Though a live jam-band was playing loudly on the Malcolm X Plaza stage, Gavin Grant was intent on making his own music.

With arms flailing and eyes locked on the ground in a trance-like stare, he spit out rhymes in a powerful voice using the band's rhythms as his backbeat. Grant's words took his captive audience on a trail of subjects from his personal troubles to love to his style of clothes.

"In my mind I'm always freestyling, so sometimes I got to let it out," said the senior design and industry major. "School's a good opportunity because of all the foot traffic."

That day's session was especially successful. It started with three friends rapping and quickly became a circle of over 10 shouting out "oh!" and "he killed it!" after a good line.
Grant is one of the many students who display their musical skills on campus. On a sunny day, people playing everything from drums to disc jockey sampler boxes hang out in the quad.

Many of these musicians receive a great amount of attention for sharing songs in public.
Andrew McCandless loves playing his acoustic guitar all over SF State. He uses breaks between classes as a chance to test out his newly-written folk tunes. Passersby will give him compliments and even make requests.

"I only know a few cover songs, so I usually just have to wing it," said the computer science senior.

McCandless enjoys a peaceful spot outside where he can be easily seen. He recently played sitting on a rock at the top of the Garden of Remembrance next to Burk Hall.

Like the rappers in a circle, he welcomes other musicians to play along with him. It's the aspect of community that makes playing at school especially appealing, he said.

"If people from class or just walking around bring a guitar randomly, we can talk about it and even play," he said.

This sort of bond between musicians makes carrying an instrument around a great way to meet people.

Arion Bly Sandoval, an undeclared freshman, has been looking to start a rock band but says he loves and can play all types of music. He walks around once a week with a small hand drum and describes it as a great way to meet students with his interests.

"It's just good energy, good people, and everyone's happy," he said about the campus' vibe. "I just walk around and jump in when someone's playing."

Many of the school's "street musicians" also have serious music endeavors.

Leon Breckenridge shouts unscripted raps at school but also writes poetry and hip-hop and DJs in his free time. The more guided side of his music keeps him focused and always improving, he said.

"It's just something I do," he said. "It is how I express myself and it builds character."