Mesquite News > News
Arena event ready to infuse rodeo life, Hip Hop music
By Kenny Green, kgreen@starlocalnews.com
Mesquite Arena has hosted numerous rodeos since it first opened its doors, but none quite like the event that takes place this weekend. The arena will host Hip Hop Cowboys, a new format that offers a unique blend of traditional cowboy rodeo activities and hip hop music. The event is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 17.
“We want to bring the sport of rodeo to everyone,” said Damon Leffall, CEO of Hip Hop Cowboys. “Hip Hop Cowboys is about non-stop action – the extreme sport of rodeo combined with live hip hop, R&B, soul, zydeco, blues and more. It’s going to be a great time and will open up a lot of people’s eyes to rodeo.”
Leffall said that he didn’t create Hip Hop Cowboy, it was merely a demographic that he identified. He said that he has been to many traditional events where rap music is being played as well as rock and traditional country music.
“It comes from all the young guys that are passionate about the traditional cowboy lifestyle and are also equally as passionate about elements in hip hop,” Leffall said. “I want to bridge the two into a new format of rodeo. It is something we can do to give our customers a little more bang for the buck. We are going to show people that the two can exist together.”
Leffall said that although this is his company’s first time to host this type of event, he has seen a similar event produced successfully in Shreveport, LA.
“We will have all the elements of a traditional rodeo,” Leffall said.
Craig Jackson, a PBR bull rider who represents Hip Hop Cowboy, is scheduled to perform in the bull riding event as well as take the stage as a rapper. Jackson said he grew up as a kid watching the Mesquite Championship Rodeo on television and is eager to perform at the arena.
“The event will have a little more added flavor and attraction than a traditional rodeo. I have been going to rodeos since I was a kid. When guys come out they come out to different types of music. There is a younger culture coming through and the choice isn’t just traditional country anymore,” Jackson said.
Jackson said he put out his first rap CD in 2007. He would hand it to friends at different rodeo events. He said it was during a PBR event in Mesquite that he met up with Leffall and soon realized the two shared some similar ideas about blending the rodeo with hip hop.
“This is the life I have been living forever. I really want to show people what we are doing,” Jackson said.
Leffall said that the event is really about giving the audience a choice. He said that both he and Jackson are passionate about both the rodeo and hip hop.
“We usually go from one extreme to the next,” Leffall said. “We also listen to country music almost as much as hip hop music. We truly enjoy all the aspects of both lifestyles.”
He added that the chose the Mesquite Arena because it is one of the top rodeo buildings in the country and he wanted the company’s first Hip Hop Cowboy event to be first-rate.
“Music is the lifeblood of the youth culture,” said Leffall. “Combining urban music like hip hop and rap with the sport of rodeo makes for a powerful combination.”
Headlining the event is Juvenile, a rapper and hip hop artist from Louisiana best known for his smash hit, “Back That Thang Up.” Southern soul artist TK Soul will perform live blues and zydeco music during the event as well.
“For me, this event being in Mesquite means a lot to me and to have Juvenile, who I grew up listening to, perform is kind of surreal,” Jackson said.
Tickets are on sale for the event. Ticket prices for Hip Hop Cowboys start at $20 for adults and $10 for children, ages 3 to 12. VIP tickets include special access to the 8 Second Club, a BBQ buffet, and premium seats for $60 per person. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Mesquite Arena box office and at the door. For information on suite rentals or group sales, call 972-285-8777.
The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m., with a grand entry rodeo parade. The rodeo action will include bull riding, team roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Hip Hop Cowboys will also include relay racing, a fast-paced rodeo event that thrills the crowd with its non-stop action of riders on horseback racing each other around the arena in relay style. Hip Hop Cowboys is an open rodeo that will feature the top 10 best competitors in each event.
For information on Hip Hop Cowboys, visit www.hiphopcowboy.com or connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HipHopCowboys for all the latest updates and news.
“We want to bring the sport of rodeo to everyone,” said Damon Leffall, CEO of Hip Hop Cowboys. “Hip Hop Cowboys is about non-stop action – the extreme sport of rodeo combined with live hip hop, R&B, soul, zydeco, blues and more. It’s going to be a great time and will open up a lot of people’s eyes to rodeo.”
Leffall said that he didn’t create Hip Hop Cowboy, it was merely a demographic that he identified. He said that he has been to many traditional events where rap music is being played as well as rock and traditional country music.
“It comes from all the young guys that are passionate about the traditional cowboy lifestyle and are also equally as passionate about elements in hip hop,” Leffall said. “I want to bridge the two into a new format of rodeo. It is something we can do to give our customers a little more bang for the buck. We are going to show people that the two can exist together.”
Leffall said that although this is his company’s first time to host this type of event, he has seen a similar event produced successfully in Shreveport, LA.
“We will have all the elements of a traditional rodeo,” Leffall said.
Craig Jackson, a PBR bull rider who represents Hip Hop Cowboy, is scheduled to perform in the bull riding event as well as take the stage as a rapper. Jackson said he grew up as a kid watching the Mesquite Championship Rodeo on television and is eager to perform at the arena.
“The event will have a little more added flavor and attraction than a traditional rodeo. I have been going to rodeos since I was a kid. When guys come out they come out to different types of music. There is a younger culture coming through and the choice isn’t just traditional country anymore,” Jackson said.
Jackson said he put out his first rap CD in 2007. He would hand it to friends at different rodeo events. He said it was during a PBR event in Mesquite that he met up with Leffall and soon realized the two shared some similar ideas about blending the rodeo with hip hop.
“This is the life I have been living forever. I really want to show people what we are doing,” Jackson said.
Leffall said that the event is really about giving the audience a choice. He said that both he and Jackson are passionate about both the rodeo and hip hop.
“We usually go from one extreme to the next,” Leffall said. “We also listen to country music almost as much as hip hop music. We truly enjoy all the aspects of both lifestyles.”
He added that the chose the Mesquite Arena because it is one of the top rodeo buildings in the country and he wanted the company’s first Hip Hop Cowboy event to be first-rate.
“Music is the lifeblood of the youth culture,” said Leffall. “Combining urban music like hip hop and rap with the sport of rodeo makes for a powerful combination.”
Headlining the event is Juvenile, a rapper and hip hop artist from Louisiana best known for his smash hit, “Back That Thang Up.” Southern soul artist TK Soul will perform live blues and zydeco music during the event as well.
“For me, this event being in Mesquite means a lot to me and to have Juvenile, who I grew up listening to, perform is kind of surreal,” Jackson said.
Tickets are on sale for the event. Ticket prices for Hip Hop Cowboys start at $20 for adults and $10 for children, ages 3 to 12. VIP tickets include special access to the 8 Second Club, a BBQ buffet, and premium seats for $60 per person. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Mesquite Arena box office and at the door. For information on suite rentals or group sales, call 972-285-8777.
The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m., with a grand entry rodeo parade. The rodeo action will include bull riding, team roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling and barrel racing. Hip Hop Cowboys will also include relay racing, a fast-paced rodeo event that thrills the crowd with its non-stop action of riders on horseback racing each other around the arena in relay style. Hip Hop Cowboys is an open rodeo that will feature the top 10 best competitors in each event.
For information on Hip Hop Cowboys, visit www.hiphopcowboy.com or connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HipHopCowboys for all the latest updates and news.
Copyright © 2013 - Star Local News