Juvenile fails to ‘Set if Off’ for Grambling in Battle of the Bands

NEW ORLEANS – On Friday, November 23, 2001 in the New Orleans Superdome, the Battle of the Bands between Southern University and Grambling State University was explosive.
During the contest, Southern and Grambling State took turns trying to outdo each other in a variety of musical selections, ranging from rap to jazz to funk to the last dance tune. The Battle of the Bands is now a tradition at the Bayou Classic, which was once a fundraiser, but now it is pure entertainment.
The musical showdown on the eve of the Bayou Classic has developed into a major draw in its own name “Battle of the Bands”. As both teams play their selections, the audience cheers and dances in the stand.
Last year Southern had Mystikal perform with its band, but Grambling used Juvenile this season trying to upstage Southern.
This year, Dr. Issac Greggs, director of the SU Band, said he did not even consider using an outside performer to help his band for this year’s show.
“We had already done that, and we don’t follow trends. We set them,” he said.
Vocalists at this year’s show all came from the Southern Band.
“I don’t need anything outside of this organization to help me put on a show. Why? Because my kids can do it all. I don’t have to get a singer, I don’t have to get a rapper, I don’t have to get nothing,” Greggs said.
For most of the fans in the Superdome and watching on television, the Bayou Classic halftime show is a marquee event.
Xavier Gerald, SU drum major, said he has a few friends in the Grambling band.
“They talk a lot, but you really shouldn’t have to talk much because the proving is in the doing,” said Gerald.
Although no “winner” is declared, the saga continues until the next