Sprite Step Off

**Sprite Step Off** is a national college fraternity and sorority stepping competition promoted by the soft drink company, Sprite, which "features 30 events in 25 cities." The prize pool is a shared $1.5 million scholarship, where the national finals took place in Atlanta, Georgia on February 20, 2010. After its completion, a documentary series aired on MTV2 with a total of six episodes over six consecutive weeks, beginning on January 31, 2010, and ending on March 7, 2010. The event featured an entertainment tour with live performances from various artists.

Lupe Fiasco was a headline performer from 2009-10, where he visited on select dates: Raleigh, Morgantown, and Houston. Vistoso Bosses opened the Raleigh show, TSM Records opened for the Morgantown show, and LeToya Luckett also headlined the Houston show. For the third concert, Fiasco brought out native rapper Trae tha Truth.

## Synopsis

Six step teams from across the country are competing for $1.5 Million in scholarships, but more importantly to be crowned the best in the nation. Hip-hop superstar and actor Chris "Ludacris" Bridges hosts this six-part, documentary-style series that follows three fraternities and three sororities from various schools in the United States as they compete in the largest step show competition in history, the *Sprite Step Off*. The series follows the six step teams after each has successfully passed the first round of eliminations. They are now preparing for the final rounds of the competition with one goal in mind: Out shine the competition and secure a spot in the finals for a chance at the $100,000 prize. Along the way each squad will face seemingly insurmountable odds. Be it strenuous rehearsals, conflicting personalities, concerned parents or balancing work, school and community service schedules, all obstacles threaten to distract the members, which may cost them dearly. Through the eyes of these student performers we follow them across the country for a journey that will prove as interesting as it is entertaining. Amidst constant team eliminations, the stakes are BIG. And so are the personalities. These teams are forced to dig deep, band together as brothers and sisters, and represent their schools and organizations on the final stage in Atlanta, GA. Playtime is over. The showdown is set, and the location is the Sprite Step Off. Watch as these six teams over the course of six fearless episodes "take it one step at a time."

## Background

In a press statement, brand director Augusto Elias said, "In 2010, Sprite wants to help spark a new wave of fresh thinking and creativity among multicultural young people and what better way than through the Sprite Step Off. With an unprecedented number of teams competing, top-notch performances by renowned music artists, the largest prize pool ever, and an overall commitment to education and the community, the Sprite Step Off is a step competition like no other." They added, "After all is said and done, we believe the Sprite Step Off will be the model for a premier college Greek stepping competition."

*Nubian Message* reported, "Lupe Fiasco came to the stage which immediately drew a large roar from the crowd. Lupe did not disappoint and rocked the crowd [...] and even treated the audience to a song off his upcoming album." *Houston Press* summarized, "The guitarist that started the show is jumping around and having a grand old time. He and Lupe time their jumps at one point and the whole thing is very cutesy. Awkward white guitarists should be mandatory at rap concerts. [...] Lupe finishes with some new stuff from his upcoming *Lasers* album. The whole show was a proper good time. That is, right up until he asks for everyone to give another hand to Letoya Luckett. Whoops. Our fingers immediately cross in hopes of jinxing him into thanking "Shea tha Truth" for coming out, but it doesn't work."

## Set list

* "Shining Down"
* "Switch (The Science Project)"
* "Fire"
* "Say Something"
* "Hip-Hop Saved My Life"
* "Go Go Gadget Flow"
* "Kick, Push"
* "I Gotcha"
* "Superstar"
* "Paris, Tokyo"

## Tour dates

 October 10, 2009
 January 30, 2010

## References

1. ↑ "WVU to Host National Qualifying Step Competition". *WVU Today*. October 6, 2009.
2. ↑ "Sprite Step Off Regionals Hit Houston". *Houston Style Magazine*.
3. ↑ "Sprite Step Off (TV Series)". *MTV*.
4. ↑ "Sprite Announces Second Half Of Biggest Greek Step Competition Ever". *Houston Style Magazine*. January 19, 2010.
5. ↑ Gayden, Lauren (October 9, 2009). "The 2009 Sprite Step-Off". *Nubian Message*.
6. ↑ Serrano, Shea (February 1, 2010). "Aftermath: Hour After Hour at the Sprite Step Off with Lupe Fiasco, Brooke Valentine, Letoya Luckett, Trae and Sheila Jackson Lee". *Houston Press*.