‘Cypher, Cypher!’ UNC artist collective celebrate expression, togetherness every Wednesday

Weeks on the UNC campus are filled with long nights of study and long days of classes. Some students look forward to gathering in the pit every Wednesday at 9:25 pm to celebrate both family and freestyle.

For UNC Cypher, a collective of music artists, midweek meeting times are known as “9 to 5.”

Each meeting begins with someone shouting “Cypher, Cypher!” — a phrase repeated by the rest of the crowd. After answering the call, the members start rapping.

First-grader Justin Jenkins said the group gives people of all skill levels the opportunity to relax, hang out and express themselves.

“It’s so hard to go out and freestyle,” Jenkins said. You may fumble and fail at times, but don’t be afraid to make mistakes, just expose yourself and see what happens. “

On the UNC Cypher, Jenkins said there are people from all sides of the “rap spectrum.” He believes that good music can bring together different styles.

The group is committed to releasing their latest album by the end of the school year. The album’s writing process began with sessions called “office hours”, an opportunity for producers and rappers to brainstorm song ideas. Then about 30 Cypher members last month rented a house in Cary where he rented for four days and turned the room into a studio.

Co-president of UNC Cypher Nori “Shaggy” West says each room was designed to have a different “feel” based on the style of the creative process behind “Revenge of the Dreamers III” by Dreamville Records. said.

West said holding the meeting in the pit was a powerful way to celebrate rap’s role in black culture. This is particularly true of the historical lack of equal treatment of black students on campus and the recent James Louis Cates Jr.

For some time, Cypher’s meetings had attracted more than 100 attendees, West said.

“People felt safe coming out to celebrate,” West said. That’s exactly the goal. That’s what I think is so important. “

UNC Cypher co-president Justis Malker says Wednesday nights are a great way to tune in to the week and inject a little celebration and relief into the sometimes mundane life.

“Wednesday night Cyphers lifts my spirits, and I look forward to it, even if it’s winter with little sun,” he said. “It starts making me happier.”

Marker thinks it’s easy to get caught up in the “rat race” of being a college student because students manage hectic schedules. In the case, consistent meetings form an aspect of community.

“Whenever you walk into a space like that and make music, which is very personal, it could be meant to make music, but you always want to be yourself, your You get to have honest, vulnerable, and very intentional conversations about life — your experiences and your perspectives,” says Malker.

Last Wednesday, UNC Cypher held a variety of activities to showcase their work and promote the release of their album to other students. After auditioning for the Spring Jubilee concert at Tar Heels Got Talent, the club held a pre-release album listening party at the Carolina Coffee Shop in 1922. The group then walked to Oldwell. We shot album covers and made music together.

Ultimately, Marker said he hoped others would see UNC Cypher as more than just a group of rappers.

“There are people who stop by and sing. There are people who tune in the background. There are people who play instruments. says. “I think it’s bigger than that. We’re a creative community.”

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