Drumline Battle: NC A&T vs. NSU 10.10.2015

After the 5th...

[@GEdwards412]

This is like going over to your favorite relative's house that can throw down in the kitchen and they cooked Sunday dinner, and EVERYTHING on the plate is FIRE!! The greens, the chicken, the mac and cheese, the cornbread, EVERYTHING. Any MD or CS fan can agree that BOTH lines killed it here. This is a meeting of two of the best!

[@etau]

You already know⚡️

[@marshallsmith361]

NO SOUL and great technique 👌..

[@81bvp]

Two of the cleanest HBCU drumlines i have ever seen!

[@marquiesseonline]

FAM U would like a word

[@carltonwhite9682]

I'm an old Aggie, we never used to play this well. Extremely proud of what Cold Steel has accomplished!!!!

[@Cyril.Jefferson]

The introductory phrase to "lightyear" is really something to admire. The composition and tuning there are remarkable....and kudos to CS on giving us TWELVE snare players who play well together. They sounded and looked on point! MD has great technicality and musicality across the whole section but I especially loved those basses. Great battle between two highly regarded and influential drum sections!

[@Veaux_7]

I was the section leader of mdfs that year. I wish I could’ve played more at the end but it was the funnest day of drumming I ever experienced great job both sides. My option on who did better 💆🏽‍♂️well let’s just say they played that whole first cadence in the stands. But nobody saw us in the stands that day. The battle was cool but we (md) went crazy the whole game not just the battle. That’s the worst part about looking back on this.

[@esh8973]

I am Spartan... Love to see us doing well... But I give props to NCAT... they did well too... as long as itz HBCU it will be good

[@gerdychevelon8163]

I have to give the W to A&T. They had a good combo of technical material and grooves but Norfolk did a great job as well especially there snares and bassline. But let me just say that who ever said A&T snares wasn't technical needs to watch this video again and listen. A&T and Norfolk snares used nearly the same hybrid rudiments such as book reports and inverted cheese taps. Also lets not talk down either section. Especially the way some y'all do to Norfolk. Some y'all said they were boring and played the same material for years. But then again I'm 17 and based some comments some of you are 30+ plus years old so I'll give you that argument but I thought Norfolk did a great job. This was a fun battle to watch I hope to see more like this one

[@dedrickp]

+DrummaBoyGerdy RIGHT!!!

[@rakeanecollins2366]

Great Battle!Both lines are winners!

[@kup4ever]

Well said.

[@kims2651]

Two of the best drumlines in the USA ,both teams did great !

[@francespatterson5134]

Both killed it but gotta go with NSU!!!

[@twindogs2167]

Amazing Talent !! ! One of the Best Drumline Videos out there ! Taking it to another level Excellence !! Absolutely Awesome !! Great Job and a lot of hard work and dedication On both sides !!

[@evajayson856]

I showed my 9 year old son this video to get him interested in hbcu so he could experience what it would be like to be on the drum line! Thank you for posting

[@Courie_Dee]

I'm an Aggie and I love BGMM/Cold Steel (duh), but NSU's drumline did great in this video

[@Askanison29]

note: if MD is still kicking your tail.with said "old material" that doesnt speak well for.your argument. Also, we all have different ideologies apparently CS snares sound great the rest of the section is playing catch up.

[@Lamont-vt3lb]

These 2 and bongo are the best drumlines in college in my opinion

[@peytonbrown9016]

+Myren Richardson not at all my friend. check out UNT or JSU. that's what good, clean drumlins sound like ;)

[@Lamont-vt3lb]

I love SWAC bands but not a fan of their drumlines. I hate the drums they use

[@RasAlXander]

+Peyton Brown SWAC drumlines are boring but I like their style of having that old snare and cadence that is good for marching

[@TomazHilton]

+Myren Richardson SU is the only Swac line i Admire, it sounds very clean and uncluttered because they dont have Multi Toms

[@RevanPorkins]

Peyton Brown kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4OmlWClp6aAiKs

[@joshthedrummerhaynes6870]

that's the cleanest I've ever heard A&T.... MDFS has always and always will be the best

[@98Brando]

Yall really trippin. This is the cleanest I've ever seen CS, even with the dancing. Give credit where it's due.

