Sweeps brings you the story of a man who never was an also-ran; who gave NIU all that he had and now has to say goodbye. That’s kind of sad, but don’t fear – open mic will be back next year.

{Editor’s note: Apologies for that. Mark Pietrowski lost his rhythm in an unfortunate spelunking accident as a child.]

Senior communication major Sam Simmons, who some might know as free-style rapper Sam-I-Am, will be hosting his last open-mic night from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursday at University Plaza, 900 Crane Drive. Cost is $3 at the door.

Simmons said he wants to end the legacy he created here with a bang. He started hosting open-mic nights in 2001 and has hosted nearly 40 more since that time.

“Over the past four years, I’m proud that I helped create a consistent outlet for artistic voices around campus to perform every two weeks,” Simmons said.

“I am going to pass the torch of hosting open mics down to rapper Extreme, a student here at NIU,” he said. “He performed with such passion at my open mic shows and showed me that he has what it takes to continue open-mic nights.”

Simmons said his open-mic nights usually attract about 100 people but hopes even more will attend his final open mic performance.

“My open mics are pure, raw and uncut,” he said. “People are not censored and no one performing has to feel that they are being limited.”

Simmons said he tries to give attendees a full hip-hop experience with disc jockeys and break-dancing at each event.

He is also proud that his shows have been culturally diverse.

“The event has never and will never be targeted to just one demographic,” he said.

Simmons has also not been shy to the Northern Star throughout his time here, as he has appeared in at least 10 articles.

“Appearing in the Northern Star has helped me a lot by allowing people that hadn’t heard about me through word-of-mouth to read about me in the paper,” he said.

Simmons already has his sights on television after college and believes that his degree in communication with an emphasis in media studies can help get him there.

“I plan on going into the entertainment field by either hosting TV shows, doing radio or continuing my music career,” he said. “Whatever I do, I know it will be on TV and be communication-related.”

Although Sweeps may have struggled coming up with a free-style rhyme in the introduction, Simmons had no problems coming up with one on the spot.

The following is only a small excerpt from his free style:

“I’m humble not cocky, I get up on the mic and I’m a soldier like Rocky, I got to keep going, I got to keep flowing, I got to keep showing that I’m innovative, that I stay creative, that I have to do whatever I can to stay the man,” he said.