We just came across this video of unseen footage of Michael Jackson in 1993 getting introduced to Divine 9 style stepping and we rushed to post it as fast a possible.

In the six-minute clip, step-masters from Alpha Phi Alpha, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Sigma Gamma Rho introduce the “King of Pop” to the art of stepping at Sony Studios. At the time, Michael was working on a project called “Is This Scary” which never took place because of the trails and lawsuits that he was going through.

In the video, you see the steppers introducing themselves to MJ and by the four-minute mark you see Michael step into the camera shot and watch the steppers. At the end, he talks to them for a bit then leaves the room.

While the group was not able to perform in MJ’s project, they did get picked up to choreograph and dance in a Tag Team music video for the Addams Family movie that was a rendition of their hit “Whoomp There It Is!”

Big thanks to Doc Genesis for putting this video online.

The post Unseen Footage Of Michael Jackson Getting Introduced To NPHC Stepping! appeared first on Watch The Yard.

This year was a big year for the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha who were at the center of most of the large events in the black community.

Highlights include the fact that Alphas were at the center of racial politics like the ousting of Mizzou’s president. Media takeovers, including Bro. Omari Hardwick’s success as the main character on the hit show “Power.” As well as large charity works like the Alpha’s $200,000 donation to Morehouse college.

The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha also experienced a lot of painful loss this year including the early death of ESPN’s Stuart Scott and the murder of Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney who was killed during a racially motivated mass shooting at a church in Charleston, NC.

We at Watch The Yard would like to honor the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha by creating this list of our top Alpha stories of 2015.

Click on the links below to read these stories and feel free to share on Facebook with your network in rememberance.

20. Woody Strode: The Definition Of Alpha Phi Alpha Badass

19. Eddie Murphy To Play Alpha Phi Alpha’s Marion Barry In HBO Biopic Directed By Spike Lee

18. Alpha Phi Alpha Just Donated A Whopping $200,000 To Morehouse College

17. Alpha Phi Alpha Set To Receive A $1 Million Grant From The US Department of Justice

16. Photos Of Omari Hardwick The Star Of The Show “Power” Pledging Alpha Phi Alpha In 1996

15. Turn Up! Watch Alpha Phi Alpha’s General President Bust Out This Step At The Alpha Convention!

14. Take A Look At Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Alpha Phi Alpha Membership Card

13. Exclusive: Photos Showing Slain Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney As A Young Member Of Alpha Phi Alpha Surface

12. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Line Brother Opens Up About Pledging Alpha Phi Alpha With King

11. Time Magazine Creates Interactive Map Showing The Popularity Of Black Fraternities

10. City Council Protects Alpha Phi Alpha’s Founding House Under Historic Landmark Status

9. This Video From The Alpha Phi Alpha March To Stop Violence In Chicago Will Stir Your Soul!

8. This Is What The Brothers Of Alpha Phi Alpha Did To Protest Violence In Chicago Today

7. United Airlines Just Named Alpha Phi Alpha Brother Brett J. Hart As Its New Acting CEO

6. UNC Tar Heels Men’s Basketball Teamed Up With Alpha Phi Alpha To Step In Honor Of Stuart Scott

5. Alpha Phi Alpha Brother, Rev Clementa C. Pinckney Among Those Killed In Charleston Church Shooting

4. Exclusive: Alpha Phi Alpha Releases Statement Regarding Murder Of Member Rev. Clementa Pinckney In Charleston Shooting

3. A Brother Of Alpha Phi Alpha Was Just Chosen As The Interim President Of Mizzou

2. Stuart Scott Explains The Greatest Thing He Learned While Pledging Alpha Phi Alpha

1. Brothers Of Alpha Phi Alpha Were Key In The Protest That Just Ousted Mizzou’s President

The post Triumph And Tragedy: Looking Back At Alpha Phi Alpha’s 2015 Year appeared first on Watch The Yard.

[Originally posted on January 4th, 2015]

Today legendary sports anchor, Stuart Scott, passed away at the age of 49 after fighting a lengthy battle with cancer.

