SYRACUSE, N.Y.– Popular Syracuse diner Funk ‘n Waffles hosted its monthly hip-hop showcase on July 17, which gives local artists a chance to perform their original music for a live audience. The showcase is called “Sucka-Free Sundays” and has garnered appeal by Syracuse natives.
For Ian LaRochelle, the promoter of the event and part owner of local talent agency CA Network, this event is about more than the music.
“Music’s about connectivity,” LaRochelle said. “I look at Syracuse as a ‘transplant city.’”
LaRochelle said the city of Syracuse is known best for Syracuse University, which accepts students from across the nation. When they leave Central New York, the hope is that those students take Syracuse’s music with them and expand the reach of local artists.
One of the headlining acts, who goes by the stage name Slick Fashionz, said the showcase has had a positive effect on him and his neighborhood.
“It’s therapeutic. I know I’m reaching my people, I can see the result, I can see the changes in the community. I can see the people and their families getting more involved with the music,” Fashionz said. “That’s what [the event is] all about.”
As for the entertainment value, LaRochelle and the performing artists delivered. Dozens of fans packed the room to witness hip-hop in its truest form.
Some fans, like D.J. Moore, stumbled upon the event by complete accident. Moore said he was attending what he thought was a poetry open mic night, another frequent event hosted by Funk ‘n Waffles. Upon hearing that it would be rap in place of slam poetry, Moore said he was intrigued and stayed for the entire show.
“Pretty much on our way out the door, I started asking everybody I could about when the next one was happening,” Moore said.
LaRochelle says that he plans to continue “Sucka-Free Sundays” as a monthly event at Funk ‘n Waffles for the time being, but he says that CA Network plans to expand to the Rochester and Ithaca regions by 2025.
So what do local artists have to do to get involved? LaRochelle keeps it quite simple.
“I’ll do everything I can to put anybody on that’s trying to work at this and [is] putting effort forth,” LaRochelle said. “Just reach out or show up to an event.”
“Sucka-Free Sundays” will be back at Funk ‘n Waffles in August. Contact CA Network for more details.
