, as the Ying Yang Twins will bring their Southern crunk flavor to Matoaka Amphitheatre Saturday, March 29 at 8 p.m.

The pair of hip-hop artists from Atlanta — whose credentials include the smash hits “Wait (The Whisper Song)” and “Whistle While You Twurk,” as well as noteworthy collaborations with other crunk staples such as Lil’ Jon — were originally scheduled to visit the College last spring after more than 260 students voted on the website Eventful.com to have them perform.

The website describes itself as a forum that “empowers users to influence where their favorite performers, candidates and other celebrities appear by creating viral grass-roots campaigns to ‘demand’ them in their town.”

While performers are not obligated to appear based on demand, the Ying Yang Twins used Eventful.com to determine which universities it would add to its spring 2007 tour.

The website also stated that “W&M has been keepin’ it Crunk ever since Thomas Jefferson stepped foot on Campus,” implying that students would be wise to keep the crunk alive by voting for the group.

The College placed first in the contest, with a current total of 284 votes. Close runners-up included Tallahassee, Fla., and Morgantown, W.V., with 198 and 160 votes, respectively.

The unrelated Twins agreed to appear at the College last spring, but a scheduling error required that they appear in Germany on the date they had originally scheduled the Williamsburg performance.

An apology letter, sent to Assistant Director of Student Activities Joe Lowder from Amy Hanks Public Relations, a representative for the duo, stated that the Ying Yang Twins would add the College to a future tour and acknowledged “full responsibility for the situation.”

UCAB Music Committee Chair Jeanna Occhiogrosso ’08 confirmed that the Twins would perform, and said that while UCAB had no direct role in attracting them initially, they began working with the group when the College won the contest.

“We were really anxious to get them to sign that contract,” Occhiogrosso said. “They’re clearly a respected duo in the music industry, and I’m both pleased to bring them to campus and really excited to see the show.”

Junior Music Committee member Kate Matthews ’09 said in contrast to past performers at the College, the Ying Yang Twins may attract a different crop of concert-goers who are familiar with the duo’s club-banging beats and simple vocal hooks.

“They’re a novelty,” she said. “People have danced to their music a lot at frat parties and other places.”

Occhiogrosso agreed with Matthews. “I think the Ying Yang Twins may have a flashier, more commercial look and sound than the other bands we’ve had at the college recently,” she said.
Members of UCAB were quick to point out that although the Ying Yang Twins concert is certainly a big-name event, there will still be the annual spring concert, which the College traditionally holds in April.

Occhiogrosso said that students could expect a much different act for the regular spring concert, though UCAB members would not comment on what bands they are considering.

“We are always aiming to please a wide group of music tastes,” Occhiogrosso said.