The Big Show is almost here.

Coming to CSUN this weekend is the 8th annual Big Show, a would-be festival with all the fixins that should accompany a college level event; music, food and shop.

This year, as most people are already aware, Ludacris is coming to perform. Thanks to organizers at the Associated Students and SPACE, CSUN faculty, students and people from all over the Los Angeles area are welcome to come and enjoy the musical stylings of the well know dirty-south rapper, as well as the hip-hop duo Black Violin and L.A. native DJ Eric D-Lux.

Akin to its predecessor,s Big Show 8 is a show that will revolve around hip-hop music. However, that doesn’t mean that the big show is for a certain group of pop-willing pseudo-esoteric people. On the contrary, it means that AS is beginning to find certain artists that are musically appealing to all people and are therefore strangely diverse.

Eric D-Lux is an artist that perfectly demonstrates this fact, with his upbeat tone and vivid fixation on heavy rhythm and striking hooks, the music that comes out of D-Lux’s speakers is meant for music lovers, listeners as well as hip hop fans.

To a certain degree Eric D-Lux doesn’t stick to conventional boundaries of hip hop music. Rather, D-Lux seems to be an artist that is more akin to electronic music and heavy house or reggaton rhythm. The 22-year-old DJ is really an artist that came in to music at a time period where the listeners are the ones who decide what the music will inevitably sound like.

A very welcomed new addition to Big Show’s already illustrious history, Eric D-Lux is a DJ that will most certainly get the dancers to dance and the listeners to listen so don’t forget to catch him as the opening act this weekend at one in the p.m.

After D-Lux is finished Black Violin will take the stage. A group of musicians consisting mainly of Will B and Kev Marcus, a dynamic duo of Floridians whose frighteningly original music should make any hip-hop devotee wonder what the real definition of good hip-hop really is.

Humbly made up of two violinists and a DJ, Black Violin pushes the proverbial envelope of hip-hop music. By combing the genius of their dueling and collaborating violins on top of classic hip-hop beats, the group does their best to make hip-hop lovers think and music lovers challenge ideals.

The headliner of the Big Show is Ludacris, the dirty-south rapper that made his name based on formal controversy. As big as Big Show predecessors Common and Ne-Yo, Ludacris is an artist that people either love or hate.

Despite the fact that Ludacris is sometimes better known for his roles in films such as ‘Crash’ and ‘Hustle ‘amp; Flow’ it is undeniable that he is at the forefront of hip hop popularity. With the controversial release of the mixtape ‘The Preview’ and an upcoming November release entitled ‘Theater of the Mind’ his performance at the Big Show should be full of new beats, new rhymes and of course, Ludacris’ well known in-your-face performance and on-stage antics.

So, do not pass up on Big Show 8. It isn’t often that you get to see musicians of this caliber for free. If you want good music, there will be good music. If you want to dance, then there is music that will make you dance. If you want to think, there is music that will make you think. Or if you just want to come to CSUN’s beautiful 345-acre campus and bear witness to another bad-ass Big Show performance, perhaps I will see you there.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BIG SHOW 8

Where
? Saturday, Oct. 11
from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Sierra Quad

Tickets
? Free tickets for CSUN students at Ticket Office
? CSUN ID must be shown with ticket at door
? $25 for Non-CSUN Students through Ticket Office
? $30 for Non-CSUN Students through Ticketmaster

Parking
? $5. Park in lots B1, B2, B3, B5