Following in Kanye West's footsteps, rap artist Common will headline Social Planning and Events Committee to Represent Undergraduate Minorities' spring concert.
Rap duo Kidz In The Hall and singers Keyshia Cole and Jaguar Wright will also perform at the April 22 show.
The concert, which will be held at the Electric Factory at 421 N. 7th St. -- featured artist Kanye West last year.
While previous SPEC-TRUM spring concerts were held in conjunction with the Penn Relays, this year SPEC-TRUM plans to hold the events independently.
"We're trying to brand it as our annual concert," SPEC-TRUM co-Director and College sophomore Ahmed Whitt said.
This year, to ensure student input and approval of SPEC-TRUM's selection, the organization polled students to determine which acts were popular.
"We put out a survey a month ago asking for suggestions," Whitt said. "We wanted to know who [the students] wanted to see."
Whitt said that he feels the student body will respond positively to the rapper.
"He was here four or five years ago and there was a good response," Whitt said. "According to our survey, we think he is going to get a lot of support."
According to a SPEC-TRUM press release, Common "has long staked a claim as a hip-hop MC to be reckoned with."
His most recent album, Be, was produced by rap icons Kanye West and Jay Dee. Past albums include Electric Circus and Like Water for Chocolate.
"I think Common is one of the best rappers ever," College freshman Michael Fileti said. "I will definitely be there."
College sophomore Adam Bromberg also expressed excitement for the concert.
"I think it's great for Common" Bromberg said, noting that SPEC-TRUM is an ideal organization to play for. "Last year [Common] was headlining the MTV Bring in the Music Tour, with all these promotional things and horrible musicians."
Whitt also expressed his excitement at the opportunity to see rap duo Naledge and Double-O of Kidz In The Hall to perform in the city where they first met.
Naledge, born Jabari Evans, graduated from Penn in 2004 with a major in communication. He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. After graduating, he created his own entertainment company, IndaV-1.
Whitt noted the lack of concert security staff and a venue of the size needed to host a concert of this magnitude.
"Irvine Auditorium holds half the capacity we would need," Whitt said about holding the concert off campus. "The Electric Factory is more music-friendly. [The show] involves more crowd participation."
Tickets can be purchased online through ticketmaster or via the Electric Factory Web site. They are $25 each or $15 with a Penn ID.
