A bump in the yellow brick road

Carmel student spits fire on a classic tune

Junior+Justin+Eberhardt+spitting+fire+during+the+winter+pep+rally.

Kelli Smith

Junior Justin Eberhardt spitting fire during the winter pep rally.

Junior Justin Eberhardt, a Carmel Cadence member, shocked a gymnasium full of unsuspecting students and faculty with an original rap performance during the Cadence showcase at the Winter Sports Pep Rally.

The student body went wild before Eberhardt could even get a few words out.

“It was cool to see a change in Carmel because that’s not how they usually do things,” senior Shareif Bailey, passionate rap fan, said.

When Cadence received its music for the song “Yellow Bricks,” part of their Wizard of Oz-themed set, it came with a pre-written rap. The original plan was to have Eberhardt stick to those lyrics, but he couldn’t keep himself from making it his own.

Eberhardt admits there were some nerves going into the pep rally because he had stumbled over the words of the rap while performing it during the Cabaret Concert a few weeks earlier. “I didn’t want to choke again,” Eberhardt said.

That must have taken a lot of courage to slay some rhymes in front of the Carmel crowd.

— Michael Sarallo

Thanks in part to the support of an enthusiastic crowd, Eberhardt’s pep rally performance was smooth sailing. “It was the biggest adrenaline rush I’ve ever gotten once I hit the first three words…Then the place exploded and I was like, ‘Oh I’m off!’”

“It was pretty awesome how he just appeared out of a pile of people like that. I know Justin can be a quiet guy, sort of keeps to himself in class. That must have taken a lot of courage to slay some rhymes in front of the Carmel crowd,” junior Michael Sarallo said.

Even students who are not rap fanatics could appreciate the talent Eberhardt has and the dedication he put into this performance. “I don’t normally like rap music, but Justin’s rap spoke to me,” senior Ryan Novak said.

It can be difficult to stand out in a school of 1,200 students and Eberhardt did not expect such a positive response. He is still trying to process the outpouring of support and love from his fellow Corsairs, especially the upperclassmen. “I don’t know how to feel about all of that,” Eberhardt said. “All I can say is thanks for giving me a chance. Thanks for not making fun of it”.

“If you really listen to the rap, it is actually very inspirational and funny!” Ariana Afonso, another member of Cadence, said.

Though this particular showing has everyone talking, rapping is old news for Eberhardt. “I write raps all the time. I have a whole notebook full of them – lines and verses here and there, whenever I come up with something.” That is where the infamous pep rally rap began.

“He reminded me of Eminem. It was sick!” Bailey said.

 


 

Watch Justin’s performance here: http://www.tubechop.com/watch/7418713