With vibrant break dancers, live graffiti demonstrations andfresh underground turntablism, you’d think you were in somehip-hop club downtown.

But last Wednesday’s “Freebasin” show was heldin a rather un-hip location: the Redwood Room in the UniversityUnion.

That didn’t matter as the mood of the alcohol-free eventignited some intense scratching, vocals and beats, and anappreciative audience grooved along in accompaniment.

The mass sobriety not only produced a ruckus, but the eventattracted artists and fans alike from all over the Sacramento andBay areas.

The free show began at 6:30 p.m. and by the time it wound up at11 p.m., there’d been over 100 people in and out of the room,according to KSSU.

DJ Rated R, from Visalia, won the turntable competition afterbusting out with some infectious beats and feverish scratching.

But the other finalists – Onderlove, Antriz, and Earitate – alsoentertained the crowd with their own brand of scratchin’ andstylin’.

“The DJs were amazing, and Rated R won some really greatprizes,” KSSU Dance Director Katie Riley said. Rated Rreceived KSSU t-shirts and $500 worth of prizes.

“I like how different this show is; this kind of hip-hopis more real and much better than the radio. They have a lot oftalented scratchers here,” said Christina Mondragon,19.

Mondragon, who plans on attending Sacramento State nextsemester, was thrilled it was a free event and enjoyed watching theup-beat crowd and performers. “The drum and bass really goteverybody moving,” she said.

The first group to perform, Righteous Movement, quickly struck achord with the crowd, which sang along with lyrics like “Rockyour body, Rock your body, body.”

“I like the live performances better than scratching. Thesound quality is really good and clear, and the beats aretight,” said KSSU DJ Samantha Farrington.

Special guest DJ Silver , who hails from Manchester, England,attracted and stirred up many fans with his drum “n’bass set.

About a quarter of the way through the show, the KSSU staff wasalready surprised at the attendance.

“It’s exceeded my expectations already,” saidhip-hop music reporter Eric Rivera of KSSU, who was alsosurprised at how smoothly everything flowed.

By the time DJ Dues began scratching, the crowd was totallyinvolved. A group of guys and girls began to do some hard-corebreak dancing in the center of the dance floor. Dues’scratching was clear and upbeat.

When underground group The Cuff began generating its hip-hoppingsound, the audience gathered around, arms swaying and heads bobbingto the beat.

Meanwhile, some young, local and student graffiti artists weredisplaying their paintings all over the Redwood Room, and evencreating some art while the musicians performed.

“The crowd was pretty juiced about everything,” KSSUDJ Rob Fatal said.

The mood was so infectious, many wanted to participate. “Ilike the local groups and the energy they bring. If it’d beenan open microphone, I would’ve gone up there,” saidfreshman master of ceremonies Jeff Katz.

Katz is a fan of independent and underground labels and enjoysflowing, making up impromptu rhymes, in his spare time.

Many students believe the free show was a great opportunity foranyone and everyone to get a real and live taste of this kind ofmusic.

“I think it’s great they brought this type of showto Sac State. There’s a part of hip-hop people don’tknow about,” said senior Scott Murdock, a criminal justiceand communications major.

A-Jay Jimenez from San Jose, who came to see what the show wasall about, practiced in some hard core break dancing to Hebrew andDistroy’s drum and bass beats.

“I like dancing to ultra funk and hip hop. This show hasbeen really great,” said Jimenez.

He said that when he heard the event was free, he knew he wouldattend, but he was also excited to experience such an upbeatshow.

While the show attracted hard-core breakdancers like Jimenez, itwas also a chance for hip-hop novices to get a taste of the realthing.

“It’s really showing everyone what undergroundhip-hop is all about,” student Katie Paratt said.