DTLR’s HBCU Welcome Back Tour Kicks Off At Howard

The school year kicked off with streetwear brand DTLR’s return to Howard’s campus for a second time last week as the first stop on their annual HBCU tour. 

The free event, hosted by the Undergraduate Student Assembly (UGSA), featured live music, food trucks, vendors and a T-shirt customization station. The event culminated with a free concert in Cramton Auditorium featuring Detroit rapper Skilla Baby, J.P., the artist behind the viral song “Bad Bitty” and Cincinnati-based rapper SkyLar Blatt. 

Lauren Foley, a junior biology major and chemistry minor from Little Rock, Arkansas, who serves as the UGSA 51st executive coordinator, gave insight into the behind-the-scenes of the event.

“DTLR is something that we love to partner with. This has become an annual thing for us, and this has been in the works since the summer ever since they reached back out to us,” Foley said.

Sponsored by McDonald’s, Jordan Brand, Ethika and the United States Army, the show included giveaways to students participating in competitions. KyleOnTheMic hosted the event and led ciphers, sing-offs, and hype man battles, ultimately giving away four $25 gift cards to the DTLR store. 

Clothing brands, food trucks and drink stands were also featured. The event offered small businesses the opportunity to promote their business and give back to the community.

Erin Bowman, co-owner of Sistah Sweets, a gourmet cupcake business based in Baltimore, spoke about her business’s story and her thoughts on the event.

“We started back in 2011 as a hobby,” Bowman said. “As we got older we decided to establish it as a business, as a food truck and a store coming in the fall. We love going to different schools such as Howard, and we are happy to be here.”

During the event, Howard’s Divine Nine organizations kicked off the show with their signature stroll performances. Performers included Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. 

Logan Jones, a sophomore biology major from Virginia, was one of the prize recipients. She performed a rendition of “Love” by Keyshia Cole.

“My friends were trying to put me on so bad,” Jones said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, why are they doing this?’ But when he played that song, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I got this.’” 

Madyson Patterson, aka DJ WildChild, a senior psychology major from Portland, Oregon, played popular songs often heard at HBCU events and received positive reactions for her distinctive mixes.

“I love seeing people energized and seeing the emotions that music can bring out of people,” Patterson said. “So when KyleOnTheMic was in the crowd, giving the mic to people, they’re singing the song. I enjoy stuff like that. Seeing people engage with music only hypes me up more.”

Patterson said she appreciates DTLR’s work in supporting students like her at HBCUs. 

“They’re taking care of me in ways that I really appreciate,” Patterson said. “We’re young, smart African American people that are gonna be literally the next generation’s leaders. So why not put more emphasis on it? I love that they’re doing that. I love the initiative.”

Her flow carried the crowd into the evening’s opening acts, including Psiryn, Lehla Samia, Noodah, Wood Da Savage, and Lil Pak. 

The show was closed with an anticipated headline performance from Skilla Baby, who set off the crowd with two of his most popular singles “Bae” and “Gorgeous.”

“My favorite part was definitely when Skilla came out,” Jones said. “I feel like that was an adrenaline rush for us because we were anticipating him, so when he finally came out, I was so excited.”

Copy edited by Anijah Franklin