Nappy Roots play for cause that 'hits home'

While many Penn students spend tonight getting an early start on Spring Fling, the brothers of Beta Theta Pi will be hosting a concert for life-saving research.

Nappy Roots, a Southern rap quintet, is set to play at the Roxxy tonight for the fund-raising concert put on by Beta.

Beta plans to give 100 percent of the profits from this concert to research of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, an extremely rare genetic disorder that gradually ossifies muscles, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissue - literally turning the body to bone.

The brother of Jason Cali, a College senior and former Beta president, is one of roughly 250 Americans suffering from the disease.

"FOP really hits home," said Andrew Dudum, a Wharton sophomore and Beta social chair. "We at Beta are all really involved and down for the cause."

Beta has previously run 5K races to benefit the Penn Research Center, the world's leader in FOP study.

In addition to the $20 cover charge for the concert, Nappy Roots has offered to donate $1,000 to the fund.

The band should arrive shortly before midnight at the Roxxy, a club in East Philadelphia that Dudum described as "gorgeous."

Nappy Roots will play a one-hour set, before and after live DJs.

The band rose to fame in 2002 with rap singles "Headz Up," "Awnaw" and "Po' Folks."

Nappy Roots has collaborated with Kanye West, David Banner and Lil Jon and plans to release a new album - 40 Akerz - this June.

"It's gonna be an amazing night," said College junior Dylan Serota, a Beta social chair. "I'm really pumped to have a good time."

Several local businesses and organizations have offered to sponsor the event, including Penn's class boards, Lee's Hoagies and Dudum's social networking site, mygreek.org.

According Serota, the fraternity chose the band because of its recognizable music.

"The brothers were throwing around some band names," he said. "We think a hip-hop band will bring a lot of energy . we grew up with these guys."

Nappy Roots was "really supportive" of the concert's cause, said Serota.

Beta will sell a variety of signed merchandise and auction three VIP backstage tickets.

The fraternity aims to raise $10,000, which is twice the goal from last year's Afroman concert at Level.

"[This concert] should be tremendously successful," said Dudum. "There's no reason for us not to want to do this again next year and after."

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