Yo Gabba Gabba! visits the Hult Center tonight featuring Biz Markie in a performance that will benefit Eugene and Springfield’s Habitat for Humanity.
The national tour, Yo Gabba Gabba! Live: There’s a Party in My City!, features the TV show’s regular characters along with a few nationally recognized artists. Rapper Biz Markie, who is most famous for his 1990 top-10 single on the U.S. hot 100, “Just a Friend,” has had a regular segment on the TV show, “Biz’s Beat of the Day,” which he will carry to the performance and teach children how to beat-box.
Yo Gabba Gabba!, which airs daily on Nick Jr., started as a show for children, but its bright colors, catchy music and overall simplicity has brought teenagers, college students and parents into the show’s demographics. The show has been nominated for two Emmys, released two CDs and is broadcast internationally.
“Yo Gabba Gabba! is unique in the sense that it is the only (children’s) show that has hip-hop sound and style,” said Sam Kimes, a junior psychology major. “This is not only significant because it offers children an opportunity to experience hip-hop music, but their parents as well. This allows for preconceived negative opinions toward hip-hop to be challenged and become ultimately replaced. The guest appearances by Biz Markie and Snoop Dogg help to illustrate that hip-hop can be positive.”
“I have to admit I didn’t really like it at first. It was so different than every other show for kids,” said Kelli Matthews, who teaches at the University and has a 4-year-old who watches the show. “With guest stars like Jack Black, The Roots, Biz Markie, Rachel Dratch and others, the show keeps me entertained.”
Much like the television series, the tour incorporates the same style of music-driven entertainment.
Part of the national Yo Gabba Gabba! tour is devoted to a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. For every ticket sold, $1 of the proceeds will go to each local Habitat for Humanity in the show’s area.
“If Yo Gabba Gabba! sells out the Hult as is expected, there will be a significant donation made to our local Habitat. This money will be used to help build our next home,” said Tim Armstrong, the ReStore director for the Eugene/Springfield Habitat for Humanity.
The Springfield Habitat for Humanity, which will benefit from the proceeds, is currently in the process of building 10 homes in Springfield at 49th and A Streets. The project is constructing the seventh home and just dedicated the 1000th Habitat home-build at the specific site.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that builds affordable housing. The program was founded in 1976 in Georgia but has expanded to become an international program with national offices in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Each chapter is affiliated with the organization, but is typically individually run.
Although the cause is charitable, the performance itself will be entirely devoted to entertaining Yo Gabba Gabba!’s fan base. As the headliner, Markie will have a larger contribution than his normal interaction on the program.
It’s been more than 20 years since Markie released “Just a Friend.” The single reached No. 9 on the U.S. hot 100 and has been synonymous with the Long Island rapper throughout his career. Since “Just a Friend,” Markie hasn’t reached the same level of success, just having one song rank on any charts, which was “What Comes Around Goes Around” that reached No. 84 on U.S. R&B charts.
Aside from the solo success, Markie has more recently been a featured artist. He’s appeared on choruses and been drawn back to his roots as a beat-boxer on other songs.
Whether it’s children, parents or University students, the performance will be an ode to the TV show.
“I’m taking my son along with my sister and her son to the show. We’re looking forward to it.” Matthews said.
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