Hip Hop Explosion would have been a medley of incomprehensible noise without Isaiah Rashad. Students bounded up the steep, low-lit staircase leading to Ackerman Grand Ballroom, chatting about how excited they were to hear hip-hop performers Rashad and Casey Veggies at the Cultural Affairs Commission’s Hip Hop Explosion concert event Thursday. Read more...

Photo: Rapper Isaiah Rashad transformed the Hip Hop Explosion stage into a melodic, neo-soul space where the audience grooved along to soft beats. (Daniel Alcazar/Daily Bruin senior staff)

Princess Fortier sat in her home studio soaking up the fast-paced rhythms and percussion instrumentals of a track sent to her by a producer via Facebook. Read more...

Photo: Princess Fortier (center) and her sister Destiny created a music video for Princess’ song “Dirty Ballerina.” The duo were joined by backup dancer and fourth-year mathematics and economics student Patrick Malkoun (right). (Zinnia Moreno/Daily Bruin)