Many know Scott for his work on ESPN but also for the fact that he was a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Stuart entered the bond in the fall of 1984 at University of North Carolina’s Mu Zeta chapter and he was the number seven on his pledge line, the “Twelve Masters of the Mix.”

In an interview in the book The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities by Lawrence Ross, Brother Scott opened up about his pledging experience and and the qualities he developed as a brother:

“One of the most important lessons that I learned from Alpha was while I was pledging. I think it is difficult for those who are not Greek to understand how pledging is a wonderful time to test your intelligence, dedication, and find out about yourself. One time, my dean of pledges asked me if I could do ten one-handed pushups. Being the athlete that I am, I jumped to the task and knocked them out. He then asked my line brother whether he could do ten one-handed pushups. He couldn’t. The dean then turned to me and explained this fact: No matter how skillful I might have been, I was only as strong as the weakest link on my line. I have used this lesson throughout my professional and personal life to remind me that I must always help out the weakest link. I’ll never forget that.”

Stuart was a man of action and perseverance, a true Alpha and a great role model to not just Alphas but people across all industries. He was “cooler than the other side of the pillow.” He had style, poise and was eloquent in conversation. He was, a father, a true Alpha man, and did not let his condition with cancer define him.

“We used to have a saying,” Stuart said once during an interview. “All great men are not Alphas, but all Alphas are great men.”

Well, Stuart, you were a great man. You will be missed.

If you have any personal memories about Stuart as a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha, please share them in the comment section below. Also, we are looking for as many pictures of Stuart in connection to Alpha Phi Alpha as we can get. If you have any, please send them to WatchTheYard@gmail.com

Stuart Scott, featured in a campus article (The Daily Tar Heel), was an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. He was the step master for the Mu Zeta chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha.

The post Stuart Scott Explains The Greatest Thing He Learned While Pledging Alpha Phi Alpha appeared first on Watch The Yard.

[Originally posted on October 24th, 2015]

The late ESPN host, Stuart Scott, entered Alpha Phi Alpha in the fall of 1984 at University of North Carolina’s Mu Zeta chapter as an undergrad and yesterday, his very own undergrad chapter took to the court with players from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill men’s basketball team to honor him with a step performance.

“He loved Carolina athletics, he loved Carolina basketball of course, but there was another aspect of his Carolina experience that was truly special to him. That was his membership in the Mighty Mu Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity,” the announcer said to a cheering crowd.”Stuart was number seven on the line ‘Twelve Masters of Mix’ some of Stuart’s line brothers and Alpha Phi Alpha brothers join us here tonight.”

Stu served as his chapter’s step master in undergrad and the the chapter and school thought that there would be no better way to honor him than to combine two of some of his most favorite things, basketball and Alpha Phi Alpha.

Joel Berry, Kanler Coker, Justin Jackson & Theo Pinson joined the Mu Zeta chapter in a step performance at the school’s annual Late Night with Roy event.

Share this with an Alpha and make his day!

>Click here to read ‘Stuart Scott Explains The Greatest Thing He Learned While Pledging Alpha Phi Alpha’ <<

The post UNC Tar Heels Men’s Basketball Teamed Up With Alpha Phi Alpha To Step In Honor Of Stuart Scott appeared first on Watch The Yard.

The results are in! We at WatchTheYard think that the Alphas at the University of Texas did one of the best Alpha probates of Fall 15!

Watch these brothers hold it down and present their line of five to the world!

Do you agree that this was one of the best Fall 15 probates? Let us know in the comment section below!

The post Watch The University Of Texas Alphas Present One Of The Best Probates Of Fall 15! appeared first on Watch The Yard.

FX has debuted multiple teaser trailers for the show American Crime Story: The People v. OJ Simpson which covers the trail of O.J. Simpson. Screenshots from the trailers have started to make their way around the internet in which Courtney B. Vance, the actor playing Johnnie Cochran, wears a Kappa Alpha Psi pin and Sterling K. Brown, the actor who plays Christopher Darden, is seen wearing an Alpha Phi Alpha pin on their jackets in the courtroom.

