222 expands its musical wings at DSU
Quality music chemistry is usually comprised of instrumental talent and capability, as well as a mutual passion for the music to be performed.
Zuri Brown, keyboardist for 222, a three-member group currently painting R&B tones and melodies across the DSU music horizon, also notes an element that has been indispensable to his band.
From the beginning of 222, Zuri said the band members became “very cool with each other.”
A trio of Music Industry majors, Zuri, bassist Asad Williams, and drummer Zion Brown (no blood relation of Zuri), became personally and musically acquainted in the DSU Music Program’s recording studio and practice room during their freshman year.
Zuri, Asad, and Zion began their musical exploration during their first year on campus. An Open Mike event in the MLK Jr. Student Center in February 2023 first brought the trio together before the DSU public.
“Asad was performing a spoken word piece and needed some music accompaniment, so he asked us (Zuri and Zion) to do it,” Zion said. “We had to come up with something right on the spot.”
Asad came up with the group name that night. “The host asked me what we called ourselves, and I said ‘222,’ and we just ran with that.”
That promising start led to further cultivation of their music sound together. A 222 bio describes their music as an “R&B-centered sound with room for improvisation” that strives to “re-imagine the staples of the genre and their personal favorites.”
By the fall of 2023, the 222 musicians began solidifying their repertoire. They started making a musical impression on campus as they held “Twosday” events in the MLK Jr. Student Center, in which they blessed the campus community with music performances during the common hour. There have also been 222-led jam sessions and an “R&B with 222 & Friends” event that invited other musicians to perform with them.
During a Feb. 13 common-hour performance, Dr. LaTriel White, Assistant Professor of Music, broke out her alto saxophone and flute and contributed her jazz riffs to their music set. Keyboardist Isaiah Brooks also joined them for that performance.
The band credits Dr. David Tolley, Associate Professor of Music, with providing 222 with ongoing guidance and encouragement.
Because Zuri, Asad, and Zion are all in their junior year, music lovers at DSU can look forward to another academic year of 222’s R&B sounds on campus and beyond. Most immediately on Feb. 21, the 222 group will perform at the Healing Hornet’s “Soul Canvas” event from 6-8:30 p.m. in the MLK Jr. Student Center.
The group is also looking to perform their music at off-campus venues.