[@RevanPorkins]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pF7SqXeNaKuCipo

[@TacSav253]

@@RevanPorkins Wow. They are superb.

[@uplikeslim]

So nobody messing with that groove at 4:51? Too nice

[@RasAlXander]

excellent work by both drum lines, I have to give technique and cleanliness to MDFS, but the hype and showmanship to A&T

[@sarahd7505]

this is amazing. freaking legends here

[@johnniejames9799]

Both lines were great but BLUE STEEL is just so clean and creative. We need to see more of these battles though! I LOVE IT!!

[@1Kentez]

boy i aint even recognize this was 4 years ago

[@Tubastein1]

2 of the best dlines going head to head is always worth watching. But the comments are even more entertaining. MDFS, I've always liked y'all (to a degree). I'm a musician at heart and will always appreciate cleanliness, technique and challenging material. But whenever these 2 lines face off theres always a visible line in the sand. And folks always choose which side to stand on. For years people been sayin all CS can do well is dance (not true) and MDFS is square, both are a matter of opinion and preference. From what I've seen, MDFS has remained consistent and dedicated to their style. That can be viewed as good or bad depending on your preference. Since A&T became known as Cold Steel, this section has always evolved and pushed the envelope, while keeping their showstyle roots. Again, this can be viewed as good or bad. But I can think of several hbcu drumlines that have almost completely gotten away from the traditional cadences and material once played. To me, many of them sound no different than your typical corps style sections. Just rolls and taps. No funk, no drive. I've been with CS from the beginning. Although that makes me biased I can certainly admit when A&T takes an inarguable "L" but that aint the case here. The degree of narcissism from most percussion players will always be an obstacle to a truly objective opinion on either side. Great battle!

[@forgivenmog7]

I'm a VA native. So in all honesty you would think I'd be biased to my Spartans. and frankly they are solid and clean with what they played, because let's face it, they have had 15+ years to perfect that old stuff. my high school played Buck naked and two hits and pass. cold Steel gets the nod because they're creative and innovative with their blocks. mdfs was clean and dry as always but a&t won that in my opinion

[@DJEvrytingCriss]

Hey guess what ive always liked MDFS whenever i use to see them back when 2000-03 but i think i got grooved to sleep. Gotta give this to the fellas of Cold Steel. But both sounded great. A big difference in drum sound with the New drums for them

[@dr.d-i-t9227]

I'm coming back a few years later and I hear dirt in A&T's line. Plus, I hear a lack of cohesion between with the subsections. They're definitely entertaining, and I think their shock factor gets people. Still great performance! I heard some with MD as well, especially in the beginning of their block, but they seemed to get it back in order as they played.

[@gregorymciver7478]

Torn😢 love my, Heels, grew up a stones from A&T...Aggies rocked it out

[@HSSUMELLO]

man y'all can not say a&t won this yes they snares and quads clean but every section in mdfs was chopping from the cymbals to the basses 🎶🎶

[@michaelroberts2835]

Top 2 Hbcu lines in my opinion super clean!

[@Sk8FlowChill1]

My 2¢ is NSU's Bass line and cymbal's got the W on being more technical, Snares A&T has a small edge, quints you call it. Technical give it to NSU, diversity and entertainment A&T. Over all A&T but not by too much. (coming from someone that doesn't follow either line) Just my My 1¢

[@danknino1277]

Chav1321 nsu quints go n off only if they had more

[@thesilentone7016]

Dank Nino they have 4

[@seispalabrasjsc5712]