While many know this already, Johnnie Cochran and Christopher Darden are both members of these fraternities and did indeed wear fraternity pins during the trail. Cocheran happens to be the 45th Laurel Wreath wearer, the highest award in Kappa Alpha Psi. While seen in this trailer wearing a simple Kappa shield, in the actual trial, Cocheran was wearing his lifetime membership pin as seen below.

Watch the trailer to see the pins.

The People v. OJ Simpson will air on February 2nd on FX. Do you plan on watching? Let us know in the comment section below.

The post Kappa Alpha Psi and Alpha Phi Alpha Pins Spotted In Trailers For The Upcoming O.J. Simpson FX Movie appeared first on Watch The Yard.

Now this is something everyone needs to see!

In 2011, Rainforest Films produced a television documentary for BET about the story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s fraternity days as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha. The documentary, which is narrated by Hill Harper gives a never before seen look at first hand accounts by Dr. King’s friends and fellow fraternity brothers on what he was like as a 23-year-old divinity student in Boston and 1952 Alpha pledgee as well as what he was like after he crossed.

Along with personal stories from Dr. King’s associates, the documentary also includes rare excerpts from Dr. King’s speech at the 50th Anniversary of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the first and only time he spoke at an Alpha convention.

Please WATCH and SHARE this piece of amazing history with your networks!

Part 1 [Click on the arrow below to see Part 2)

The post Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Line Brother Opens Up About Pledging Alpha Phi Alpha With King appeared first on Watch The Yard.

As you probably already know, there are two things that we at WatchTheYard.com really love; Greek Unity and Black History.

We have searched the internet and compiled a list of Greek Unity pictures from back in the day that will definitly put a smile on your face. These pictures range from the 1950s to the 1990s and are perfect examples of the glowing positive energy that happens when Black Greeks get together.

Click on the arrows below to check out our slideshow! Make someone’s day by sharing this collection of images on social media!

Hampton greeks posing for a picture in the 1980s.

The post Five Amazing Old School ‘Greek Unity’ Pics That Will Warm Your Heart appeared first on Watch The Yard.

If you want to know about manliness, perseverance, hard work and grit, look no further than Alpha Phi Alpha’s very own, Willie Strode.

Strode was a college track and football star at UCLA, one of the first Blacks to integrate the NFL, a professional wrestler, a Golden Globe nominated actor, and a WWII veteran. This man was the definition of a renaissance man, keep reading this article and you will understand exactly why.

Strode was born in Los Angeles on July 25, 1914, the son of a Creek-Blackfoot-African-American father and a Cherokee-African-American mother. He grew up in South Central and became so good at sports(track and field/football) that he made it to UCLA and played alongside Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington, both who broke the color barriers of baseball and football in the 1940s. His world-class decathlon capabilities were spearheaded by a 50 ft (15 m) plus shot put (when the world record was 57 ft (17 m)) and a 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) high jump (the world record at time was 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)). While in college, Strode joined UCLA’s Alpha Phi Alpha chapter. Strode’s athletic physique was so appealing that a nude portrait of him was featured in Hubert Stowitts’s acclaimed exhibition of athletic portraits shown at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The exhibit was closed because the Nazis did not agree with the inclusion of black and Jewish athletes being show in such a powerful light.

When World War II broke out, Strode was playing for the Hollywood Bears Football team but quit to join the United States Army Air Corps and spent the war unloading bombs in Guam and the Marianas, as well as playing on the Army football team at March Field in Riverside, California.

In 1941, Strode married a real life princess. Strode’s first wife was Princess Luukialuana Kalaeloa (a.k.a. Luana Strode), a distant relative of Liliuokalani, the last queen of Hawaii. That same year he began his career as a professional wrestler and made his film debut in the movie “Sundown.”

