Josh Wahl was not nervous before he went on stage October 3rd to open up for rapper Kid Ink in front of the largest crowd he had ever performed for. With his friends around him, his only feeling was excitement.
“He knows he is talented, and we had a lot of people come out and support,” said Nick Hanson, an NDSU student and Wahl’s promotion manager. “I would not say nervousness was really a factor. More just kind of amped up for what was about to happen.”
Wahl grew up in Farmington, Minn., and that is where he met Nick Hanson and Sam Hanson in fifth grade during traveling basketball.
“We went to separate elementary schools, but basketball brought us together,” Nick said. “We met just like that and we have been really tight ever since.”
After Wahl, Nick, and Sam became friends, Marcus Henderson moved to town. Henderson was a rapper known as Fly Henderson. After hearing about Henderson’s music, Wahl became interested. Wahl wrote poetry, and Henderson taught Wahl how to transform his poetry into music. Tragically, Henderson passed away July 21st, 2012 after drowning in a lake in Washington. Wahl says that Henderson was the person who pushed him to start making his music.
“What I’m doing now with my music, I’m kind of taking his legacy and fulfilling it with mine,” he said.
Wahl attends NDSU for pre-law. He wrote his first song at 16, but he did not seriously consider pursuing music until he turned 18. Now he has recorded 40 songs and done several shows, and Nick has made it to almost all of them.
“Basically, I am like the hype man; I go up on stage with him and do the shows,” said Nick. “I contact other artists, get in contact with promoters and try to set up shows.”
Sam is also one of Wahl’s managers. He controls Wahl’s Web sites and fan bases.
“I control the fan page on Facebook,” Sam said. “I do a lot of the YouTube account stuff. I will post videos and I email people every once and awhile. I do more of the behind the scenes stuff.”
With Nick, Sam, and the group’s hard work, Wahl was contacted by a promotion group called “On Point.” Wahl was asked if he wanted to open up for his favorite artist, Kid Ink. It was his largest concert yet with more than 450 people in attendance.
Next month, Wahl will be opening up for MGK, which will be an even bigger concert. In December, Wahl will be headlining his own show. He is also working on going on tour with an established artist this summer. However, if he was to go on tour, he would prefer to finish up school first.
“I really do want to finish up on my four years before I do anything major,” Wahl said. “But if something was to happen I could come back. If I could get my degree and then go on tour that would be the best scenario.”
Rapping has become a popular hobby for several students at NDSU. What makes Wahl different from the other students is his experience and consistency.
“It takes a lot of commitment,” Wahl said. “You have to stay consistent. A lot of people will do one or two songs thinking they are going to become famous off it. It really takes a certain being I think, and it has to become everything. You have to want it more than anything. It is all hard work, but it is worth it. Consistency pays.”
Although Wahl has opened up for well-known artists and has been faced with upcoming opportunities, he tries not to let what has happened to him so far get to his head.
“I really don’t try to let it get to me,” said Wahl. “I want to keep progressing. I am not anywhere close to the level I want to be at yet.”
Josh Wahl was not nervous before he went on stage October 3rd to open up for rapper Kid Ink in front of the largest crowd he had ever performed for. With his friends around him, his only feeling was excitement.
“He knows he is talented, and we had a lot of people come out and support,” said Nick Hanson, an NDSU student and Wahl’s promotion manager. “I would not say nervousness was really a factor. More just kind of amped up for what was about to happen.”
Wahl grew up in Farmington, Minn., and that is where he met Nick Hanson and Sam Hanson in fifth grade during traveling basketball.
“We went to separate elementary schools, but basketball brought us together,” Nick said. “We met just like that and we have been really tight ever since.”
After Wahl, Nick, and Sam became friends, Marcus Henderson moved to town. Henderson was a rapper known as Fly Henderson. After hearing about Henderson’s music, Wahl became interested. Wahl wrote poetry, and Henderson taught Wahl how to transform his poetry into music. Tragically, Henderson passed away July 21st, 2012 after drowning in a lake in Washington. Wahl says that Henderson was the person who pushed him to start making his music.
“What I’m doing now with my music, I’m kind of taking his legacy and fulfilling it with mine,” he said.
Wahl attends NDSU for pre-law. He wrote his first song at 16, but he did not seriously consider pursuing music until he turned 18. Now he has recorded 40 songs and done several shows, and Nick has made it to almost all of them.
“Basically, I am like the hype man; I go up on stage with him and do the shows,” said Nick. “I contact other artists, get in contact with promoters and try to set up shows.”
Sam is also one of Wahl’s managers. He controls Wahl’s Web sites and fan bases.
“I control the fan page on Facebook,” Sam said. “I do a lot of the YouTube account stuff. I will post videos and I email people every once and awhile. I do more of the behind the scenes stuff.”
With Nick, Sam, and the group’s hard work, Wahl was contacted by a promotion group called “On Point.” Wahl was asked if he wanted to open up for his favorite artist, Kid Ink. It was his largest concert yet with more than 450 people in attendance.
Next month, Wahl will be opening up for MGK, which will be an even bigger concert. In December, Wahl will be headlining his own show. He is also working on going on tour with an established artist this summer. However, if he was to go on tour, he would prefer to finish up school first.
“I really do want to finish up on my four years before I do anything major,” Wahl said. “But if something was to happen I could come back. If I could get my degree and then go on tour that would be the best scenario.”
Rapping has become a popular hobby for several students at NDSU. What makes Wahl different from the other students is his experience and consistency.
“It takes a lot of commitment,” Wahl said. “You have to stay consistent. A lot of people will do one or two songs thinking they are going to become famous off it. It really takes a certain being I think, and it has to become everything. You have to want it more than anything. It is all hard work, but it is worth it. Consistency pays.”
Although Wahl has opened up for well-known artists and has been faced with upcoming opportunities, he tries not to let what has happened to him so far get to his head.
“I really don’t try to let it get to me,” said Wahl. “I want to keep progressing. I am not anywhere close to the level I want to be at yet.”