As I listen to this, GREAT JOB TO BOTH SECTIONS. I will have to say that their are tempo issues on both parts, especially during features ( A&T quads DDDDRRRAAAGGGG and the basses crush and rush the feature breaks, leads to a dirty attack) A&T great job blending bounce and chophouse...the new 3's break into the inverts for snares drug just a tad. NSU, your tenor (quad/tenor/sextet) players are an asset, please tune the drums appropriately to feature them. I love the move to carriers by NSU, gives a much more appealing base for heights. Tuning on the snares for NSU are about on the nuts. A&T's are tuned lower for obvious reasons, there are 12 of them, hides dirt a little bit easier (by no means and I discounting material, just observing)... from a rhythmic and technique observation with snares, NSU EDGED A&T. Both section's known grooves were garbage, probably due to the familiarity with what they were playing. Both cymbal sections struggled with cleanliness on attacks and maintaing tempo. Dynamics, musicality, and material favor A&T (except the quads). NC A&T's basses cannot touch NSU. It's one thing to have 10 or 12 basses with 5 playing splits, but it's completely different have 7 nailing notes and unisons. I honestly think that if you lined up everyone from each section and gave mutual material, you could blend both sections and have something close to some dci lines. The known difference between the two has always and always will be the stylistic (line size, tuning) choices. As a closing thought, MDF$, don't try to emulate the visuals by dancing around with people missing visuals checks, do something else that A&T doesn't do. If you march drill in front of them, you will at least stand out in people's minds a little bit more. Even though more criticism was directed toward A&T, I have to pull for the home team a little bit more, It'd be Cold Steel by a smidge. Tuning- MDF$ Cleanliness- MDF$ Visual- NCAT Material- NCAT Overall- TIE!!!

[@leighmcmillan6282]

wow - I didn't know so much went into drum line performance -

[@eloncone6925]

Leigh McMillan yeah, a lot of stuff. You cant just play a groove. You need what this person explained

[@miyac.2771]

MDFS hasn't changed anything. Cold Steel you still got it. I'll see you next year on your snare line or cymbal section

[@isiahboone3127]

Both of em' BEASTIN'. Very entertaining. I'm into it. Chops everywhere.

[@michaeltyson7441]

mdfs is in class above the rest of the HBCU lines... but A&T was entertaining to watch

[@alexcox2925]

1st time I ever saw MDFS was 1998...so tell me why am I still hearing the same shit in 2015? ijs the shit better be clean if the beats the same 20 years or more

[@liquidlightz]

Wow I never knew they had people marching for MD for 20 years. You'd think they'd had time to learn some more material year after year. Shrugs.

[@alexcox2925]

J.V. McNeill lets go!!

[@TomazHilton]

+Alex Cox in 1998 they had Tenor Drums with Tonal Basses.... The feel and sound is totally different today with only Tonal basses.

[@alexcox2925]

+Tomaz Hilton they only had quints and tonals in 98, same as they have now and playing most of the same material bro... I played in 98 at T, their 1st year coming and it wasn't too much different than now.. But I will always admit, the brothers are always clean!!

[@woolly65]

+Tomaz Hilton Still the same block they have been playing for years.

[@platinumsp00n1]

8:48 that beat build was craaaaaaazyyyyy

[@DubbleTee]

My god, yes it was.

[@jalenpeterson4036]

COLD STEEL always winS I am a HUGE fan wish to attended A&t AGGIE PRIDE!!!

[@jaymoney23ttvjay14]

8:41 is when the real magic begins 🔥🔥

[@tonytaylor2418]

I couldn't agree more.

[@LuckyDaVinci]

gotta give the W to A&T they had both Technical performance and style . NSU did good as well

[@woolly65]

+Chris Barnett I'm a die-hard SU fan. CS has the funkiest cadences is all HBCU. While I was in the navy stationed in Norfolk 93-96. I would go to NSU games and they were playing the same block back then. Alcee Walker was the BD back then.

[@malcolmmiles1858]

what was the cadence NCAT right after bounce

[@samdavis456]

You could sell out shows and tour the world with this stuff

[@1804dud]

Bro what's the name of the feature that NC first played?

[@kingtay1829]

i went and looked at old videos like from the 80s to 2000 mdfs did kinda play the same stuff a lil bit but they did add some stuff and its just a tradition i guess (and no im not old im 13)

[@BigSi-xw6wv]

I would like to see eother of these lines face the top of the line drum corps. Very impressive! Mdfs in my opinion. They both killed it doe. Mdfs is so clean. though

[@jraybay]

I liked them both! : D

[@HZOT2023]

i dun think md took this serious they played more to the crowd rather than technical but in my opinion a&t did there thang made a believer out of me

[@thecodgtaplayer7436]

@ 14seconds idk if it's just me but I think I see this dude in every drumline I watch

[@brianbriggs102]

Can't touch DCI technicality. Nice to see some actual rudiments with these show bands. And some clean playing.

[@liquidlightz]

Good job to both squads. How come though MD played Cold Steels lick better and cleaner at 4:22. The difference is clear.

