Booming bass and sharp drums came from the Chris Young Cafe last week, Friday, March 20, as the Urban Entertainment Society hosted its annual Beat Battle.
The Urban Entertainment Society is an on-campus organization for students in any form of entertainment, not just the music industry.
“We can promote your music, give you access to the professional studios on campus, and, if you need actors for a music video, we can do that too,” UES President Naaman Burgess said. It is a place where we can put all people from all different forms of entertainment into one group so they can help each other and build each other up.”
The Beat Battle is an annual tradition that UES hosts. This year, eight different student producers showcased their works and went head-to-head in a bracket-style competition for a $150 cash prize.
The organization invited three-time Grammy-winning producer and songwriter Shannon Sanders to serve as a judge and give advice to the contestants. However, Sanders did not judge and instead left the performers’ fates up to the audience.
“I do not like to judge because one time I had judged something, and this girl ended up losing and was upset about it, and that made me feel bad,” Sanders said. “So I’m going to let the audience decide who should move on.”
Shannon Sanders (left) and JP Furtado (right) at the UES Beat Battle at the Chris Young cafe on March 20, 2026. (William Holman)
Sophomore psychology major JP Furtado won this year’s Beat Battle.
“I started making beats when I was in middle school and started taking it seriously about two years ago,” Furtado said.
The process of making beats is not always simple, and ideas can come in many forms. JP says her ideas usually come from a hum.
“I flesh that [hum] out and put it down before I forget,” Furtado said. “Sometimes I will start with the chorus and build around that.”
Furtado takes inspiration from artists like H.E.R., Lucky Daye and Cleo Sol. She also said that, first and foremost, she mainly draws her inspiration from Cape Verdean music.
“My parents are Cape Verdean, so I grew up around a lot of cultural music. So I take a lot of inspiration from that,” Furtado said.
Furtado has not released any of her own music yet, but says she plans to later this year.
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