After much anticipation, the day had finally arrived, the Tiger Fest 2016 concert!
DEONTE SATCHER/Courtesy Photo
Rapper Young Thug prepares to dance as his DJ drops the beat to crowd favorite, Hercules.
Antory Copper, whom has now become popularly known as To3tagga graced the stage with a crowd favorite "Pressure". By the reaction of the crowd it was a hype opener.
To3tagga proceeded to invite a comrade to join him on stage and together they grooved with an R&B joint. Just as the audience thought the duos duet was coming to an end they exploded on stage with a third MC with a hip hop song, "I'm Rolling".
Cooper attempted to run over his time and comedian Steve Brown gave him a scolding. “If you're given an opportunity like this, to open for some professionals then you need to respect everyone performing by sticking to your time slot,” said Brown. “You’re saying you want to give the people what they want, and they clearly don't want it.” The crowd shouted no in compliance with comedian Steve Brown.
Hustle Fam, a group from Jonesboro, Louisiana, came on and quickly rejuvenated #GramFam like a glass of cold water. The track titled "Get It Regardless" had an epic R&B flares with a blues vibe. “ I can honestly say my GSU Tifer Fest ‘16 experience as a perfoming artist was beyond amazing,” said Jo-Slo (Hu$$le Fam artist).
“Everything from the lighting, the sound check, the crowd’s reaction and energy gave me a feeling of euphoria. I look forward to reliving this next year.” Everyone's favorite male cheerleader Travis Matthew performed a cool classic with his killer tongue twisting rhymes.
“It didn't hit me until other people made it important for me. Like it wasn't a big deal to me until people told me it was a big deal to them. I was just excited to be able to perform in front of the larger crowd of students.”
Go DJ Star dropped by and surprised GramFam with a few surprise performances and a well-known Kappa around campus Shelby Prout debuts his hit "#FijiMadeMeDoIt". They dripped sauce all over the stage and left the students wanting more. After a few jokes with GramFam's official comedian, Tory Lanez, the self-proclaimed "man of the classics" came like a swift wind and took the ladies' breath away.
The onlookers awaited his hit single "Say It" being it was the only song majority of them actually knew. The Canadian rapper asked GramFam to shout "Diego, Diego" as he screamed "We moving".
DEONTE SATCHER/Courtesy Photo
Tory Lanez, Canadian Hip Hop singer, and self-proclaimed man of the classics, sings passionately.
He jumped off stage and stormed the stands and the girls all went wild! There was a rush of heels and gleeful cheering as fans ran to this pied piper. Lanez felt he could party with GSU and did so. Lanez is the first artist to treat the students like they were no different from him and did not stand on his pedestal and look down upon them.
“I really enjoyed you guys. I see why people are always mentioning Grambling State in songs and whatnot,” said Lanez. “GramFam is pretty hype, you guys definitely know how to party and make a n**** feel welcomed.”
Steve Brown appears back on stage and aroused the audience as Young Thug prepares to adorn the stage.
“I was feeling so sick but I had to suck it up for Thug,” said Dalyia Booker, a sophomore kinesiology major from Miami, Florida.
"My life felt so complete. It was the best feeling in the world knowing that at that moment they knew I existed. I’m that one in a billion that got to meet their idols. It's really a major key that I got to see them at my HBCU and for only $15.”
Anyone who comes to perform for GramFam is usually in awe of the Grambling State University mass choir. Well at least that is what they are being called since these students sing so harmonious together. Young Thug was no different. The students rapped every lyric and sang every hook. “I really f*** with y’all. So how many of y’all f****** with that “Up”,” asked Young Thug. The crowd gassed him up and the MC continued to rap and dance as students became more indulged.
The rapper was so taken with GramFam he even got off stage and mingled with the crowd for a bit. Judging by the amount of guys standing in chairs to see him, I can tell FSUB did a great job at the concert selection This Tiger Fest.