[@Maestrosik]

I was like 😧😧😆😆😆😁😏 So subtle and clever

[@liquidlightz]

+Kyle Dortch Once again at point 4:22 and no it wasn't a fail. They executed their lick much more cleaner. And I don't know about shade but just like A&T played a piece of Behold at NSU some years ago it's just another way both bands taking digs at each other. It's not a big deal for real. So sensitive.

[@DanielLudy]

Nice battle, but I have to give the win to A&T. Major improvement from back in the day. Every section was clean. Shout out to my #HamptonU fam.

[@kahlil8054]

boyz on them quads NASTY!!

[@malcolmnotx]

what’s snare heads CS use?

[@grammysound7989]

Clean!!!!

[@DoItAll50]

also MD played 4 new cadences all of which are 2009 and up

[@lychelaerroc]

Well done on both sides!

[@VilleMentalityBullies]

Both lines did a good job but MD killed , I'd take cleanliness and technique over swag any day

[@tashimemiyagatie6281]

watched this video 1000 times gave nsu the win 1000 times I don't see a&t w no where in this video even though this the cleanest they ever been ...did y'all not here that baseline I thought they where playing flammies at first NSU will always be the best drumline....

[@TenishaJonece]

The little girl in the lime green killed everybody.

[@milesdavie6003]

Hey is the owner of the page the band director for NC a&t or something

[@98Brando]

Especially with 12 snares

[@lavailmann7815]

Listen to this video with out looking and tell me who's better?

[@Southside757Virginia]

NSU 🤔💯✊✌

[@Evilpocketbike]

What did (NFS)he play to tick it off that was nice

[@jonb8899]

Honestly, I think it's a matter of time before CS comes up to actually match up to MDF$. For now, only the snares are really there. CS as a line fell short, but it wasn't like a 5'2" guy trying to reach the rim short. However, can we give credit to CS for even making this video worth watching and having an argument in the comment section that definitely wouldn't have happened in years passed? (Of course MDF$ fans would have watched it, but I believe you know what I meant)

[@KeyzQ]

First bass for NSU is unreal....

[@KeyvonGardner]

NSU Play the same shit but they line is still the best between the 2. That's just my opinion.. But A&T was rocking for sure!

[@RevanPorkins]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX7Qd3yghs2fgpY

[@DoItAll50]

I can't for the life of me see how Cold Steel won this... maybe because they didn't... I WILL say this.. they got SOOOOO much better than past years.... but its No pocket here.... no dynamics... the chest tenors are making the technicality muddy... and stick heights from cold steel have always been an eye sore.... yes MDF$ has been playing the same things for years cadence wise, but I know for a face that solos and sprees are created monthly at The Least! I guess MD leaves the dancing to that section in the band that's there to do that... cold steel may be good by section... but no drumline plays and LOCKS together as well as MD. a 30 PC. drum set. much love to both drunlines. I'm really happy a&t got better. id like to hear less tenor/bass when snares are chopping

[@1mikeburns]

all im gonna say is NSU mixed in a few old cadences with some new ones...but no one thinks about that..a few of their solos are new as well..over the years..they have also gotten dirty...NCAT was beasting..but they didnt win the battle..their material was there as far as the chopping..but the cadences wasnt up to par..their tuning of the upright tenors sound like garbage..they only have four tonal basses..snares were decently tuned but low..they were more traditionally tuned..NSU on the other hand had the upper hand with the material and the tuning..just the sextet drums sound nasty to me..they have 8 bass drums and they can run down the entire line..the snares sound good but they sounded a little dirty

[@cpmorgan5000]

so tight

[@chokolatsmilez]

the W definitely goes to MD for the simple fact that 80 % of the line are rookies and they were still played tight, clean and technical material. cold steel was good as well and did less dancing(thank jesus) so you could actually pay attention to the material rather than get distracted by the dancing. yes MD was playing some old material but it was still clean and more technical CS stuff. seems like MD saying they don't respect CS enough and not gonna waste new material on em.

[@taylorcole2354]

Why does there have to be winning and losing?... This is why competitive music makes no sense to me, whether it be district competitions or marching band or whatever. All of these drummers are sooo fucking talented... they should be appreciating their gifts rather than creating animosity towards each other. Music isn't sports, music isn't competition. It's love.

