Have You Heard?

Junior Matt Trent is a pitcher for Richmond's baseball team and listens to music that puts him in game mode.

Whether he is working out or listening for leisure, Trent typically plays rap, R&B, hip-hop and country, but said his music collection was really a mix of everything. Trent listens to an array of hip-hop and rap artists when he plays baseball, but said he did not prefer specific songs to put him in the zone.

"Before games I exclusively listen to artists such as Lil' Wayne, Kanye West, Gorilla Zoe, Wiz Khalifa and Young Jeezy," he said. "I don't listen to specific songs before games -- I just play the artists and play the ones that sound appropriate."

There is one song, his "walk out" song, which Trent will hear every time he walks to the pitchers mound this season. He said he was fairly sure that this season that song would be Wiz Khalifa's "Make it Hot."

"The beat and energy of the song are unbelievable," he said. "Perfect for game time."

The baseball team has music mixes for before games and during practices. The pre-game mix consists of artists such as Garth Brooks, Britney Spears, Tim McGraw, Hilary Duff and other country/bluegrass musicians, Trent said.

"I'm kind of the musical outcast," he said. "I don't disagree with our mix. It's just that some of the songs are questionable before games."

He made particular note of the inclusion of Britney Spears on the pre-game playlist.

Some of the artists Trent recommends that he said he did not think many people know about are Jody Breeze, Ryan Leslie, Chrishan and Young Bishop, Casely and Tyga . He also thinks Wiz Khalifa is a must for anyone's listening. Trent has also been particularly influenced by Kanye West's music because he is not afraid to explore any genre of music and is in a category by himself, he said.

Some of his favorite songs include:

"Never Get It" - Lil' Wayne

"Wells Fargo" - Gorilla Zoe

"Call Me" - Qwote

"Silver & Gold" - Sway feat. Akon

"Freeze" - T-Pain featuring Chris Brown

"She Never Cried in Front of Me" - Toby Keith

"In Color" - Jamey Johnson

"Guarentee" - Flo Rida feat. Akon

"Love Songs" - Chrishan and Young Bishop

"Private Show" - Collie Buddz

Contact staff writer Jessie Murray at jessie.murray@richmond.edu