"I can't do it fam, you'll like it tho."
Those were the words I received from the University Program Board president as I impatiently bothered her to tell me who the headliner was going to be for the annual fall concert. I guess being teammates and basically BFFs with the UPB president doesn't mean I can know earlier than everyone else (looking at you, Temi). My expectations were sitting pretty low considering the previous fall concert was an underwhelming performance, so I figured that this year's lineup had to be better.
A day later, she broke the news to me that Waka Flocka Flame and Lil Dicky would be headlining our fall concert.
I didn't believe it at first. How did Case manage to book one of the best hype performers out there in combination with a renowned up-and-coming XXL Freshman? I guess you have your ways, Temi.
I bought my ticket as soon as I could, having seen Waka in concert the summer of 2015 and knowing full-well that his performance would light the whole crowd up. Lil Dicky took the industry by storm with his different style of rapping, treating it more like a comedy routine than a musical performance, nonetheless I needed to see this show.
Looking ahead at my schedule, of course we would have an away game the Saturday of the concert. Not just an away game, a game in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, basically the middle of nowhere. That Friday, Temi informed me that had we not had that game Saturday, I could've gone with her to pick up Waka at the airport. I cried on the inside. I could be picking up Waka Flocka Flame at the airport and instead I'm in Waynesburg? That's just sad. Luckily for us, the game would finish early enough to make it back in time to see part of Waka's set and all of Dicky's.
What did I learn at this concert? A few things really. I learned that Waka is just as good in a bigger venue as he was in a 350-person venue (Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh is tiny, y'all). I learned that Lil Dicky is a solid performer and really likes to bond with the crowd during his set. The last thing I learned is that some concert-goers have NO ETIQUETTE WHATSOEVER. Sir, just because you were in the front row during the opening act does not mean I will let you cut in front of me to go back there during Lil Dicky's performance. Yeah right, no way.
The concert was 65198164654x better than the one last year (that was a precisely calculated number), and I wanna give a big shout to Temi and her UPB crew for throwing that together. I really believe the show also teased us with a little glimpse that Case can be fun sometimes*.
*literally this one time
