BY AHLIA DUNN ’20
On April 15, Waka Flocka Flame headlined Mount Holyoke’s Spring Concert in Chapin Auditorium. The event, put on as a part of the 2017 Spring Weekend, was planned by the Spring Concert Committee and The Network.
The show was opened by DJ AfroPanther, a DJ and rapper from Western Massachusetts, who warmed up the crowd with a mix of old music and original songs. DJ Whoo Kid, the headliner’s resident DJ, followed by playing the latest hip-hop hits. Then, with much fanfare, Waka FlockaFlame made his way to the stage.
The Atlanta-based rapper performed songs including “Round of Applause,” “50K,” “O Let’s Do It” and “Grove St. Party.” He also gave an impressive cover of Diana Ross’s “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Some attendees were excited that Waka Flocka Flame had been chosen for the spring concert and were satisfied with the performance. “I honestly and truly felt that it was fun,” said Teah Medellin ’20. “His performance was so high energy and raised me to another level. I think everyone enjoyed it.”
Jamesa Allen ’18, who considers herself “the biggest Waka Flocka Flame fan on campus,” also enjoyed the show. “I got to mosh pit with Mr. Flame himself … and he even gave me his towel as a keepsake,” said Allen.
The “mosh pit” began when Waka Flocka Flame walked off stage, confusing the audience. He reappeared on the balcony of Chapin Auditorium and made his way down to the crowd. He danced and rapped in the sea of concertgoers, causing complete pandemonium. Rochelle Davis ’19 got closer to Waka than most. “At one point in the night I reached out my hand and he touched me. It was surreal. I think that was my favorite moment of the night,” said Davis.
Davis is not a big Waka Flocka Flame fan, but enjoyed the show nonetheless. “The crowd was so energetic and everyone was feeding off each other’s energy,” she said. “I really enjoyed Waka’s performance.”
The event committee spent months planning every detail. Melody Yin ’20, a member of the Spring Concert Committee felt that their hard work paid off. “I saw that some of the audience couldn’t tell what he was trying to do and [some] people weren’t familiar with a lot of the songs, but I feel like a lot of people had fun though, which was the ultimate goal,” said Yin.
To the dismay of the audience, the show ended at 11 p.m. instead of the advertised 12 a.m. Davis admits that, much like herself, not everyone at the show was a fan of Waka, but was left wanting more when it was over. “I feel even though a lot of people in the audience didn’t know all of his songs, he still put on a great show,” she said.