Woody then went on to play professional football for the LA Rams from 1946-1948 and then the Calgary Stampeders, eventually retiring in 1949 to focus on acting. Between 1941 and 1962, Strode was billed as the Pacific Coast Heavyweight Wrestling Champion and the Pacific Coast Negro Heavyweight Wrestling Champion.

Strode’s exercise regimen was that of a superhero and nothing more than epic. He performed 1000 free squats, 1000 sit-ups, and 1000 pushups every day until he turned 40, at which point he reduced the numbers to 500.

Strode was noted for film roles that contrasted with the stereotypes of his time. He is probably best remembered for his brief Golden Globe-nominated role in Spartacus (1960) as the Ethiopian gladiator Draba, in which he fights Kirk Douglas to the death. By the time he died on New Year’s Eve, 1994, he had worked with such legendary directors as Cecil B. Demille (The Ten Commandments), Lewis Milestone (Pork Chop Hill), Stanley Kubrick (Spartacus), Sergio Leone (Once Upon A Time in the West), and John Ford (Sergeant Rutledge, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance).

Strode died of lung cancer on December 31, 1994, in Glendora, California, aged 80. He is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

Strode was an Alpha Man and an Alpha male. Nothing could stop him and he did whatever he put his mind to. Please share this piece of history with your networks on Facebook and remind them that Alpha Phi Alpha does not play when it comes to influential members.

Click on the arrow below to see our gallery of VERY VERY badass photos of Strode throughout the years.

The post Woody Strode: The Definition Of Alpha Phi Alpha Badass appeared first on Watch The Yard.

Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr. was a big Star Trek fan and that in the 1960s he personally convinced Nichelle Nichols, the African-American actress who played Lieutenant Uhura to not leave the show because of what her role meant to Black Americans.

Nichols played Uhura on the original Star Trek and was revolutionary because she portrayed the first black, female character who wasn’t a stereotype on television. After finishing the first season of the show, she was getting so many offers from the theater world that she decided to quit the show because she wanted to follow her dream of being a famous Broadway singer. She went to the series’ creator, Gene Roddenberry, on Friday and gave him her resignation letter he took it but told her to think about it and not make her final decision until the next Monday.

“On Saturday night, I went to an NAACP fundraiser, I believe it was, in Beverly Hills,” Nichols told NPR in 2011. “And one of the promoters came over to me and said, Ms. Nichols, there’s someone who would like to meet you. He says he is your greatest fan.

And I’m thinking a Trekker, you know. And I turn, and before I could get up, I looked across the way and there was the face of Dr. Martin Luther King smiling at me and walking toward me. And he started laughing. By the time he reached me, he said, yes, Ms. Nichols, I am your greatest fan. I am that Trekkie.”

Dr. King then changed her whole perspective on quitting:

“‘Nichelle, whether you like it or not, you have become an symbol,” she said he told her during a Reddit Ask Me Anything interview earlier this year. “If you leave, they can replace you with a blonde haired white girl, and it will be like you were never there. What you’ve accomplished, for all of us, will only be real if you stay.’ That got me thinking about how it would look for fans of color around the country if they saw me leave. I saw that this was bigger than just me.”

Nichols went back to Gene Roddenberry on Monday and told him she wanted to stay and the rest is history. And that is the story of how Alpha Phi Alpha’s Martin Luther King Jr. saved the first fictional black character in outer space.

Click on the arrows below to see pictures and video of Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura in the 1960s.

Share with a Star Trek fan and make their day!

Click on the arrows below to see pictures and video of Nichelle Nichols as Lieutenant Uhura in the 1960s.

The post Did You Know Martin Luther King Jr. Personally Convinced ‘Star Trek’s’ Lt. Uhura To Stay On The Show? appeared first on Watch The Yard.

Watch it below:

We at WatchTheYard would like to congratulate the brothers on their endowment! Once again, Alpha Phi Alpha has heard a call for help and organized brothers to put their money where their mouths are to assist. Please share this great news on Facebook with your network!

The post Alpha Rho Chapter Of Alpha Phi Alpha Dedicates 90th Anniversary Obelisk at Morehouse appeared first on Watch The Yard.

