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It’s that time of year again where college alumni prepare to flock back to their old stomping grounds for homecoming and if you’ve ever met a Howard University student you’ve heard that HU does it best. But this year Bison are bemoaning the university’s decision to eliminate live music at what’s arguably one of the best parts of the Howard Homecoming experience: Friday’s Yardfest.

As reported in The Washington Post, this year a set of three DJs (DJs Biz Markie, DJ Quicksilva and DJ Drama) will replace what was annually a live hip-hop concert. A separate concert featuring headliners Dom Kennedy and Fabolous will be held the next day at The D.C. Armory, miles away from Howard’s Yard.

The university’s administration is distancing themselves from holding a live music concert after last year’s Yardfest crowd control disaster. In 2012 Yardfest attendance had grown to a reported 22,000 (Drake,  2 Chainz, Meek Mill and TI performed that year, as seen here) so in 2013 the  university decided to charge for the concert, capping the number at 14,000,  and gating off The Yard — all for the first time in Yardfest history. Concert crashers rushed barricades and scaled gates to bypass the $5 fee, and at the end of the show nine people were injured. The number paled in comparison to overall attendees but the reported injuries, including those of a police officer, resulted in bad press for Howard that overshadowed the success of other homecoming events.

“It was the university’s decision to make sure what happened last year didn’t happen again and that we aren’t branded in that negative light,” Zenani Greenwell, this year’s homecoming coordinator, told the Post of this year’s change. “A lot of members of the community and alumni complained that they couldn’t bring their kids, aunts or uncles because it was such a student concert,” she added.

That’s likely true, but as the news spread over social media so did the cries of other alumni who remember the Homecoming staple that Yardfest used to be. A @HowardAlumni Instagram page ran the news and was met with comments to the tune of:

“Who is in charge? Wtf happened to our community?” “That’s crazy!! Now these youngins will never get to experience the beauty of Yardfest.” “Welp I won’t be at Homecoming.” “Old Howard > New Howard.”  “Just think about us who still go here. Talking away half the excitement of Homecoming. Not even hype about it.”  

As a HU grad who canceled my own Friday ticket down to “The Mecca” this year in light of the news, I get it (I’ll take my time and be there Saturday in time for the tailgate). For many alumni who experienced the Yardfest concert as it was, the new change is just another sign of the times that’s making Howard feel less like the home we remembered. You know, kind of like how it felt when your parents moved all your prized childhood possessions into the garage and turned your bedroom into an office (hi mom!). Even though we all know change happens, the old way meant something that we want to preserve.

More than just a college concert, for decades Yardfest has been home to some of music’s hottest acts, often before the rest of the world knew who they were. It was a rites of passage for up and coming talent and a place for artists who had seen their peek on the national musical charts to come and be wildly appreciated.  Biggie, Ludacris and Fabolous were among hundreds of performers that graced the Yardfest stage over the years and they each dropped lines about Howard’s homecoming in songs, putting pop culture on to what we already knew: it’s the place to be in homecoming season.

Since “New Howard” may never know the true joys of the event that helped make HU’s homecoming so legendary, I asked a Bison alumni for their best memories. Here are a few stories:

Charreah K. Jackson, Class of ’07 (“The Oprah Year,” she notes.)There’s nothing like being back on the Yard seeing old friends, eating fried fish and hearing the hottest song live in the background.My favorite Yardfest performance as a student was Kanye West my freshman year. He was in a Polo and had known of that bravado and obnoxiousness we now associate with Kanye. When the Rockefella bus was pulling off in front of Founders, he was in the back seat looking out the window and waved to us.  A year later his career had exploded.As an alum, my favorite Yardfest performance was Rick Ross a few years ago (pre-. It was raining. It was late. And we did not care. Took me back to being a college student as we rapped along with Rozay.

PaviElle Smith, Class of ’06
I am truly saddened by the “death” of Yardfest as we know it. No other college has managed to be a part of hip-hop history with opening doors for some of the biggest artist out today. New Howard will never be able to experience the energy and comradery that Yardfest provided to former & current students.
I remember running from the School of C through the Valley just to catch Juelz Santana perform. One of my favorite Homecoming memories however was watching Drake perform in his red Howard sweatshirt & not to soon after, having to run desperately to Blackburn to avoid getting drenched in what seemed to be a monsoon that came from out of nowhere.

 

Leslie Robinson, Class of ’07

One of my most memorable Yardfests was when Jeezy performed. I had friends from Cali in town, it was cold and rainy but we waited. All day we waited for him to show and when he did it was amazing. Standing there in the rain with my friends rapping along to Jeezy was dope. A feeling you can’t replace, there is something magical about the energy on the Yard as it is. Add old friends and new, plus a great soundtrack – it sticks with you forever.
Times have changed, the tide has changed, and Homecoming as we’ve known it for twenty years is not going to be the same. I understand the decision based on recent events but I think we can get back to what Yardfest was for students and the artists with the right guidance.
Of course fond memories of Howard’s Yardfest exist amongst older and younger alumni and non-Bison attendees who came to experience the party (we don’t discriminate!). Have a story about a memorable experience? Share it in the comment section.
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