Hip-Hop’s a Happenin’ at Heritage This Weekend — Dave’s Diary

Hip-hop at Heritage.  It has a nice ring to it…and a pretty good beat! Music is part of HertitageFest 2014!

Heritage University will be center stage this Saturday when it hosts a music festival for area high school and college students. Beats Jam is a hip-hop extravaganza featuring seven different up-and-coming artists, YouTube sensations and local favorites on stage for a daylong concert on the university grounds.

“We wanted to do something specifically for our college and high school students to welcome them onto campus,” said David Wise, vice president for marketing and communications. “This is an art form that speaks to this younger generation.”

Headlining the event is MC Magic. He has achieved a national fan following, with his YouTube videos having views in the millions. Homegrown favorites M-Status and T.A.Z. kick off the seven-hour event. Respect My Region, featuring artists Mike Champoux, from Seattle; T.S The Solution, out of Spokane; and Pittsburgh-based The Come Up, will also be performing. The Yakima duo Bonaphied, fills out the day. The festival will be emceed by Hot 99.7 FM radio personality Sean DaDon.

Tickets for HeritageFest Beats Jam are available for free to high school students through their school counseling offices. Students at Yakima Valley Community College or another college or University can pick up tickets from the Heritage University Student Services Building, Mondays through Fridays during regular business hours. Doors open at 11 a.m. with the event beginning at noon. Ticket holders will have to show valid student ID along with their ticket for admission. This is a drug-, alcohol- and tobacco-free event.