[@timothysmith869]

Taylor Cole I feel what your saying but it's called a battle, and there can only be one winner.

[@jadawnehamilton6776]

Nice

[@igorigogo750]

Понравилось.😃

[@keithgaming1468]

Theyre both good

[@humbleq6892]

Im not a fan of either, but NSU took this one.

[@Southside757Virginia]

Facts 💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@littlepj2u]

I follow both lines but admit that A&T sounded a little dirty and their tuning was a little off but no line is perfect, I'm from the 757 so I hear nah a lot, but in this battle I don't really know who to side with, both did great. Very even just a little more dirt on A&t's side but in their defense they weren't playing cafances that's been played forever

[@rockmdii]

4:19 - 4:29 was everything!

[@RevanPorkins]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX7Qd3yghs2fgpY

[@POCCITY15]

A lot of a+t material sounds similar to mdfs. Especially on the multi toms. I wonder why!

[@versaceblk]

of course it would. when there are camcorders and phones doing video recording, it is recorded, studied, and played back. Not a lot of originality these days.

[@deenice5764]

One thing I have learned about A&T even when they get their azz whipped they wont admit it. It's almost like they took video of the box from PraireView A&M and tried to convince everyone that its theirs.

[@peachypj3762]

+Dee nice LOL. They will never admit it.

[@justjay07]

+peachypj3 exactly MDF might play old shit but they play new renditions of it. And at least it's theirs!! cold still play other shit and convince u it's theirs. MDF had to change their signature kick down because CS stole it and then once they got called out they mixed skittle Z phi 28 in there

[@nyctee804]

+justjay07 props

[@justjay07]

+justjay07 never ever seen them or their fans admit to one. It's what has always blocked their development. They put on excellent and I mean excellent entertainment and volume. But the reason band junkies don't travel to see them is because the averts be band junkie knows just how much of their material is either borrowed or simplistic musically

[@arethabestmktg]

+Kyle Dortch Agreed. Harvey is the bomb. Instead of just appreciating CS/Harvey's talent, they'd rather say they stole stuff. N----s stay hatin...#COLDSTEEL #nobodydoesitbetter

[@kristianruffin3782]

I give this W to MDFS .. I don't really care about how "Flashy" a drumline can be, but I do care about the actual material that they are playing. Both drumlines were clean, but which drumline sounded like a real college drumline? Norfolk is playing harder music than North Carolina A&T

[@kristianruffin3782]

And Nsu's block was way longer

[@TheHaywood1]

It's really not more technical. Think about this.. If CS had no Tenors, who would the technical rhythms go to? Bass drums. The rhythms are split up between the two sections. And As far as cymbals.. CS uses 20's, no cymbal line using 20's would play the material MD plays, they use 18's. MDFS has 8 snares and barely taps the head and CS has 12 in this video and they actually play through the head with very choppy Material.

[@kristianruffin3782]

+Malik Haywood Ok, I respect your opinion Mr. Malik Haywood. But i think this comes down to preferences. No drumline is the same, its all about what you prefer, or what your style is. Like i said before, both drumlines were clean, but if i had to choose who won, i would choose NSU MDFS, and here's why: i like that NCA&T have 12 snares that can actually play on one accord, but NSU's 8 snares can too, and if you really go back and listen closely, NSU is more technical. I really like how Cold Steel have more variety of drums than MDFS, its gives Cold Steel a nice full drumline sound. But what i didnt like about NCA&T is that they kept the same time signature and tempo for the majority of the entire first block, whereas NSU changed time signatures and tempo many times causing their music to sound more technical than Cold Steel. And last but not least, the Cymbals. i understand that NCA&T uses larger cymbals, but does size really matter? The only thing you can do with bigger cymbals is be more flashy. i dont care about how flashy a drumline can be, but i do care about the actual material that they are playing. And i feel like NSU's MDFS chopped up NCA&T in the first 10 seconds of their block lol

[@TheHaywood1]

Kristian Ruffin Mdfs has all Tonals, CS has 4 bass drum sections in the back if you never listened well enough to hear. MDfS material wasn't harder at all. who's to say what a real college drumline sounds like? Also when MD changed tempos they didn't play anything technical until they slowed the tempo back down. MD wasn't ready for a "battle" they were ready for a competition. You don't battle 30 yards apart and have a whole show prepared. A Battle is like a fight, face-to-face-, you don't know what you're gonna play until its that time.

