Waka Flocka Flame returned to Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium in full force Saturday night as part of the Ohio University Performing Arts and Concert Series. From the moment the music started, the party didn’t stop.
Commonly known for his hits such as “No Hands,” “Hard in da Paint” and “Grove St. Party,” Waka Flocka attracted an audience that was ready to have a fun night.
Affiliated with artists such as Gucci Mane, French Montana and producer Zaytoven, Waka Flocka has held mainstream attention since his 2010 debut album, Flockaveli.
Waka Flocka’s local opener, DJ A-Roc, got the crowd warmed up, essentially turning the sitting venue into a general admission-style mosh pit.
DJ A-Roc hyped the crowd up with “one for the ladies,” playing “thank u, next” by Ariana Grande, followed by “one for the guys” playing “Party Up” by DMX.
However, Waka Flocka’s own DJ took the stage just before the rapper’s entrance to play 2000s trap classics that set the tone for Waka Flocka’s music.
Waka Flocka’s entrance got the standing audience screaming as he instantly jumped in the pit to begin his performance. Flocka and his fellow artist, Loudiene, spent most of the show immersed in the crowd.
The 6 feet, 4 inch rapper climbed over seats to get deeper into the audience, which certainly got the crowd going as Loudiene crowd surfed through the auditorium to Waka Flocka and Gucci Mane’s hit “15th and the 1st.”
Waka Flocka and his group routinely threw water bottles out to the sweaty crowd, often soaking the thrilled mosh pit.
Loudiene said that he finds OU to be an especially fun and unique place to perform.
“Y’all is actually lit! [It was] not too big of a crowd, which is actually just so much fun,” Loudiene said after the performance.
Waka Flocka is a known fan of performing in Athens, and he was last at MemAud in 2015. When he was here for his last high energy performance, he even played basketball and went to a few parties with students, according to a previous Post report.
“I love Ohio University,” Waka Flocka said in a brief interview following his Saturday performance. “It’s just a different culture, and I love it here.”
Waka Flocka grew up in Atlanta and said that although it is different here in Ohio than it is in Georgia, he loves both places for their own reasons.
“It was such a fun show,” Nicole Adams, a freshman studying mathematics, said. “I loved how much they interacted with the audience and not just the front row, either.”
“We’re going to the bars after this!” Flocka yelled during the show, echoed by the audience’s cheers.
Eli Cless, a sophomore studying war and peace studies, said that having Flocka right there in the audience made for an especially intimate performance.
“It was honestly crazy,” Cless said. “You can tell that Flocka loves OU. He loves being here.”
Of course, the triple-platinum single “No Hands” was the highlight of the show for many. After the audience called out all night for the hit to be played, Waka Flocka eventually delivered.
“It was lit,” Makahla Mira, a freshman who is currently undecided, said about “No Hands” after the show.
Waka Flocka said that the sequel to his debut album, Flockaveli, will be released in 2020 to celebrate Flockaveli’s 10th anniversary.
