43
Website founder is excited about local B.o.B. show
IF YOU GO
Who: B.o.B., with opening acts Playboy Tre, Kenny Ali, Jay Mel and Da Kreek
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday
Where: Club Gossip, 1743 Raccoon Road (Wedgewood Plaza), Austintown
Tickets: $30 ($35 VIP) at TheHigherPlane.net, Club Gossip, Rumors in Austintown, Creekside Beverage in Canfield, Buckeye Barbershop in Youngstown and In the Cut Barbershop. This is an all-ages show, but those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Place:Club Gossip
-
1743 S. Raccoon Road, Austintown
By JOHN BENSON
In the fickle word of hip-hop concert tours, Northeast Ohio is often overlooked as a destination. That means the Youngstown area attracts artists on the way up or down in their career. Falling into the former category is rising act B.o.B., whose singles include “Airplanes” featuring Paramore’s Hayley Williams and “Nothin’ on You.” The Georgia native has booked a Wednesday show at Club Gossip in Austintown.
Bringing in the artist is Michael Krieger, co-founder of national hip-hop website Higher Plane (thehigherplane.net) and 2002 Boardman High School graduate.
“One of the things we do with our site is we’re always looking for new talent and new music, so we always have our eyes peeled for who we believe may be the next big artist,” said Krieger, a 2006 Ohio Wesleyan University graduate now living in London. “It just happened to work out. We got them to agree to come to Youngstown. One of his managers is from Canton. So we’re really excited about it because it will be his only stop in Ohio this summer.
“Also, he’s going to put on a really great show. He has a live band coming with him as well so it will be a really unique experience and a lot different from what people generally expect from a traditional hip-hop show where there’s just a DJ and a few artists on stage.”
Though still somewhat new, averaging only 7,000 unique visitors a month, Higher Plane has grown quickly featuring interviews with high-profile artists and DJs including Mick Boogie, Jay Electronica, Kidz in the Hall and 88-Keys. Still, the fact that Krieger and company attracted B.o.B. to Youngstown says something.
“The last really big show I remember going to in Youngstown was probably Lil Wayne two years ago, maybe,” Krieger said. “I think it’s a huge opportunity for people to see one of the most talented up-and-coming artists that may be here for a decade strong. He has the opportunity to, I think, change the genre. If you listen to his music, he’s not a traditional hip-hop artist.”
B.o.B. started making noise in the rap game in 2007 with several mix-tape singles (“I’ll Be in the Sky” and “Cloud 9”). Compared to the likes of Andre 3000 (OutKast) and Cee-Lo Green (Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley), the 21-year-old released his debut, “B.o.B. presents The Adventures of Bobby Ray,” in April.
“People in Youngstown oftentimes really look for something to believe in or get excited about,” Krieger said. “And it’s easy to fall into a routine here. So we wanted to be able to bring somebody really special to town. His music is all over, and he’s just a great person to bring in for our first show.”