As a photographer for The Skyline View, I was encouraged by the paper’s editor in chief to write an opinion piece on “Pop Yo Collar,” the hip hop concert recently held at Skyline College. While the concert was a success overall, I was deeply disappointed with certain activities that went on that night, which were not part of the program.

“Pop Yo Collar,” billed as a benefit for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, was put together by three members of the Black Student Union. These students worked diligently for months to organize this large event and my hat goes off to all of them, because this was a big big show. 

The show was scheduled to start at 7p.m., however, the opening act was delayed for almost an hour due to a communications error between the sound man and the producers.  Because of the delay, the show’s original itinerary had to be changed on the run, according to Kiiausha David, student assistant for student activities, because the performers had other commitments. 

Around 8 p.m. the show finally reached near full capacity, and the race was on to get all the acts in. Before the curtains opened the MC, a counselor from the United Players Youth Gang Prevention, came out and started talking.  To tell you the truth I couldn’t understand a word he was saying, other than “fuck.” 

In some ways I can understand his demeanor; you have to be tough to do what he does.  You also have to give him a lot of credit for keeping some kind of order back stage; he had his hands full and could have used a lot more help.  Maybe this could have been a good opportunity for the college out-reach program to help out with a couple of college ambassadors. After all, there were three different youth groups there from as far away as San Jose. 

The curtains opened to a group of six teenagers reciting poems. This was a great way to start the show. Overall, the show was very bright and colorful.  All color was marred, however, when around the fifth or sixth act a slight hint of pot could be smelled in the air.

The eighth act opened to a mass of people on stage. Many of these people were either smoking pot or cigars.  The smell of pot began to permeate the theater air.  I couldn’t even be sure if everyone there was even part of the act.

When I asked around about the pot on stage, I was told that it was part of this generation’s hip hop culture.  I had to think back to my own youth, when I used to go to the Fillmore to see groups like Jefferson Starship, The Doors, Jimmy Hendrix, and Janis Joplin;   there too, the pot smoke replaced the air.

However, this is a college and there were youngsters in the show that didn’t need this kind of exposure.  Should a show like this, as large as it was, ever be allowed at Skyline College again?  I’m going to say yes, as the show was for a good cause. However, there should be more staff and faculty on hand for control.