Waka Flocka Flame and DJ Whoo Kid feeding off each other’s energy, keeping the crowd hyped between beats. Photo courtesy of Kiki Banta.
“We gotta make this a motion picture, Anaheim. Let’s make this some motion picture shit,” said DJ Whoo Kid.
Strobe lights flashed across the venue as the Universal Studios theme blared through the speakers, building anticipation before Waka Flocka Flame took the stage. On Friday, Oct. 16, the rapper turned The Grove of Anaheim into a dance floor, delivering an hour-long set packed with throwback anthems, modern hits and club classics.
Students light up the venue, giving Waka Flocka Flame a true Hollywood entrance. Photo courtesy of Kiki Banta.
Despite some concerns about student interest and awareness of the artist, students filled the photo booths, crowded the barricade and sang along with the opening DJ. What began as an opportunity to try something new became a night of dancing and embracing the unexpected.
Eliana Merritt, a freshman creative writing major, attended the concert with an open mind.
“I don’t really listen to rap music, but it could be fun to try it out,” said Merritt.
Tickets cost just $15 for Chapman students, who also received free T-shirts, posters and stickers. Free buses transported students between campus and the venue, making the concert accessible to those who didn’t want to ride-share or make the trip on foot.
Natalie Moresi, a freshman psychology major, praised the show's organization.
“I love listening to live music, so I’m excited to see a show like this. It’s cool that it’s so accessible to Chapman students,” said Moresi.
For some students, the show delivered more than they had bargained for. Singing “TGIF” by GloRilla, Waka climbed down from the stage and into the crowd, bringing the performance face-to-face. Bodies pressed together as students pushed toward the rapper, jumping to the beat and reaching out as he moved through the crowd.
“Y’all sweaty and nasty and freaky. Make sure y’all have a lot of fun tonight,” he told his audience.
The opening scene of Chapman’s fall concert quickly came together. Photo courtesy of Kiki Banta.
He remained among the crowd, moving away from the packed barricade and toward the general admission section. There, he played a techno remix of “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes and his own song featuring mgk, “Wild Boy.”
The unexpected transitions kept the set unpredictable, with familiar hooks giving students plenty of opportunities to sing along. Rather than sticking to a single sound, the setlist spanned generations of hip-hop, moving from Kris Kross to Don Toliver. Junior creative producing major Allie Byrne appreciated the music’s diversity and familiarity.
“He played a lot of throwbacks, which was fun, so I really liked that,” said Byrne. Back onstage, Waka continued playing to the crowd, shouting questions and call-and-responses for the audience.
Waka Flocka Flame brings the heat. Photo courtesy of Kiki Banta
“Where my Mexicans at?” Waka shouted.
Then, he blared “La Chona” by Los Tucanes de Tijuana through the venue; a sharp, vibrant departure from the prior rap songs of the night. After a second of surprise, the crowd erupted into cheers, sparking a wave of laughter and recognition. Students dragged each other into makeshift dance circles, blending energy and baile folklorico as girls swished their imaginary skirts.
While the setlist included many (often unexpected) tracks, Waka also performed some of his own songs. He sang “Grove St. Party” and, after burping into the microphone, performed “Hard in da Paint.”
By then, the floor had become a sea of waving arms, bouncing bodies and stomping sneakers. Friends grabbed each other’s hands and strangers excitedly bumped into each other. Personal space was sacrificed to sweat and shouting. With bass rattling through the venue and the artist just a few feet away, there was no reason not to move. As Waka egged the crowd on with his own jokes and energy, students joined in on the chaos,
“Honestly, it kind of felt like a club,” said Byrne. “I felt like I was at the club just having a good time. The energy was high.”
Waka saved one of the night's biggest moments for last, closing with his most-streamed song, “No Hands.” As the opening beats hit, students cheered and screamed, singing along and moving with the crowd. If students hadn’t yet recognized any song, this was their one last chance to dance. After finishing off his most famous song, Waka had one final exclamation for the crowd.
“I’ll see y’all wherever y’all going tonight, I’m at every after-party you hear about!”
Waka Flocka Flame put on a concert that was difficult to experience from the sidelines. With voices hoarse from singing, feet tired from dancing and the night's last beats still ringing in their ears, concertgoers spilled out of the venue and into the Anaheim night. If Waka Flocka Flame's goal was to get Chapman students moving, the crowd answered loud and clear.