The Annual Bayou Classic Greek Step Show and Battle of the Bands took place on Friday November 28th at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The highly anticipated event opened up with an exciting performance by Gold n Bluez. Then after a brief intermission, the step show got underway with Southern University’s Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. kicking off the battle with a Space Jam-themed step show. Next was the Grambling State University’s Phi Beta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., with a 1920 Zeta Airlines theme. Moving along with the show, Grambling State’s Gamma Psi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. performed with an Arabian Nights theme. Next up was Grambling State’s Delta Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., with a “Delta’s gone wild” zookeeper theme. At the halfway point of the Greek step show, Grambling State’s Delta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. also had a basketball-themed step show, but it was not to be confused with SU’s Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Space Jam theme.
Next up was SU’s Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. who came out with a “show-ready practice” theme. After the girls, actress Eva Marcille made a special guest appearance for the rest of the step show. The final two teams included the SU’s Alpha Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. with a Roll Bounce theme, and SU’s Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., with a military theme.
To wrap off the 51st Annual Greek Step Show, there were 3 top finalists of each of the fraternities and sororities of the step show. For the fraternities, 3rd place was the GSU’s Delta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., 2nd place was SU’s Alpha Sigma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and 1st place was GSU’s Gamma Psi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. For the sororities, 3rd place was the GSU’s Delta Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., 2nd place was our SU’s Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and taking home first place for another year in a row was SU’s Alpha Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Then it moved to the eagerly awaited portion of the event, the Battle of the Bands, where Southern University’s Human Jukebox goes head to head with Grambling State University’s World-Famed Band. The first band to walk into the arena was the Human Jukebox at right at 8 pm. The Southern University band opened up with NBA Youngboy, to which Grambling responded with ‘What You Is’, also by NBA Youngboy. Both bands kept the crowds entertained, and they even had special performances. The Human Jukebox had a special guest, rapper Fredo Bang, performing his song ‘Oouuh’, while GSU brought out Stokley to perform ‘Breakin’ My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)’. The hits continued to fly back and forth between Southern University and Grambling State, including songs like Crew Love by Drake, Take You Down by Chris Brown, Checkmate by Rod Wave, The Worst by Jhene Aiko, Chicago by Michael Jackson, a Folded by Kehlani x Burning Blue by Mariah The Scientist mashup, Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus, and much more. While both bands were good, when asking people who went to the Battle of the Bands who they thought won the battle, their answers say everything, stating that “Truly Southern University were the winners” and “Is that even a question?”
