Elle and Wale can get a refill at Kean any day

 

By Aaron Mena

 

In a sold out show provided by Kean University’s very own Student Organization, hip-hop artists Wale and Elle Varner performed at Kean’s Wilkins Theater on Oct. 4th.

The show began at 9:15 p.m. with the crowd erupting into cheers and screams as Varner took the stage for the opening act. She performed tracks off her recent album entitled “Perfectly Imperfect,” and her radio hit “Refill.”

In a brief interview with Elle she explained how her grandmother was an exceptional singer and piano player, but she ended up getting married and raising a family. This led her talents to never be seen or heard by audiences and it influenced Elle to pursue her own musical talents.

“She always had this incredible gift that never really got out so I always keep her with me as inspiration,” said Elle, whose grandmother was also a Kean graduate from the 1960’s, in a time where inter-racial couples were frowned upon. Her grandmother was Swedish so therefore, she was kicked out of school for dating a black man.

“I don’t care”, Varner said, “my current single, the inter-racial couple, a lot of that was inspired by my grandparents.”

Wale immediately followed her performance as he took the stage with an uproar of love from the fans in Wilkins Theater. He began his performance with tracks off his recent album including, “Ambition,” “Sabotage,” “Slight Work” and “That Way.”

Wale was also featured on the “Refill Remix” by Elle Varner, but unfortunately a duel performance never occurred that night. He has been all over the radio and charts since his change from Interscope Records to the Maybach Music Group, a growing label consisting of popular artists like Rick Ross, Stalley, Meek Mill and Wale.

In a very memorable night, these artists arrived at the homecoming festivities with the bass rocking and crowd jumping. They could certainly come back to Kean for a refill.

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