[@khanyisaharunube4147]

Next level of drumlines. I love them.both. either of them would destroy any drumline in the swac.

[@Anzomax2]

It comes down to personal taste. Most of the SWAC lines are traditional so the style of play is totally different.

[@kingtay1829]

wat heads do nsu use on the snare I know the top is a nlack max but wat about the bottom

[@1mikeburns]

remo ambassadors

[@kingtay1829]

Thanks

[@1mikeburns]

Welcome

[@jordanclarke2844]

true ncat has better grooves and a nice technique, but I have to give it to mdfs simply because of thier excellent tuning and unique technique

[@user-kg3nb7sn8r]

Супер

[@georgejackson4555]

"COLD STEEL"

[@MeWeeLadGimli]

I'm here looking for my boy Devin Miles :)

[@graffboysees6469]

MD put in work with old material lol, wow big ups to MD

[@georgejackson4555]

All these CS haters on here lol well guess what, "COLD STEEL!!!"

[@sevenpersonalies1287]

NC A & T did well also - But - Behold the Green and Gold

[@mraaronhd]

What are those tiny bass drums the Aggie drumline has? They sound so different. O_O

[@sauske154ify]

tenors

[@EazeClaps]

its not tenors those are the ones with 6 different drum together

[@DaKiingOfJacktown]

they're called tenor drums..

[@napKhin]

They're both tenors but the one's you're thinking of are considered "multi-tenors" and the single drums he's asking about are known as "traditional tenors"

[@jaylinreeves1909]

LOL😂

[@DSNCB919]

a&t killed em

[@HSSUMELLO]

in gga please a&t got chopped and they knew and u can tell how they ran off at the end of the video lol

[@woolly65]

+Puncho DaGreat Please dawg, I've been following NSU since 1993 when Alzie Walker was the BD. MDFS is good true enough, but come on man, can u guys get more creative.

[@1n0nlyAsa]

DSNCB919 yup I play snare check me out on KZbin channel at aza Roberson my real name is Asa Roberson it's just my dad put my account wrong and me and my brothers drumline team we want to play for us Texas a&t

[@aroundNYC]

Are you watching the 2008 battle? It can't be this.

[@ksdoswell]

DSNCB919 YOU ARE CRAZY!!!

[@jagersc3398]

MDFS gets the edge over CS...

[@shaqloco7671]

Aww basses.

[@PVMacFunkBox]

As a unit MDFS looked better concidering stick height and spacing was flawless... CS every snare player look different like they dont perfectly still... too lax when they perform... over all its just what it is... the MeaC

[@biancadadrummer5943]

Nice 😭😎

[@rhondamccorkle3534]

Aggie PRIDE!!!!💛💛

[@androidsama9398]

are there any videos of yall vs bcu?

[@shad0n1]

I wanted to see the same

[@androidsama9398]

+Darryl Harris I would love to see sudden impact vs cold steel if they both go to Honda maybe we'll get to see it then

[@shad0n1]

+shawn chavis in sure both will be there. This is a battle I've been waiting to see for the longest.

[@michaelsteward2052]

CS has caught up to the Spartan Legion

[@Maestrosik]

I don't think so. I believe CS has gotten better over the years. MD is still King when it comes to precision of technique. MD is competing with DCI lines that's why their a couple notches above the rest.

[@jonb8899]

+Harold Edmonds I like CS, but you make a lot of sense.

[@talexwebb]

+Harold Edmonds I played in MD back in the 90s and was also in DCI (Carolina Crown) back then too. Many of us played for DCI Bands. You are correct!

[@johncobb2714]

Is anyone else as pissed as me????? KZbin, how the MUTHAFUK is there THREE WHOLE COMMERCIALS in the NSU performance, but none during NC A&T performance?????

[@Jxr6an]

3:17,makin them quads sing

[@topaz171]

A&T hands down

[@Bigboyjayy22]

A&T is the best

[@BigKemetic]

What video are yall watching CS was clean and on point mdfs was also clean but played that old trash CS didn't even play any of their better cadences like eternal beats or something yall find anything to hate