Clover Park Grad Helps Draw Mike Posner, Clipse to UW's Spring Show Concert

Lately, Ryan Trinidad has had a lot on his mind. He and a small group of students have been organizing, over the past six months, one of the University of Washington's biggest spring concert venues.

Through it all, however, the sophomore Husky and 2009 Clover Park graduate has learned a thing or two about dealing with big-name music stars. He said the process of getting artists is the hardest thing he has done in his life.

On Saturday, Trinidad aims to please a crowd of more than 5,000 people in the 2011 Spring Show on campus with a pair of heavy-hitting R&B and hip-hop musicians who have kept listeners bobbing their heads and swaying their hips from the '90s to today.

He's even bringing some local flavor to represent the Emerald City.

The previous Associated Students of UW Arts & Entertainment group pulled such well-known artists as Common, Lupe Fiasco and a Tribe Called Quest to prior spring concerts, but Trinidad was successful in tagging two national names of different but talented urban musical styles.

Mike Posner is sure to get the crowd on its feet. His first album, 31 Minutes To Takeoff, debuted last August and his music has quickly escalated into the mainstream market with the Billboard Top 10 hit "Cooler Than Me" and other catchy songs like "Please Don't Go" and "Bow Chicka Bow Wow," which features Lil Wayne.

But it is the next hip-hop group that is bound to trigger nostalgia and a wave of heads moving side to side.

Clipse, featuring brothers Malice and Pusha T, will rise to the campus stage. Their 2002 gold album, Lord Willin, soared to No. 1 on the Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart. That album featured bangers like "Grindin" and "When the Last Time." Pusha T announced that he has signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music label and, in March 2011, he released his solo mixtape, Fear of God, according to wikipedia.org.

Those who listen to hip-hop or R&B should be impressed with Trinidad's moves to bring a diverse mix of upbeat and underground music to the Spring Show concert. His original plan was to draw even bigger stars like Wiz Khalifa, Wale (signed to Maybach Music Group with Rick Ross) and hip-hop and soul band The Roots.

Sol, a current UW senior and local hip-hop Seattle artist, will round out the performance with DJ Semaj from Lakewood spinning in the background.

But with more than 4,000 confirmed Facebook guests and undoubtedly more to arrive, Trinidad and the group of four consider their work a success. They originally had just Pusha T to perform but worked out a deal with their agent to bring his brother Malice, which is sure to satisfy Clipse followers.

"It's hard to please as many people as possible," Trinidad said.

Trinidad profile

Trinidad grew up in Lakewood and lived in a crowded house of about 13 family members, he said. He was heavily involved at the and was also a member of the Ippon Judo Dojo that trains in the Y facility.

He managed to keep his grades up through high school and earned a low-income minority scholarship to any in-state college. He chose UW.

"Coming to a campus that has 40,000 people is tough but I've enjoyed meeting new people," he said. He tries to return to Lakewood once a month and keep up with his friends at home but it's difficult with the increase in school work and his involvement in campus clubs like Retro and staff member for the UW Arts & Entertainment.

Want to attend?

• What it is: The Mike Posner, Clipse, Sol and DJ Semaj spring show 2011 is an open and outdoor concert and is free to UW students and faculty with valid ID.
• Time: Saturday from 1-5 p.m.
• Location: Rainier Vista -UW Seattle (below Drumheller Fountain)