Brian “Hash” Aureden and Aaron “Tac” Aleman, two junior communication majors, started the hip-hop group ABiCA five years ago.

“When we first started, we were just jokin’ around, making funny songs for our friends,” said Aureden. “But then people really started to like what we were doing, so we decided to keep going.”

The NIU student-duo of ABiCA has an original sound that embodies the influences of Twiztid, Trent Reznor and Atmosphere.

“We grew up listening to Twiztid, so it was great to get to play a show with them [in March],” Aureden said.

The show with Twiztid would wind up being one of the group’s biggest shows, with more than 2,000 people in attendance.

However, the group may have an even bigger venue ahead of them, pending negotiations. ABiCA may have the opportunity to play alongside Chicago’s own Kanye West, along with Rihanna, N.E.R.D and Lupe Fiasco when they all come to Chicago for the “Glow in the Dark Tour” on May 23 and 24.

If ABiCA gets on the concert’s bill, the two members hope to donate proceeds to the Feb. 14 Scholarship Fund.

“When the shooting happened, it hit us pretty hard,” Aureden said. “We had some friends in the class, and we just wanted to do something about it.”

This prompted their manager, Clay Ricardi, to get in touch with West and tell him about ABiCA and the group’s desire to help donate money. West and his people liked the idea and agreed to have ABiCA play a 25-minute set before the two shows in Chicago, pending further negotiations.

The band also plans on teaming up with indie hip-hop group Atmosphere for another benefit show later this year.

“We approached Atmosphere with our idea, and he really wanted to get involved,” Aureden said.

“We just hope to get more big names on the bill to raise as much money as we can.”

After seven years, three albums and constant touring around the Midwest, ABiCA still doesn’t forget about what motivates the duo to make music.

“We take our music very seriously,” Aureden said. “We love hearing that our music has helped people get through the difficult times or given them something to relate to. That’s why we write it.”

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