Ayushi Agarwal/Photo Editor
Rappers Waka Flocka Flame and Ugly God drew a crowd of about 1,800 to the Quadrangle for their Homecoming Ball performances on Friday night, according to Student Programming Council (SPC) President Abbey Kelly (19B).
Waka Flocka Flame came onstage at 10:32 p.m., after an introduction from Atlanta-based DJ Big Tiny, who played some of Waka Flocka Flame’s songs to hype up the crowd. The rapper wasn’t afraid to engage with the crowd: while performing his featured verses from Machine Gun Kelly’s “Wild Boy” and Flosstradamus’ “Mosh Pit,” Waka Flocka Flame left the stage to join the audience. He also performed fan-favorite “Turn Down for What” by DJ Snake and Lil John.
Waka Flocka Flame invited Merveille Oluoch (22C) on stage after noticing her enthusiasm, saying “she was literally singing [every song] word for f*****g word.”
Oluoch told the Wheel after the concert that she is a long-time fan of the rapper.
“I was shaking on stage, I didn’t even know my own name,” Olouch said. “I got to touch one of his dreads and that just blew my mind. My life is complete.”
After performing his 2010 hit single “No Hands,” Waka Flocka Flame invited Georgia-based rappers Bob Lennon and Prince Ink to perform onstage. A majority of students left the Quadrangle when Waka Flocka Flame stopped performing, and the concert ended soon after.
Ariel Stephens (22C) said she enjoyed the concert despite not being familiar with Waka Flocka Flame’s music beforehand.
“It was fun,” Stephens said. “[My favorite part] was when he came offstage and started singing.”
Ugly God opened for Waka Flocka Flame, performing tracks from his 2017 album “The Booty Tape,” including “F**k Ugly God” and “I’m Tryna F**k.” He also performed the 2016 hit “Water” and threw water bottles into the crowd during the song. Ugly God closed the set with his 2017 single, “B***h!”
Due to construction on McDonough Field, the usual location for Homecoming concerts, SPC moved the concerts to the Quadrangle. Kelly told the Wheel that the change in location did not impact students’ experiences, but the venue change made preparations for SPC more complicated.
“It was a lot to consider in terms of production, having to build that stage on that space,” Kelly said. “It didn’t necessarily impact student experience of the concert … but there were definitely more considerations to take on the logistics side.”
Kelly said 130 people bought guest tickets to the concert. Guests of undergraduate students paid $10, and graduate students paid $18 for admission, according to SPC and Graduate Student Government Association (GSGA) Facebook posts. Fifty tickets were offered to graduate students, according to Kelly.
Future concerts will return to McDonough Field once the construction is completed, Kelly said.
Emory Emergency Medical Services (EEMS) responded to six medical-related reports at the concert, according to EEMS Director Rachel Barnhard.
After the concert, Waka Flocka Flame attended a party in Kappa Alpha Order’s (KA) off-campus house. Posts on social media by KA members show Waka Flocka Flame playing drinking games and taking pictures with partygoers.
Abbey said that 130 guest tickets were sold for the concert and that 50 tickets were set aside for graduate students. Graduate student tickets were sold for $18 and graduate student guest tickets for $26, according to the GSGA Facebook page.
On Saturday afternoon, Emory alumna Keri Hilson (03Ox, 05C) headlined the alumni Homecoming concert, opened by country singer Emma White.
In between her songs, Hilson talked about her experience as an Oxford and Emory alumna, recounting how she would frequent the Rich Building because students who studied theater, like herself, hung out there. Hilson never graduated from Emory because she received a record deal during her senior year.
The R&B artist performed her top hits including “Pretty Girl Rock” and “Knock You Down,” as well as “Turnin’ Me On” and “Energy.”
Calen MacDonald (22C) is from Palmetto, Fl. and is double majoring in English and creative writing and neuroscience and behavioral biology. Outside of the Wheel, he is the recruitment chair for Emory Crew and a school captain for Emory Reads. If he had any free time, he would spend it looking for free food and reminding everyone how tall he is (he's 6'8").