To be a real man, one must be able to show compassion, feeling and portray their emotions to others with strength.

In this world where many young men are growing up without men in their lives it is amazing to see poems like the following that we at WatchTheYard.com just came across by a young brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., on the promise he has made on behalf of black fathers to their sons.

The spoken word piece was written and performed by William Royster, a senior at the University of Michigan who just so happens to be the chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.’s Epsilon Chapter.

Watch the poem below and share it with as many men as possible on social media. This poem exemplifies the type of role models and fathers we need to see in our communities, let’s make this go viral.

If you would like to see more of William Royster’s poems, go to iamwilliamroyster.com.

The post This Brother Of Alpha Phi Alpha’s Spoken Word Piece On Emotionally Strong Black Fathers Will Stir Your Soul appeared first on Watch The Yard.

Check out this promo for the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha’s recent party.

The promo was shot by FWDGraphicDesign and shows the brothers showing how smooth their chapter is. This was a great concept and was pulled off very well.

In the video they hit the much controversial “Alpha Shiver” what are your thoughts on the move?

The post The UAB Alphas Are Back With The “Alpha Shiver” appeared first on Watch The Yard.

[This post was originally posted on (2/11/14)]

Can you believe “The College Dropout” came out 10 years ago?!

Today marks ten years since Kanye West released his debut album, “The College Dropout” and we at Watch The Yard want to celebrate by remembering some of Yeezy’s best NPHC related lyrics. If you don’t remember already, as Kanye was coming up in the game, his main fan base consisted of college students. What better way to relate to them by dropping them a couple of shout outs now and then? Here is a list of some of Ye’s best NPHC related lines.

1. School Spirit

To start is off we can’t forget the most blatant shout out to Black Greekdom which came in the form of the song “School Spirit”

[Verse 2]
I got a Jones like Norah for your soror’
Bring more of them girls I’ve seen in the Aurora (Note: ‘The Aurora’ is the official magazine of the Sigma Gamma Rho)
Tammy, Becky, and Laura, or a Shirley
I’m trying to hit it early, like I’m in a hurry
See, that’s how dude became the young Pootie Tang: “tippy tow”
Roc-a-fella chain, yeah that’s my rapper style
Rosary piece, yeah that’s my Catholic style
Red and white One’s, yeah that’s my Kappa style
And I ain’t even pledge
Crack my head on the steering wheel and I ain’t even dead
If I could go through all that and still be breathing
B*tch bend over, I’m here for a reason

Click on the arrows below to see the rest of the references!

The post Complete List Of Every Time Kanye West Mentioned Black Fraternities/Sororities In His Lyrics appeared first on Watch The Yard.

Roland Martin invited comedian/host Kym Whitley to his News One Now show on TV One and the two got into an exchange about how she reps her org, Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.

At the end of the playful interview, Roland asked Kym, “Do you know how to OO-OOP?” Kim responded with the Delta call. “Just like a seal lion, a sea lion, a walrus” she said describing the call.

Moments later, Roland calls her out for how she threw up to the Delta sign a the Delta convention and said that her pinkies were not acting right, to which she jokingly replied, “You have to understand, the AKAs wanted me, first of all. I went to Deltas on my own. So I have been struggling, see my pinkie been coming out because [the AKAs] keep calling me on my phone.”

Kym joined Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., as a student at Fisk University where she became an initiate of  the Alpha Beta chapter.

Watch the video below. Skip to the 6:30 mark to watch.

The post Roland Martin Calls Kym Whitley Out For Her Delta Sigma Theta Call And Sign appeared first on Watch The Yard.

Did you know that Lionel Richie is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha?

It is true! The singer, member of the Commodores, Grammy Award and Academy Award winner and 2003 Hollywood Walk of Fame honoree crossed at Tuskegee’s Alpha Nu Lambda Alumni Chapter in 1996.

Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. was born in 1949 and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama, where he grew up on the campus of Tuskegee Institute. When he graduated from high school he accepted a tennis scholarship to attend Tuskegee Institute, but eventually dropped out of Tuskegee Institute after his sophomore year.

While a student in Tuskegee, Richie formed a succession of R&B groups and in 1968 he became a singer and saxophonist with the Commodores a group which signed a recording contract with Atlantic Records in 1968 for one record and then moved on to Motown Records initially as a support act to The Jackson 5.

The Commodores were responsible for hits including “Machine Gun”,  “Brick House”, “Easy”, “Three Times a Lady”, “Still”, and “Sail On.”

In 1982 Richie started his solo career after releasing a self-titled album. The album was a great success and in the following years he released chart hits including “Hello”, “Stuck on You”, “Running with the Night”, “Penny Lover”, and “Say You, Say Me”. He also collaborated with Michael Jackson on the charity single “We Are the World” by USA for Africa.

To this date Lionel Richie has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.

Fun Fact: He is also a member of Kappa Kappa Psi.

In honor of Bro. Lionel Richie’s amazing success we have compiled a list of his top music videos. Click on the arrows below to check them out!

What is your favorite Lionel Richie song? Let us know in the comment section below!

The Commodores – Easy

The post Did You Know That Lionel Richie Is A Member Of Alpha Phi Alpha? appeared first on Watch The Yard.

Check out this video of lifetime members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., sharing their reflections on the appeal, relevance, and keys to the longevity of the fraternity.

Presented by The Alpha Phi Alpha Eastern Region, this video includes stories about what drew these older members to the fraternity as young men and why they believe it is important for brothers to be active within their chapters.

In the video, they are asked to define the word “brother”. The responses from these brothers should be listened to and shared with brothers both young and old.

Share with your friends of Facebook if you agree with them.

The post Senior Members Of Alpha Phi Alpha Were Asked To Define “Brotherhood”, This Is How They Answered appeared first on Watch The Yard.

If you are a member of a black fraternity or sorority and have access to Instagram, there is a very good chance that you know of the special brand of comedy made by a small but very popular and successful group of black greek comedians.

Nick Banks, a comedian who goes by the IG handle @Mr_Bankshot is one of these comedians specializing in comedy targeted toward members of Black fraternities and sororities and currently has a growing audience of over 250,000 follows who can attest to the fact that he can get people to laugh.

We at WatchTheYard.com got ahold of the 27-year-old Alpha for an exclusive interview and talked with him about his beloved fraternity, what he was like as a neo, and how he built and audience of over a quarter million fans in less than three years.

Check it out below:

Name: Nick Banks

Age: 27 (August 7th)

Where did you go to undergrad what did you graduate with?

I went to Ohio University (The Bobcats) and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Communication Studies.

When did you cross/what chapter?

I crossed Spring ’11 Phi Chapter (4 Rock Club)

Why did you decide to pick Alpha Phi Alpha as an undergrad? What drew you to them?

I decided to join Alpha Phi Alpha because I saw them working on campus. They were doing fundraisers, educational events, community service, etc. And I would go to the gym or somewhere random on campus and would run into a complete stranger, have a cool conversation with them, and come to find out they were an Alpha. And of course after doing some research, it seemed to be the best fit for me.

How would you describe yourself as a neo?

As a neo? I would say I was thirsty for about 2 weeks after I crossed and then I was like ok, let me not wear my line jacket again today. Plus I was older than all my LB’s and damn near all the bruhs that were in the chapter so I wasn’t as thirsty as some Neo’s. I was pretty solid mentally and physically because I had just finished Army bootcamp a few months earlier.

How would your line brothers describe you as a neo?

A clown! I was always coming up with funny things right on the spot. They would say I was a leader. I was always coming up with events and planning them out and letting them know what it is I needed from them. I really took Alpha and ran with it to continue to make our presence strong on campus. Not saying I was instrumental in everything, but they would say I took the initiative to get things done.

How has Alpha helped you since crossing?

