By Alena Bitonti
Arts & Entertainment Editor
After weeks of anticipation from students, the College Union Board brought rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie to campus on Nov. 11 for a sold-out performance in the Recreation Center.
Born Artist Dubose in the Bronx, New York, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie rose to fame with his breakout track “Still Think About You,” featured on his 2016 debut mixtape, “ARTIST.” He is best known for hits such as “Drowning” and “Look Back At It.”
CUB revealed A Boogie as the headliner on Oct. 22 through an announcement on Instagram. Tickets for the event went on sale a week later and sold out within hours.
Admission was limited to students and one guest per student, with tickets priced at $5 per student and $10 for guests.
“I feel like this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that it’ll only be $5 for students,” said junior speech pathology major Olivia Nowinski, who secured a spot at the front of the barricade. “As soon as I heard he was coming, I told all my friends.”
Students filled the Rec Center after doors opened at 7:30 p.m. According to CUB, a total of 2,500 general admission tickets were sold, including both student and guest tickets.
The College’s own Toilet Theory, who earned the opening spot after winning CUB’s “Battle of the Bands” competition on Oct. 27, kicked off the show by performing songs including “Misery Business” by Paramore and “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars.
Toilet Theory performs as the opening act. (Photo by Andre Paras / Video Editor)
Student DJ Will Peer, a senior secondary education and history major, followed with a set to warm up the crowd. His mix kept the energy high and the audience ready for the main performance.
Student DJ Will Peer hypes up the crowd with a set. (Photo by Andre Paras / Video Editor)
At 9:35 p.m., the lights dimmed and the Rec Center glowed with hundreds of phone flashlights. A Boogie took the stage, opening with his certified platinum hit “My Shit.”
Throughout the show, A Boogie performed fan favorites like “Swervin” and “Jungle,” even bringing out special guest Wolffacejoeyy. The crowd’s excitement made it clear that CUB had made the right choice.
At one point, A Boogie grabbed fans’ phones to film them, and himself, creating a memorable moment with the audience.
He closed the night with “Drowning,” as students sang along to every word.
The concert’s success was the result of preparation by CUB’s student crew, who managed everything from booking the artist to coordinating event logistics.
“Seeing it all in motion, seeing everyone in person, and realizing it’s not just numbers on a screen or tickets sold is so rewarding,” said CUB Live Event Coordinator Lindsey Ludwig, a sophomore elementary and special education major. “It’s rewarding to see that what we’ve been putting our hard work into is truly making an impact on campus.”
The performance marked the College’s fourth fall concert since the COVID-19 pandemic, following past shows featuring Yung Gravy, Swae Lee and Neon Trees.
