Hip-hop hooray

Despite being postponed one day, The Grand Kerfuffle went on last night in all of its hip-hop glory.

After artist Mos Def could not make the Wednesday night show due to a family emergency, he arrived at the Union Free Speech Area around 9:15 p.m. on Thursday to perform.

About 3,900 tickets were sold through SmithsTix, but Associated Students of the University of Utah Programming Adviser Brian Burton estimated that 4,500 people attended the concert. Additional tickets were sold by ASUU throughout the show.

At last year's Grand Kerfuffle spring music festival, which spanned three nights, almost 8,000 people attended the shows each night. Headlining artists Yellowcard and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs performed.

Mos Def flew in last night just in time to make it on stage. "All that matters is he was on time for his set and he put on one hell of a show," said Presenter's Office Director Kyle Hansen.

"I think it was good the concert was postponed," said ASUU Vice President Toby Collett. "I think the turnout would have been better (Thursday night)."

Although some students returned their tickets, others thought the move was a positive one because it allowed more time to buy tickets and better weather.

"When they switched it, it gave more time to plan for (the concert)," said Mike Ravare, a student at Salt Lake Community College.

Although the crowd seemed timid at the beginning of the concert, numbers and enthusiasm grew as the show progressed.

Some students were pleased with the choice of a hip-hop concert.

"We need more African-American artists to come here to the U," said Demontray Lockhart, a senior mass communication major.

With concerts featuring Flogging Molly, Fiona Apple and now Mos Def, Collett said he thinks ASUU has covered the bases this year with its shows.

"I think the Presenter's Office did a great job…bringing a lot of different genres of music that reach out to all kinds of people," he said.

When Mos Def was performing, he told audience members it was OK to film the show on their cameras or cell phones, saying, "You can put (your videos) up on YouTube -- I like to watch it like a game tape, see how I'm doing."

While on stage, Mos Def rapped, played an electronic keyboard and did an a capella remix of Jay-Z's "Show Me What You Got."

Before the remix, Mos Def said he wasn't interested in "beefing with any rappers," saying, "If I had anything to say to Jay-Z, I'd call him."

Hip-hop artists Hezekiah and aka Subliminal opened for Mos Def; aka Subliminal beatboxed while on stage.

Although not all receipts have been submitted for the concert, as of April 18, more than $55,000 had been spent on the show.

For last year's Grand Kerfuffle, the Presenter's Office spent more than $270,000 on the show, going $66,000 over its budget.

Hansen said the goal was to spend between $85,000 and $90,000 on this year's Kerfuffle.