Since crossing, the biggest way Alpha has helped me is by allowing me to showcase my talents. A lot of the events I get booked for are Step Show/Stroll-Off events and if I wasn’t an Alpha, it would be very difficult to get booked for those types of events. Being able to host something like the stroll-off at Atlanta Greek Picnic in front of 10,000-15,000 people, wouldn’t have been possible without Alpha.

What brought you to comedy?

I really enjoy it. I’ve always been that person that people love being around, the family always wants me at the get togethers because I’m going to be the one to crack jokes and get the jokes going. I didn’t know comedy was going to be what I was doing at this point in my life or at all for that matter. Once I saw I was getting positive feedback from my social media platforms and from people close to me, I just decided to keep going to see where it would take me to. First it was about getting as many followers as I could, but it’s completely different now. That’s still important because you want people to see your work but it’s way more to it. I just knew I was capable of being funny and creative and I had a passion for it. I even did a comedy parody for my 2nd grade talent show.

You currently have over a quarter million followers on Instagram, how long did it take to develop your following?

I uploaded my first video in September of 2013. So it will be 3 years this year. I think my Pastor Flavor page I’ve had for about a year now and he has about 65,000 followers.

Do you have any tips on growing your fanbase on social media for others who want to get into comedy?

Be funny, be consistent, and stay relevant. Like I said, I’ve been doing this for almost 3 years now. Everybody wants that overnight fame, but that usually doesn’t last because people don’t know what to do when everyone is looking.

How do you think greekdom has changed since your crossed?

It’s just changed in general but that’s with times. Old heads can’t stroll with Neo’s anymore because the Neo’s took the original strolls and remixed them by adding the dab, nae nae, whip. You ask someone from the 80’s that same question they’ll say anybody that crossed after them is paper and this, that, and the third but things change. In about 20-30 years probably won’t even be a process, it’ll be like a Black Student Union meeting where you walk in, and your apart of the org lol. As long as you working and making your org look good, you good with me.

What lines do you not cross when making jokes about greeks?

I won’t disrespect anyone on a personal level but other than that I don’t have “lines” lol.

How much paraphernalia is too much paraphernalia in your opinion?

Man look! All you need is one item to let it be known that you are apart of whatever org you are apart of. You don’t need the Delta bucket hat, with the Delta necklace, and the Delta line shirt, with some Delta overalls and a pair of some elephant boots. One piece of nalia is enough.

What is the most played out thing in greekdom in your opinion?

Most played out thing to me is fighting over letters. That’s lame.

What is your best piece of advice to the spring 16 neos?

My best piece of advice would be to just continue the traditions. Don’t change the traditions because that’s what makes us so unique and special. Those traditions teach the underlying message of what being in NPHC is all about. We aren’t better than anyone because of our letters but we do have a bigger role in society. Don’t recruit your friends just because they are your friends, that’s when the drama comes into play. Look to add quality to your organization. My last piece of advice would be to make sure you look into booking Mr. Bankshot to host your annual step show. Lol!

A video posted by Nick Banks (@mr_bankshot) on Feb 27, 2016 at 7:24am PST

The post A-Phi-A’s @Mr_Bankshot Opens Up About Black Greek Comedy And Gives Advice To All Spring 16 Neos appeared first on Watch The Yard.

The Alphas at Mizzou do not play when it comes to creating trailers for their probates.

Check out this amazing trailer produced by @mr_badbeard and @jrwthecreator for the Zeta Alpha Chapter Spring 2016 neophyte presentation!

Check out this trailer they made in 2014 that blew us away as well. 

Share with an Alpha and make his day!

The post Must See! The Mizzou Alphas Just Set The Standard For Probate Trailers In 2016! appeared first on Watch The Yard.

“Many are chosen, few are PHrozen!”

Check out this video of the Alphas at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette doing their Spring 16 neophyte presentation! Watch the I.O.D.: Indwellers Of Desolation present themselves to the world as Alpha men!

Show these brothers some love in the comment section below!

The post Have You Seen How The Alphas At The University Of Louisiana At Lafayette Probate? appeared first on Watch The Yard.