Hip-hop, art at Max's Place

Many IU students are spending their Welcome Week focused on moving and settling in on campus, but senior Rachel Awoyemi is focused on something bigger.

The arts management major is busy preparing for the second installment of “A Festivus for the Rest of Us,” a music and artist showcase opening 9 p.m. Friday at Max’s Place. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Bloomington’s Bethel AME Church to assist with its outreach and education programs.

Festivus will feature about 20 musicians at the hip-hop-based show. Work from a local jewelry business and graphic designer will also be on display.

“We really want it to be a melting pot of all the local artists in Bloomington,” Awoyemi said.

Chinedu Onye, a hip-hop artist known by the stage name Jayali, will headline the show. Awoyemi now acts as Jayali’s personal manager after seeing him perform at the Bloomington Music Festival last October.

“I fell in love with his music right then and there and networked with him after the show,” Awoyemi said.

Awoyemi and Onye embarked on an independent music tour this summer, where he put on six shows around the Midwest.

“He’s such a great individual, and I’m so glad that he’s my artist,” Awoyemi said.

Although Awoyemi spends much of her time on the management side of music, she sings and plays instruments, too.

“I’ve been a musician my whole life,” she said. “I love singing, but I love managing at the same time, so it’s all about finding that balance.”

Awoyemi is currently a co-owner of Alpha Pack Records and also runs her own promotions and marketing company, Festivus Marketing Group. In the future, she plans to start another record label and open up her own management company.

Until then, she is focused on Festivus, which will have a new show each month.

“I just want everyone to come out and enjoy the local arts scene,” Awoyemi said. “I planned this show for artists to showcase their talent and to promote themselves.”